Normal horseshoeing sounds simple enough. After all, aren’t most horses fairly normal? When we talk of normal conformation what we mean is that a horse approaches the theoretical vision of a straight-legged, well-put-together animal. In reality there aren’t that many out there, believe me! I like to think of a normal horse as one that moves fairly well and stays sound no matter what is done to him, with regards to farrier services and owner care. A normal horse is a survivor no matter what the odds are against him. His shoeing requirements are basic, simple and fairly normal. I love these horses!

Horses that are less than ideal in their foot, leg and body conformation often require more demanding shoeing needs. This is where corrective horseshoeing comes into play. The traditional definition of corrective shoeing is something like “shoeing to correct faults in leg and foot conformation, foot flight patterns or limb interference”. Horses that toe-in, toe-out, paddle, wing, forge, overreach or otherwise interfere are candidates for corrective shoeing. The farrier can often achieve a desired result through skillful trimming, shoeing or a combination of both.

In a sense, corrective horseshoeing might be more accurately defined as “correct” horseshoeing. Whenever a farrier shoes a horse he is constantly analyzing and assessing how the feet should be prepared and shod in the most correct manner for each individual. Although there are general standards and principles to be followed when shoeing any horse, each horse often needs something special or “correct” for his individual needs. So, in effect, farriers practice corrective (correct) shoeing on a daily basis.

Finally, let’s talk about pathological horseshoeing. Pathological, or therapeutic shoeing, is sometimes confused with corrective shoeing. The difference lies in the fact that pathological shoeing is concerned with disease or injury of the horse’s legs and feet, while corrective shoeing is concemed with conformation and gait problems. Shoeing to relieve lameness due to injury or disease can be trying work. Most often a farrier will work closely with a veterinarian in order to make the horse as comfortable and as sound as possible.

Although these horseshoeing terms (normal, corrective and pathological) appear to be separate and individual methods of applying shoes to any horse, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, two or even all three of these concepts often blend together during the process of shoeing a horse. There may be different ways to accomlish the same goal, but the end result should always be the comfort, safety and happiness of our domestic horses.

Two horses resting in the streets of Lijiang, China.

This horse’s working days are o’er.
The shafts and saddle nevermore
Shall hold him. Here he waits his end
Cared for by those who love to tend

An old companion. He may rest
In his loose box or take the best
Of grazing which the meadows give—
A pensioner while he shall live.

A beautiful racehorse became very much attached to a cat. So much so that he was never happy unless the cat was near him, either sleeping curled up on his back or somewhere in his stall. They became such close companions that when the horse was taken abroad to run in some races for which he had been entered, he became so dejected at being separated from his companion that it was found necessary that the cat should always accompany him in his horse-box wherever he went.

All horses very curious are
And things which they espy afar
Arouse their curiosity:
They wonder what on earth they see.

With ears pricked up and cautious mien
They come to see. When they have seen,
They snort and turn and off they scurry
In a contemptuous desperate hurry.

“A wicked horse,” perhaps you say,
“To shy in such a sudden way,
And almost make his rider fall.
It is not nice of him at all.”

It was not wickedness, but fear.
That dreadful white thing rushing near
Appeared to his affrighted eyes
Full seven times its proper size.

The Bus horse does not work all day,
For if he did he’d waste away.
He does his work and then is able
To take a long rest in the stable.

When summer suns beat down upon it
His head is sheltered by a bonnet;
And though it makes him look a duffer,
He hasn’t half the heat to suffer.

Of all the tiresome steeds that are
The jibber is the worst by far.

He stands and contemplates the scene—
An act embarrassing and mean.

And nine times out of ten he chooses
An awkward spot when he refuses
To move. To cure him, take him out
And turn the jibber round about.

 The horse affords the best example amongst animals of perseverance: he will go on until he falls exhausted or dead. On the Yorkshire moors, after a heavy fall of snow, the roads are quite lost, and it often happens that the mailman has to unharness his horse (the cart being blocked by the snow), and trust to the horse’s courage and endurance to carry the mails from village to village. It has been known that the driver has been overcome by the intense cold, when the horse has found his way unaided to the nearest accustomed stopping place.

When horses buck they take a bound
With all their four feet off the ground.
Unless they know just what to do
And how to keep their seats all through.

The riders come off fast and thick
When horses start this Yankee trick.
But with the cowboys of the West
The horses come off second best.