From the Farrier -
Horse Shoeing and Hoof Care

A Farrier will apply the PRINCIPLES OF GOOD HORSE SHOEING to the Andalusian Horse, just as to any other horse.

• Work with the horse's conformation
  
• Shoe for the work he'll be doing
  
• Consider his medical history
  
• Plan ahead
  

THE REALITY of horses applies to the Spanish Horse too - you'll find plenty of good sound horses, who never give you a problem. And there will be horses that need special care and attention. That's when you pause and review what you have in your favour - practical support and knowledgeable advice from your farrier and your vet.

We're working with a complex living creature, and every horse is an individual.

CONFORMATION
When a farrier looks at a horse, he considers it as a whole. Any conformation deviation away from the norm can cause problems.

To correct or alleviate these problems, the farrier must constantly evaluate the horse and take the appropriate action for the moment.

This Purebred Spanish stallion was born with his left front hoof at a lower angle than the right front. The low angle of the heels causes the foot to rapidly lose its shape. Excess pressure on the toe caused this bruising.

I shoe him with Natural Balance® shoes in front, together with Luwex® compensated pads and silicone, to spread the weight evenly across his foot.

Breed Specifics
Each breed has its specific morphological norms. An Arab, a thoroughbred and a Purebred Spanish horse can all be perfect in their class, but distinctly different in their conformation.
Click here for books dealing with the conformation of the Andalusian Horse.

SHOE FOR THE WORK
Your horse can function perfectly without being a textbook example of ideal conformation.

Together with the owner, I like to discuss exactly what the horse is going to be doing, then work from there. A horse competing in dressage needs a different approach to one in a morphology class - or one going on what a friend of mine calls his 'breakfast run' of 40km.

This stallion is a champion in morphology classes. His foot shows the tendency of the Spanish Horse's hoof to be somewhat upright in quarters and heels.

Among some horses this is aggravated by their staying in the stable for almost the entire 24 hours of a day.

The hoof can contract, becoming 'encastillado', or 'castled'.

The foot loses flexibility, there is weight on the quarters, and the result is quarter cracks.

I shod this horse with screws, wire, and Bond-n-flex®; Natural Balance® shoes, and bars. The day before the show I replaced the Natural Balance® with standard shoes - and he went on to win his class.

WE FIRST

• consider the conformation,
  
• assess the horse's movement
  
• work out any faults
  

• change what can be changed
  
• contain what can be contained
  
• and help wherever possible
  

MEDICAL HISTORY
Horses are like people - the longer they've been around, the more likely they are to have a couple of bumps and lumps.
Farriers and vets work with the history of the horse and with the present reality. When you know what you're faced with, it helps you make decisions about what route to take.

Orthopaedic shoeing is an important part of any farrier's work. It includes not only hoof care, but cases affecting the entire horse - from leg to shoulder, from back to hip and stifle to hock - the whole body.

Hoof care includes work with laminitis, navicular disease, quarter cracks and bruising. There's corrective trimming on youngsters and a range of other medical situations. We'll talk about many of these as the site develops.

LAMINITIS.

Andalusian Horses are good 'do-ers'. This is in their favour - but, conversely can also lead to problems.

I've found myself working on many cases of laminitis, caused by various factors, and this is the subject of an upcoming page.

PLAN AHEAD
The Purebred Spanish Horse was bred to be a working horse, used in war, in the country, as a pleasure horse, and as a high school horse. An Andalusian Horse is a multi-talented horse, and still a horse for a lifetime.

Be aware of what could affect your horse:

• look at his conformation realistically
  
• recognise the demands his work will place on him
  
• consider his medical status

IT'S A TEAM EFFORT
Caring for your horse is a team effort. Working together produces positive results. Farriers support one another, and in turn link up with different vets. The result is a vibrant, ongoing interaction which always benefits the horse owner.

CONTACT US
I'm a farrier. If you'd like to share your experience with the shoeing and hoof care of Andalusian Horses, or to ask a question, click here to contact us and send us your comments

NB: When I mention a product name, that's what I chose to use at that time. I'm not sponsored by anyone, and there's no paid advertising on this page.