Green Mountain Forge & Farrier

12/04/2024

Does your barn have a basic horse shoeing kit so that, in case of a stepped on and twisted shoe, you can get it off before the horse steps on the clinch and really hurts itself?

Have you been taught HOW to get off a shoe, or have you taken the time while the farrier was there to watch closely enough to know how?

If the answer to either of these questions is no, this might be a good time to fix that hole?

12/02/2024

In 2024 there are those who will see a horse being led with a chain over its nose who will instantly have a melt down.

Any true horse person will know that there are situations where you can lead a horse with virtually zero restraint, and be safe, and other times when the horse could easily leap, pull away from you, and let loose with a double barreled kick that could kill you.

Being rough for rough’s sake is totally different from being safe, and while some may think otherwise, those are people who have never led a high as a kite horse on a chilly windy day in from the paddock.

There’s much good in having a be kind to horses attitude, but there is also a huge degree of misunderstanding by those who are not hands on horse people.

11/11/2024

Handmade bar shoe made at the horse for a hind foot that had an abcess blow out and a decent forming quarter crack!

10/24/2024

06/10/2024

25 mile endurance hold up on silver hill, shown are 4 clients horses all recently shod!

05/27/2024

Hot fitting is a painless process, using the heat of the shoe to create a smooth tight fit by directly imprinting it on the hoof immediately after removing it from the forge.

This well-known method has numerous advantages, not only helping to secure the space between the hoof and the shoe by creating a tighter fit,

but also sealing the cut horn tubules, making them less likely to dry out in a dry climate or take on moisture and soften in a wet environment.⠀⠀

A few other primary benefits to hot fitting would be...

To disinfect an abscess site or to kill thrush. The intense heat also tends to kill any fungi and bacteria that could potentially cause problems in the hoof.⠀⠀⠀

Hot fitting helps with accurate, tight clip placement. Clips help secure the shoe and help reduce the stress on the nails and the hoof.

And lastly, the metal is far more malleable when hot.
Helping to shape the perfect shoe for your horse's specific needs.
Irish Setter Boots Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd Austin Forge and Machine LLC Flatland Forge Royal Kerckhaert Horseshoe Factory United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA)
USA Eventing

03/21/2024

Interesting and informative read!

Knowledge sharing post No.1.

Digital/Phalangeal Alignment in a wet environment.
Pollitt and Hampson did a study at University of Queensland a couple of years ago.
They concluded the hoof wall has a constant moisture content. The sole however is like a sponge, soaking up all available moisture .
When hydrated to capacity, it loses it's tensile strength and the ability to support the hoof capsule as intended.
The back third of the hoof, which is also the shock absorbing section, drops or prolapses as a result. Counter rotation of the coffin bone occurs.
This is now known as negative palmer/planter angle. That is the angle the bottom of P3 makes in relation to the ground.
As a farrier, the best results to help this are to engage the back third in a load sharing package. Traditionally a heartbar shoe or wide bar was used. More recently dental impression material or pour in material is added to load share with frogs and commisures.
Plastic frog support pads are available most recently, as skills to fit a heartbar correctly are highest level. Protecting the internal structure are paramount whilst load sharing.

Horse's hooves are not designed to be constantly wet. Best results are to remove the cause.
A dry bedding of pine sawdust draws moisture and helps kill bacterial invasion of the whiteline and/frog's.
Overloading of the over hydrated hoof is exacerbated by the weight of the horse. To many horse's are overweight for the tensile strength of the hoof capsule.
If your horse gets to the situation where it needs this specific shoeing package, it's your responsibility as an owner to change the management or husbandry process.
Horse's shod with a load sharing package should be in a confined environment where they can't gallop about with the possibility of overreaching causing premature shoe loss. They should not be in a herd environment where other horse's can stand on the shoe's at play causing premature shoe loss.
Your farrier sees your horse at a cyclic time to reshoe, trimming the hoof to keep in balance perimeters.
The management between visits falls squarely on the owner.
Unfortunately to often expectations of correct digital alignment are overshadowed by owner mismanagement. I'm older and get grumpy when "buck passing " ends up in my lap.
At the end of the day as a professional tradesperson, it's me who decides if I continue to be trying my best for your horse's welfare 🙏

03/21/2024

Little horse humor to hopefully help you get through this morning. If you can avoid looking outside before coffee I’d do that. Better yet, get that warm cup of coffee and just head right back to bed 😅

01/27/2024

Interesting read! Met Pat at last years hoof care summit and had an interesting round table discussion on this topic!

Your farrier finishes shoeing your horse and hands you a bill for the work. You look at the bill, muster a smile, and grab your checkbook even though you may be

01/14/2024

Little bit of the process - photo’s by Trinity Robinson

01/14/2024

Practicing with like minded friends! Liz is not only an amazing farrier but a solid friend, huge inspiration and help! She’s also a great host for our forging days when we get together and help each other work towards our next goals!

01/14/2024

Handmaking winter shoes with my friend Rachel!