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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
  
| Crowned Image - 2015-09-14 8:40 AM
obviously the question is in the subject, but how soon do you like it done? I would just like to hear what everyone has to say :)
Each horse is an individual
If you are shoeing you will need to ask yourself/farrier/vet a few questions
Why are you shoeing (just because, soundness issue, terrain, etc)
Soundness issues if any are these directly related to the feet (most of the time they are IMO)
How do the feet look (contraction;it is surprising how many horses are contracted and people don't know, underslung; generally goes hand in hand with not trimming or resetting regularly this will pull the toe out as well, and causes all kinds of joint problems)
What type of shoes are you using (depending on terrain, aluminum shoes may be too worn to be reset) | |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
  
Location: Phoenix | Right now I'm at 8. I'd prefer 7, but the other 2 gals at the barn prefer 8 so I go along. =/ | |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| cheryl makofka - 2015-09-14 12:46 PM
NJJ - 2015-09-14 10:47 AM
SC Wrangler - 2015-09-14 10:35 AM I do mine on as needed basis, not a set schedule. Every individual horse has a different growth rate and usually much quicker growth in the summer as opposed to winter. I want to always be certain that nail holes are grown down enough that new ones are not stacked right on top of old ones.
^^^^ THIS
When I had my horses shod, I did differently then you.
I don't care where nail holes are, I look at the toe, and heel growth.
My good horse his fronts were shod every 4 weeks due to excessive toe growth, if we left him longer his heels would start to underslung.
His back feet we shod every 8 weeks, his back feet never grew.
Another horse of mine if we left him to 6 weeks, his heels would contract, so we shod him every 4 weeks as well.
Both horses never had problems with nail holes busting out, or loosing shoes.
Now that I am abstaining from shoeing they still get trimmed every 4 weeks, and I have never had better looking feet.
I get mine done every 4 weeks as per the vet and my farrier. I go by toe and heel growth but especially toe growth. Long toes and you are asking for trouble.
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Every 5 weeks. | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 250
Location: Central TX | My mare gets done at 5 weeks. | |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Because of the situation, he has those clear "ground control horseshoes" they are made of a polyurethane like material. He was looking long at 4 1/2 weeks and was a little ouchy this morning(we think from the extra playtime associated with the quick cool down.) He was 5 weeks to the day today, and I wasn't sure if that was normal for most or maybe he needed more foot taken back this time. Both horses grow A LOT of hoof. I personally think it's a little freaky. But just checking in to see!
I started using a day planner, and for some reason seeing the length in time on a calendar versus receiving a reminder to set appointments was throwing me off I guess. | |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| 6 weeks | |
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Member
Posts: 23
| My gelding is at 4 weeks now, and I'll likely leave his feet alone for another two weeks before we reset him. My husband and I are both farriers, so he definitely isn't ever left long, or get the opportunity to throw a shoe.
The problem with resetting too often too (other than what has already been stated) is that you can often end up with too many nail holes in the hoof wall, which weakens it's integrity. It's also hard to drive nails up above the old nail holes that are already established - nails like to follow the path of least resistance. If you have low nails, the horse is more prone to losing a shoe - and often a chunk of hoof wall along with it. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| jessie85 - 2015-09-14 3:12 PM
My gelding is at 4 weeks now, and I'll likely leave his feet alone for another two weeks before we reset him. My husband and I are both farriers, so he definitely isn't ever left long, or get the opportunity to throw a shoe.
The problem with resetting too often too (other than what has already been stated) is that you can often end up with too many nail holes in the hoof wall, which weakens it's integrity. It's also hard to drive nails up above the old nail holes that are already established - nails like to follow the path of least resistance. If you have low nails, the horse is more prone to losing a shoe - and often a chunk of hoof wall along with it.
I have to disagree with the low nails/clinches in a foot being more prone to loosing a shoe.
If the farrier balances the horse properly, the horse should not over reach, and should not pull a shoe.
On my one gelding whose heels like to contract, we only had 3 nails on each side 1/4-1/2" up on the hoof wall, with the clinches rasped off, and 1/8" of shoe exposed all the way around his foot, he never lost one shoe in the 2 years we shod him like this.
It all comes down to how good the farrier is, I had one farrier who couldn't balance a shoe on my horse to save his life, 5 minutes after the farrier left, the horse pulled a shoe, 4 nails in each side 1" up the hoof wall. This occurred twice, then I changed farriers never had another problem. | |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | streakysox - 2015-09-14 1:02 PM cheryl makofka - 2015-09-14 12:46 PM NJJ - 2015-09-14 10:47 AM SC Wrangler - 2015-09-14 10:35 AM I do mine on as needed basis, not a set schedule. Every individual horse has a different growth rate and usually much quicker growth in the summer as opposed to winter. I want to always be certain that nail holes are grown down enough that new ones are not stacked right on top of old ones. ^^^^ THIS When I had my horses shod, I did differently then you. I don't care where nail holes are, I look at the toe, and heel growth. My good horse his fronts were shod every 4 weeks due to excessive toe growth, if we left him longer his heels would start to underslung. His back feet we shod every 8 weeks, his back feet never grew. Another horse of mine if we left him to 6 weeks, his heels would contract, so we shod him every 4 weeks as well. Both horses never had problems with nail holes busting out, or loosing shoes. Now that I am abstaining from shoeing they still get trimmed every 4 weeks, and I have never had better looking feet. I get mine done every 4 weeks as per the vet and my farrier. I go by toe and heel growth but especially toe growth. Long toes and you are asking for trouble.
Edited by SC Wrangler 2015-09-14 4:11 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | cheryl makofka - 2015-09-14 3:29 PM
jessie85 - 2015-09-14 3:12 PM
My gelding is at 4 weeks now, and I'll likely leave his feet alone for another two weeks before we reset him. My husband and I are both farriers, so he definitely isn't ever left long, or get the opportunity to throw a shoe.
The problem with resetting too often too (other than what has already been stated) is that you can often end up with too many nail holes in the hoof wall, which weakens it's integrity. It's also hard to drive nails up above the old nail holes that are already established - nails like to follow the path of least resistance. If you have low nails, the horse is more prone to losing a shoe - and often a chunk of hoof wall along with it.
I have to disagree with the low nails/clinches in a foot being more prone to loosing a shoe.
If the farrier balances the horse properly, the horse should not over reach, and should not pull a shoe.
On my one gelding whose heels like to contract, we only had 3 nails on each side 1/4-1/2" up on the hoof wall, with the clinches rasped off, and 1/8" of shoe exposed all the way around his foot, he never lost one shoe in the 2 years we shod him like this.
It all comes down to how good the farrier is, I had one farrier who couldn't balance a shoe on my horse to save his life, 5 minutes after the farrier left, the horse pulled a shoe, 4 nails in each side 1" up the hoof wall. This occurred twice, then I changed farriers never had another problem.
The ONLY reason for a bad nail pattern is the shoe is not properly shaped to the foot. Contracted heels have nothing to do with the nail pattern. There should be no nails even Close to the heels. Most horses wearing shoes need to be reset at about 6 weeks. If you go much longer the clenches start raising up off the hoof-wall due to growth, and the shoes become loose. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| komet. - 2015-09-14 5:08 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-09-14 3:29 PM
jessie85 - 2015-09-14 3:12 PM
My gelding is at 4 weeks now, and I'll likely leave his feet alone for another two weeks before we reset him. My husband and I are both farriers, so he definitely isn't ever left long, or get the opportunity to throw a shoe.
The problem with resetting too often too (other than what has already been stated) is that you can often end up with too many nail holes in the hoof wall, which weakens it's integrity. It's also hard to drive nails up above the old nail holes that are already established - nails like to follow the path of least resistance. If you have low nails, the horse is more prone to losing a shoe - and often a chunk of hoof wall along with it.
I have to disagree with the low nails/clinches in a foot being more prone to loosing a shoe.
If the farrier balances the horse properly, the horse should not over reach, and should not pull a shoe.
On my one gelding whose heels like to contract, we only had 3 nails on each side 1/4-1/2" up on the hoof wall, with the clinches rasped off, and 1/8" of shoe exposed all the way around his foot, he never lost one shoe in the 2 years we shod him like this.
It all comes down to how good the farrier is, I had one farrier who couldn't balance a shoe on my horse to save his life, 5 minutes after the farrier left, the horse pulled a shoe, 4 nails in each side 1" up the hoof wall. This occurred twice, then I changed farriers never had another problem.
The ONLY reason for a bad nail pattern is the shoe is not properly shaped to the foot. Contracted heels have nothing to do with the nail pattern. There should be no nails even Close to the heels. Most horses wearing shoes need to be reset at about 6 weeks. If you go much longer the clenches start raising up off the hoof-wall due to growth, and the shoes become loose.
Not sure what you meant by a bad nail pattern.
I was using my horses and experience as an example, as if the horse is balanced you can actually have less nails in the foot, and the nails closer to the ground, not as far up the hoof wall, as a balanced horse generally will not pull shoes. (I do know freak things happen and occasionally a shoe may come off)
The other horse had a nice nail pattern and the nails were higher up in the hoof wall, but not balanced and he would pull shoes as soon as the farrier left the driveway.
I know contraction in the heels doesn't have much to do with nail holes, but more the shape of the shoe, when I was dealing with it, and old highly respected farrier shod this horse and to release the heels he had to leave 1/8" of the shoe around the entire foot, as shoes if this is not done actually restrict movement of the foot and the foot cannot expand or contract therefore cannot function as god intended their foot to.
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Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | cheryl makofka - 2015-09-14 5:31 PM
komet. - 2015-09-14 5:08 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-09-14 3:29 PM
jessie85 - 2015-09-14 3:12 PM
My gelding is at 4 weeks now, and I'll likely leave his feet alone for another two weeks before we reset him. My husband and I are both farriers, so he definitely isn't ever left long, or get the opportunity to throw a shoe.
The problem with resetting too often too (other than what has already been stated) is that you can often end up with too many nail holes in the hoof wall, which weakens it's integrity. It's also hard to drive nails up above the old nail holes that are already established - nails like to follow the path of least resistance. If you have low nails, the horse is more prone to losing a shoe - and often a chunk of hoof wall along with it.
I have to disagree with the low nails/clinches in a foot being more prone to loosing a shoe.
If the farrier balances the horse properly, the horse should not over reach, and should not pull a shoe.
On my one gelding whose heels like to contract, we only had 3 nails on each side 1/4-1/2" up on the hoof wall, with the clinches rasped off, and 1/8" of shoe exposed all the way around his foot, he never lost one shoe in the 2 years we shod him like this.
It all comes down to how good the farrier is, I had one farrier who couldn't balance a shoe on my horse to save his life, 5 minutes after the farrier left, the horse pulled a shoe, 4 nails in each side 1" up the hoof wall. This occurred twice, then I changed farriers never had another problem.
The ONLY reason for a bad nail pattern is the shoe is not properly shaped to the foot. Contracted heels have nothing to do with the nail pattern. There should be no nails even Close to the heels. Most horses wearing shoes need to be reset at about 6 weeks. If you go much longer the clenches start raising up off the hoof-wall due to growth, and the shoes become loose.
Not sure what you meant by a bad nail pattern.
I was using my horses and experience as an example, as if the horse is balanced you can actually have less nails in the foot, and the nails closer to the ground, not as far up the hoof wall, as a balanced horse generally will not pull shoes. (I do know freak things happen and occasionally a shoe may come off )
The other horse had a nice nail pattern and the nails were higher up in the hoof wall, but not balanced and he would pull shoes as soon as the farrier left the driveway.
I know contraction in the heels doesn't have much to do with nail holes, but more the shape of the shoe, when I was dealing with it, and old highly respected farrier shod this horse and to release the heels he had to leave 1/8" of the shoe around the entire foot, as shoes if this is not done actually restrict movement of the foot and the foot cannot expand or contract therefore cannot function as god intended their foot to.
The only place the foot needs to expand with every step is at the heels, which is why you never put nails close to them. The 1/8 (correct) overhang around the rest of the foot is to allow for natural growth of the hoof-wall without the shoe dropping inside the wall before it is due to be reset. Still, it helps to bevel the outer edge of the shoe slightly so if it should be stepped on or catch on something, the offending item will be prone to just slide off rather then pull the shoe. A good nail pattern consists of 6 or 8 nails (I prefer 6 on a good foot) coming out of the wall about 3/4-inch above the shoe. Nails that will only come out higher or lower no matter what direction you start them is due to an improperly shaped shoe.
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Miss Southern Sunshine
Posts: 7427
Location: South Central Florida | Have not read the whole thread, but some of it depends on the area your in too, I would think.
We are in Florida, super wet sometimes, super dry sometimes. Very soft and sandy ground.
We reset every 4 or 5 weeks, but sometimes it depends on the weather plus they seem to grow faster in the summer months. I trim everyone the same day we do the resets, just because it's easier to keep track of when everyone was done. Rather than have some done here and some done there.
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| My horse has some foot issues and the.vet said every 4 weeks. I even dragged my farrier to the vet to make sure he was doing what the vet wanted. My retired horse has to have shoes on the front. His toes grow fast so 4 weeks for him too. The horse that I ride the most really needs to get his trimmed that often too. My farrier lives a long way from me and I am not going to make him drive to my house every week to shoe one horse. I am positive that he appreciates that. At least he tells me that he does. I am not his only customer. That is probably part of the reason that he comes whenever I call him. My broodmare gets hers trimmed every other time so 8 weeks for her.
My horse at the trainer gets her feet trimmed no longer than every 5 weeks at the most. Trainer has the call on that so I just pay for it.
I make sure that my farrier has the nails in high and his shoes do not come off. I rely on my farrier's knowledge because I am sure that he knows more than I do. Most of the time I never see him. He says he is coming and I leave him a check. | |
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 The BHW Book Worm
Posts: 1768
| every 4-5 weeks and its killing meeee | |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | My mare grows like crazy during the summer and is between 4-5 weeks. Otherwise ideally it is 6 weeks, my farrier is the best and will come as needed.
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| komet. - 2015-09-14 5:47 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-09-14 5:31 PM
komet. - 2015-09-14 5:08 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-09-14 3:29 PM
jessie85 - 2015-09-14 3:12 PM
My gelding is at 4 weeks now, and I'll likely leave his feet alone for another two weeks before we reset him. My husband and I are both farriers, so he definitely isn't ever left long, or get the opportunity to throw a shoe.
The problem with resetting too often too (other than what has already been stated) is that you can often end up with too many nail holes in the hoof wall, which weakens it's integrity. It's also hard to drive nails up above the old nail holes that are already established - nails like to follow the path of least resistance. If you have low nails, the horse is more prone to losing a shoe - and often a chunk of hoof wall along with it.
I have to disagree with the low nails/clinches in a foot being more prone to loosing a shoe.
If the farrier balances the horse properly, the horse should not over reach, and should not pull a shoe.
On my one gelding whose heels like to contract, we only had 3 nails on each side 1/4-1/2" up on the hoof wall, with the clinches rasped off, and 1/8" of shoe exposed all the way around his foot, he never lost one shoe in the 2 years we shod him like this.
It all comes down to how good the farrier is, I had one farrier who couldn't balance a shoe on my horse to save his life, 5 minutes after the farrier left, the horse pulled a shoe, 4 nails in each side 1" up the hoof wall. This occurred twice, then I changed farriers never had another problem.
The ONLY reason for a bad nail pattern is the shoe is not properly shaped to the foot. Contracted heels have nothing to do with the nail pattern. There should be no nails even Close to the heels. Most horses wearing shoes need to be reset at about 6 weeks. If you go much longer the clenches start raising up off the hoof-wall due to growth, and the shoes become loose.
Not sure what you meant by a bad nail pattern.
I was using my horses and experience as an example, as if the horse is balanced you can actually have less nails in the foot, and the nails closer to the ground, not as far up the hoof wall, as a balanced horse generally will not pull shoes. (I do know freak things happen and occasionally a shoe may come off )
The other horse had a nice nail pattern and the nails were higher up in the hoof wall, but not balanced and he would pull shoes as soon as the farrier left the driveway.
I know contraction in the heels doesn't have much to do with nail holes, but more the shape of the shoe, when I was dealing with it, and old highly respected farrier shod this horse and to release the heels he had to leave 1/8" of the shoe around the entire foot, as shoes if this is not done actually restrict movement of the foot and the foot cannot expand or contract therefore cannot function as god intended their foot to.
The only place the foot needs to expand with every step is at the heels, which is why you never put nails close to them. The 1/8 (correct ) overhang around the rest of the foot is to allow for natural growth of the hoof-wall without the shoe dropping inside the wall before it is due to be reset. Still, it helps to bevel the outer edge of the shoe slightly so if it should be stepped on or catch on something, the offending item will be prone to just slide off rather then pull the shoe. A good nail pattern consists of 6 or 8 nails (I prefer 6 on a good foot ) coming out of the wall about 3/4-inch above the shoe. Nails that will only come out higher or lower no matter what direction you start them is due to an improperly shaped shoe.
I disagree with you comment that only the heel needs to expand.
There are a few really good YouTube videos what show the mechanics of the foot.
In a healthy foot, the entire foot expands.
When the horse puts pressure on the foot, the foot needs to expand to allow the frog to drop to allow for the pulling of blood into the foot. When the pressure is taken off of the foot, the frog retracts, and the foot contracts expelling the blood out of the foot.
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Member
Posts: 23
| There are many reasons a horse loses a shoe beyond just the balance of the hoof itself. There is definitely "ideal" placement of nails coming up the hoofwall. Low nails are more prone to cause problems with shoe loss. It is a fact.
On even the most balanced foot, a farrier has no control how straight a horse's legs are, or other various conformation faults that the horse is born with - or acquires later on in life. This definitely affects how well shoes stay on.
It is easy to rip a farrier apart when a shoe doesn't stay on for six weeks - or two weeks, etc... but, if they nail on a perfectly balanced and fitted pair of shoes, and then you turn the horse back out into an ankle deep muddy pen when they leave, those shoes don't stand a chance. | |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | jessie85 - 2015-09-15 12:39 PM There are many reasons a horse loses a shoe beyond just the balance of the hoof itself. There is definitely "ideal" placement of nails coming up the hoofwall. Low nails are more prone to cause problems with shoe loss. It is a fact. On even the most balanced foot, a farrier has no control how straight a horse's legs are, or other various conformation faults that the horse is born with - or acquires later on in life. This definitely affects how well shoes stay on. It is easy to rip a farrier apart when a shoe doesn't stay on for six weeks - or two weeks, etc... but, if they nail on a perfectly balanced and fitted pair of shoes, and then you turn the horse back out into an ankle deep muddy pen when they leave, those shoes don't stand a chance.
I realize there are a lot of bad horse shoers out there, but there are a lot of great farriers taking a bad rap over factors 100% beyond their control. | |
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