In our experience and education into hoof care there has been much debate between if horses should have shoes, or if horses are better off being barefoot. Hoof care currently has two extreme sides of the spectrum with the client caught in the middle trying to decide what would be best for their horse, all the while being held hostage to the materials offered and the alternating philosophies of eac
h farrier. We believe that both sides make very valid points but what should always be taken into consideration is that each individual horse is unique, and has their own specific traits, qualities, and jobs that they are asked to perform. Its time to recognize a middle ground made accessible through continuing education and independent research combined with modern day materials made available by advanced technology. Horse owners who have taken the time to do their research on the benefits of a shock absorbing shoe have shown interest and the scientific studies support the advantages of alternative hoof care but since the trade requires a high level of skill the collective public is dependent on what products farriers choose to offer for horses world wide. It's not the lack of expertise that's the issue, since it takes incredible talent to mold a piece of steel that matches a horses hoof perfectly, but the materials chosen simply do not support the overall health of the horse in today's obligations that our animals have in relation to their riders. The iron age didn't end due to a lack of iron and the information age will not end unless we choose to ignore the knowledge provided. As an industry is time we put our personal agenda's and ego aside so we can offer our clients the highest standard of hoof care available since the ultimate obligation is to the horse that we are trusted to care for and the one common connection we all share.
