Vent: My old way of shoeing a horse with a bad shoulder was making things worse

Sam Bailey · 2026-03-16T00:50:09.551478+00:00

For years, if a horse came in with a sore front shoulder, I'd just trim the hoof a bit shorter on that side and maybe add a rolled toe. I thought I was helping it break over easier. Then about two years ago, I was working on a big warmblood in Lexington that just kept getting worse. The owner's vet, Dr. Miller, pulled me aside and said, 'Sam, you're letting that heel get too low, it's dropping the whole joint.' That hit me hard. Now, I focus way more on supporting the heel on the sore side, even if it means the shoe looks a bit thicker. I use a wide-webbed shoe and keep the heel height up. The change is slow, but I've seen three horses since then actually improve instead of just coping. Has anyone else had to completely flip their approach on a specific lameness like that?

Topic Shares

Loading…

Vent: My old way of shoeing a horse with a bad shoulder was making things worse | Farriers - Topic Shares