Gibson's Equine Farrier Service - Horse Shoeing

Gibson's Equine Farrier Service - Horse Shoeing Shaun Gibson has 20+ years experience servicing Western, Ma, Ct, and RI

09/04/2026

HORSE OWNERS: Would you recognize thrush in your horse’s hoof? 👀

Just another beautiful day in paradise… while I’m dripping in sweat after finishing Cheyenne’s trim. 😂

Before I left, Cheyenne’s owner asked if I could pick up her feet and apply her thrush treatment for her. She’s a great client, and I’m always happy to lend a hand when I can. ❤️

In this video, I’ll show you what thrush in a horse’s hoof can look like, where I’m seeing it in Cheyenne’s feet, and how we’re treating it.
Her owner uses Hooflex Thrush Remedy by Absorbine, and she’s been happy with how it’s working for Cheyenne, so that’s what I’m applying today.

I also talk about another product I’ve personally had great results with over the years: Today. It’s actually a product used for dry cow mastitis, but I’ve used it for thrush for years with great results. I get it through a veterinarian and recommend talking with your own veterinarian or farrier about what’s appropriate for your horse.

Thrush can hide down around the frog and collateral grooves, so don’t just glance at the bottom of the foot. Pick your horse’s feet regularly, pay attention to changes in the frog, odor or discharge, and learn what NORMAL looks like for your horse.

If you’re searching how to treat thrush in horses, what horse hoof thrush looks like, frog problems in horses, smelly horse hooves, black discharge around the frog, horse hoof cleaning, horse hoof problems or how to keep horse hooves healthy, this is why regular hoof care matters.

👇 HORSE OWNERS & FARRIERS: What’s your go-to thrush treatment?

09/03/2026

LUMI • PART 2 | This is where things get interesting… 😳

The front feet went pretty smoothly. The hinds?

Lumi had other plans. 😂

As his sedation starts wearing off, you'll see him hop, lean, pull his foot away and even nearly sit down before suddenly heading BACKWARD down the barn aisle.

But there's actually a lot horse owners can learn from the chaos.

One thing I talk about in this video is knowing when to hold a horse's foot and when it's time to release it. If I immediately put the foot down every single time a horse gives me a little pull, some horses quickly learn:

Pull = I get my foot back.

At the same time, there's a BIG difference between working through a manageable pull and recognizing when the situation is becoming unsafe. Experience is knowing that difference. I'm never going to win a wrestling match with a horse—and I'm certainly not risking the horse, my handler or myself just to prove a point.

And THIS is why a knowledgeable handler is worth their weight in gold. ❤️

Thankfully, I had a great one with Lumi. We regrouped, worked together and got those hind feet finished safely.

Lumi is blind and has some additional challenges, so his farrier appointments aren't always easy. But difficult horses still need regular hoof trims and consistent hoof care. Letting the feet become severely overgrown because a horse is difficult only creates another problem for the horse.

I've continued trimming Lumi since he came to HomeFarm at Undermountain Road, and seeing the difference from the horse I originally met as Oz to the horse standing here today makes the challenging appointments worth it.

Regular horse hoof trimming isn't just about making the feet look better. It's about hoof balance, controlling excess growth, monitoring changes in the hoof, supporting comfort and keeping small hoof problems from becoming much bigger ones.

Not every trim is pretty.
Sometimes you hop. Sometimes you pull. Sometimes you almost sit on your farrier. And apparently sometimes you take your handler for a quick trip backward down the barn aisle. 😂

But we got it done, Lumi. ❤️

Learn more about the wonderful work being done for Lumi and the other animals at HomeFarm at homefarmundermountain.org

09/01/2026

PART 1 | A year ago, I met this horse in a driveway. Look at him TODAY. ❤️🐴

Some of you may remember him as Oz.

When I first met him, his feet were severely overgrown, he was in poor condition, and because of his blindness and other challenges, sedation was necessary to safely begin working on his hooves.

Today, Oz has a new name—Lumi—and thankfully, a very different life. ❤️

Lumi was rescued by HomeFarm at Undermountain Road in Lenox, Massachusetts, and I've had the privilege of continuing to care for his feet there. I work on quite a few of the horses at Home Farm, and the care these animals receive is pretty incredible.

For Part 1 of Lumi's one-year update, we're tackling both front feet. I'll walk you through the hoof trim, what I'm seeing, how his feet have changed, what I'm removing and WHY.

For horse owners wanting to better understand hoof balance, overgrown horse hooves, blind horse care, farrier work, horse hoof problems and what your farrier looks for during a trim, there's a lot to learn from Lumi.

He still requires sedation for his farrier appointments, and having a knowledgeable handler and a good team makes all the difference.

And that becomes especially important in Part 2… 😳😂

We're heading to the hind feet, the sedation starts wearing off, and if you saw yesterday's preview of Lumi heading backward down the barn aisle…you're about to get the REST of the story.

When I think back to the horse I first met in that driveway and look at him today, this is why consistent hoof care matters.

Same horse. New name. New life. And a whole lot more good years ahead of him. ❤️🐴

To learn more about HomeFarm, support the animals in their care, schedule a lesson or trail ride, or arrange a visit:

homefarmundermountain.org

PART 2 → The hind feet…and this is where things get a little wild. 👀

08/31/2026

Everything was going perfectly fine…

Until it wasn't. 😂

I'm just going to leave this little piece of farrier life right here with absolutely NO context for now. 👀🍿

Horse owners will have opinions.

Farriers will understand.

And the internet will probably do what the internet does. 😂

There's a MUCH bigger story behind this horse, his hoof care, and what's happening in this clip.
I'll introduce you to him tomorrow. ❤️

Until then…have at it. 👇😂

08/29/2026

POE • THE FINALE 🐴❤️

One last foot and Poe’s fresh set is COMPLETE.

In this final part, I finish Poe’s vet-recommended therapeutic shoeing, then we get to one of the most satisfying parts of the entire job—the pour-in pad reveal.

There’s nothing quite like p*eling that cardboard away and seeing a perfect pour underneath.
And then…I immediately cover that beautiful clean finish with dirt and hoof trimmings. 😂

There’s a reason for it—it helps take away the surface tackiness so it’s less likely to grab debris or accidentally get pulled out.

One last important instruction: KEEP IT DRY FOR 24 HOURS. No streams, brooks, wet paddocks or standing in moisture. After that, he’s good to go.
Poe has ringbone and a complicated hoof history, so every part of his hoof care and therapeutic horseshoeing has a purpose.

Three parts. Four feet. Fresh shoes. And one very satisfying ending. ❤️🐴

Did you watch all 3 parts of Poe’s series?

08/26/2026

POE • PART 2 | This isn't just a horseshoe

If you've been following Poe, you already know this foot has quite a history.

Poe has ringbone along with several other issues, and his shoeing package is based on recommendations from his veterinarian. This isn't about making a hoof look a certain way—there's a reason behind every part of this setup.

Today I'm taking you start to finish through his front left foot.

First I pull the old egg-bar shoe and evaluate the hoof underneath it. Then I'll walk you through how I trim and balance the foot, prepare the new egg bar with a leather rim pad, fit it, and nail it on using 5 Slim Blade nails.

Then comes another important part of Poe's setup: the EquiThane pour-in hoof packing.

I'll show you how I apply the pour-in material underneath the shoe, let it set, and finish everything up. Once it's in, I want that foot kept away from moisture for the first 24 hours, then he's good to go.

And this particular foot has been through a LOT.

At one point I actually had to perform a hoof resection to remove stone and compromised material from this same foot. If you're new here, that video is pinned at the top of my TikTok page so you can see just how far Poe has come.

That's why I always say you have to know the history behind the hoof. What you're looking at today may be the result of months—or years—of veterinary care, therapeutic horseshoeing and consistent hoof management.

One front foot left. Part 3 finishes Poe's fresh set.

👇 HORSE OWNERS:Has your horse ever needed egg-bar shoes, pour-in pads, or therapeutic shoeing?

👇 FARRIERS & VETS:What are you looking at first when you're presented with a horse with ringbone and a complicated hoof history?

Follow along for more ringbone in horses, therapeutic horseshoeing, egg bar shoes, horse hoof care, pour-in hoof pads, EquiThane hoof packing, corrective shoeing, horse hoof problems, hoof resection, farrier education, horse lameness and equine hoof health.

08/26/2026

PART 1 | A Fresh Set for Poe

We're starting another full horseshoeing series, and this time you're coming along start to finish with Poe, one of our rescue horses.

Before I pick up my tools, I LOOK.

In this video, I'll show you what I'm seeing in both Poe's front and hind feet—hoof balance, growth and wear patterns, hoof wall, sole, frog, angles, and anything else that catches my attention before the first shoe ever goes on.

Then we're starting where I like to start most of my shoeing jobs: the hind feet.

I'll walk you through trimming and balancing the hinds and explain what I'm doing and why I'm doing it as we go.

That's something I want more horse owners to understand. Horseshoeing isn't simply pulling off an old shoe, trimming some hoof and nailing another one back on. The trim underneath that shoe is the foundation for everything that follows.

The more you understand your horse's feet, the better questions you can ask and the better you can recognize when something starts changing.

Hinds are done. ✅

Now we're ready to move up front…

➡️ PART 2: We're starting Poe's first front foot and fitting the first shoe.

👇 HORSE OWNERS: When your farrier is working, do you watch and ask questions—or give them space and come back when they're finished? 😂

👇 FARRIERS & LEARNING FARRIERS: Do you start your shoeing jobs with the fronts or the hinds?
Follow Poe's series for more horse hoof care, horseshoeing, how a farrier trims a horse, hoof balance, horse hoof anatomy, healthy horse hooves, farrier education, horse hoof problems, rescue horse care and equine health.

08/23/2026

Your horse pulled a shoe…now what?

This is one of those videos I think every horse owner can learn something from.

This mare managed to pull a shoe, but her owner did a nice job protecting the foot until I could get there. She used duct tape and 2-inch foam board to make a temporary protective covering and help keep the hoof protected in the meantime.

Once I arrive, I'll walk you through the entire pulled horseshoe repair.

I clean up and evaluate the hoof, fit and shape the horseshoe, add a leather rim pad, and then take you through how I position and nail the shoe back onto the foot.

Fresh shoe on. Bell boot back in place. And she's good to go. ✅

One important reminder: a temporary hoof wrap is just that—temporary. If your horse loses a shoe, check the hoof for injury or exposed/loose nails, contact your farrier, and ask what they recommend for your particular horse until they can get there. If the horse is significantly lame, injured, bleeding, or you suspect a puncture, contact your veterinarian.

👇 HORSE OWNERS: What's your go-to emergency hoof kit when your horse pulls a shoe?

👇 FARRIERS: What's one thing you wish every owner had on hand for a lost shoe?

Save this one—you never know when you're going to walk into the barn and find a horseshoe lying on the ground. 😂

Follow along for more what to do when a horse pulls a shoe, horse hoof care, lost horseshoe repair, emergency hoof care, horseshoeing, hoof wrapping, hoof protection, farrier tips, horse health and horse owner education.

08/21/2026

PART 3 | Now let's put the whole horse back together.

We've worked our way through the front feet, and today we're wrapping up this trim with the hinds.

Just like Parts 1 and 2, I'm talking you through what I'm seeing as I work—the hoof balance, growth and wear patterns, hoof wall, sole, frog, angles, and why I'm making the adjustments I'm making.

One thing I want horse owners to understand from this series is that I don't look at four completely separate feet. I'm looking at how all four hooves work together underneath the horse. Hoof balance can influence weight distribution and the way a horse moves, which is why the hind feet deserve just as much attention as the fronts.

And I've got to give this guy some credit…
He had to p*e BADLY. 😂

But he stood there like an absolute gentleman and patiently let me finish the job. Thankfully, unlike one of my recent patients, I managed to escape without an unwanted shower. 😂💦

Three videos. Four feet. One complete trim. ✅
Hopefully this series gave some of you a better understanding of what your farrier is actually looking at—not just what we're cutting off.

👇 HORSE OWNERS: What's something about your horse's feet you've always wanted a farrier to explain?

👇 FARRIERS: What do you look at FIRST when you're evaluating the hind feet?

Follow along for more horse hoof care, hoof trimming, hoof balance, horse hoof problems, barefoot horse care, healthy hooves, farrier education, horse soundness, equine health and real-world farrier work.

08/19/2026

PART 2 | You saw what I was looking at…now let me show you what I’m changing. 🐴

We’re continuing this horse’s trim, and just like Part 1, I’m talking you through what I see and what I’m doing as I go.

That’s the part of these videos I really want horse owners to take away: hoof trimming isn’t just about removing excess hoof.

I’m looking at hoof balance, growth and wear patterns, the hoof wall, sole and frog, how the horse is carrying weight, and where I can make adjustments without trying to change too much at once.

Every foot is different. Every horse is different. And every cut should have a reason behind it.
If you’re a horse owner, I hope these longer videos help you understand a little more about what your farrier is actually looking at when they pick up your horse’s feet.

🐴 We’re making progress—but we’re not finished yet. Part 3 is coming next.

👇 What are YOU noticing as the trim progresses? I love seeing what horse owners and other farriers pick up on.

Follow along for more horse hoof care, hoof trimming, hoof balance, horse hoof problems, healthy hooves, barefoot horse care, farrier education, horse soundness, horse health tips and equine care.

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Westfield, MA
01085

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+14136266845

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