08/22/2026
Days like today remind me exactly why I love being a farrier.
I worked on a horse today that came in showing a lot of the classic signs we associate with navicular-type heel pain. He was short-strided and noticeably lame, especially through his turns. He wanted to keep his feet out in front of himself instead of comfortably standing underneath himself.
Based on what I was seeing, I decided to try a wedge shoeing package to give him some additional heel support and change the mechanics of his foot.
The difference walking out was so rewarding to see. He was stepping out farther, standing more underneath himself, and moving more comfortably than when he walked in. And the amount of releases he gave me while I was working on him said a lot.
This is why I love what I do. Shoeing isn’t always about making a foot look pretty—it’s about looking at the whole horse, paying attention to how they’re moving and standing, and doing what we can to make them more comfortable.
Horses can’t point to where it hurts or tell us what feels better. We have to listen to what they’re telling us through their movement, posture, and behavior.
Helping horses like this is what makes this job worth it. ❤️