ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: Squaring the Toe

Re: Squaring the Toe

Bonnie Snodgrass (snodgrab@ncr.disa.mil)
Tue, 18 Mar 97 06:56:52 EST

Gotta agree with Steve here. A horse should have angles that match his
pastern angles and he will land flat. The squared or rolled toe with
ease or speed up break over. This is nature's way. Horses didn't
evolve wearing shoes protecting their toes from wear. That's why a
horses toe wall is thicker than anywhere else on the foot. It's
because it's normal for this wall to wear back. Have trained numerous
Mustangs and semi-feral horses with marvelous feet that never saw a
trim. One was a 7 yr old wild mare that a friend was given by a ranch
owner on the island of Tinian (adjacent to Guam). We picked from a
herd of wild ones in a field of volcanic rock. They all had decent
looking feet. This one had never been touched by a human. Her hooves
were almost square looking and the walls were so thick and tough that
they were difficult to cut with nippers.

It can be near impossible to get a farrier to change how he shoes.
Have been working with mine to set the shoes further back on the foot
and rasp off the toe that hangs over. Each shoeing I get a hair more
out of him.

Bonnie Snodgrass

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Squaring the Toe
Author: ridecamp@endurance.net at smtp
Date: 3/18/97 12:55 AM

Okay Tom,

You've got my interest up. Here in the NW, there are a lot of vets and
very knowledable farriers, who are recommending performance horses be
trimmed and shod using the "Four Point" method developed by Gene Ovnicek
(http://www.horseshoes.com/advice/ovnicek1/intwtgno.htm) . The four point
method is based upon Gene's reseach with BLM mustangs and their natural
hoof wear. As such, it requires trimming the hoof, squaring of the toe,
and shaping the shoe to mimic the natural break over of the horses hoof -
if it were allowed to go barefoot.

Is this the same as your refering to as squaring the toe?

Interested in your thoughts,

Steve

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