There are times when improving breakover is helpful, beneficial or necessary. The three main reasons or factors I personally choose for one of the two modifications are conformation, footing and rider skills.
October 21, 2025
Article Category: Horseshoeing
2025
2021
June 16, 2021
Sheared Heels or Heel Shear?
In this article, I will show you how I shoe a horse with a mild heel shear. In future articles, we will deal with the two severe stages that I call sheared heels. I will not attempt to diagnose the cause of this condition, which is explained in several great textbooks. Instead, I will shoe the horse just as I do in my everyday practice.
2020
November 12, 2020
12 Points of Reference for Evaluating Limb Balance
We have developed a list of reference points that have helped us in evaluating limb balance and developing a plan for trimming the hoof to maintain or enhance the balance. We are putting together a series of DVD’s that will go into the details of these reference points and how we see them affecting balance. The following list and images give a good overview of those points and will hopefully give you food for thought in your daily work.
November 12, 2020
Dave Farley Demonstrates Modifications Using the Kerckhaert SX-10
Dave Farley, APF-I CF visited the FootPro Shop and did a variety of shoe modifications using the Kerckhaert SX-10 unclipped shoes. The SX-10 is a 3/8” thick shoe that allows you to do various modifications without sacrificing the strength of the shoe.
2019
May 15, 2019
Basic Shoeing: Shoeing The Roping Horse
There are as many ways to shoe roping horses as there are horses. Each one is unique, with its own strengths and weaknesses.
A sound horse with good conformation, in a desirable environment, would do well barefoot. Yet this scenario is rare. Their riders each have their own set of priorities, skill levels, and schedules to factor in. Because of all these variables, each horse should be assessed as a unique individual. Communication and observation skills are essential in determining how best to shoe each horse in order that he may perform at his peak within his environment. For instance, you would not put sliders on a calf horse that chased cur dogs and wild cows during the week. You wouldn’t square a toe and dub his hind foot if he were weak in his stop. These are all factors you must learn through communication with rider/trainer and or using your observation skills. You should have a good understanding of the horse’s job description.
2018
December 13, 2018
Wire to Wire – The Pressure Never Ends
By Steve Norman
My work at the Thoroughbred farms in Kentucky always starts with the evaluation process. This is especially critical working with the foals, weanlings and yearlings. This is a process that includes the farm manager or staff member in charge of the particular horses I’m working on. In the very early stages, when confronted with serious conformation and hoof imbalance issues that may be better treated surgically, I will ask that a veterinarian be consulted. The pressure on all parties in dealing with high dollar bloodstock makes this type of cooperation critical.
November 21, 2018
What Kind of View Do You Have?
One of the steps to getting a good trim is often overlooked. If you don’t have a good view of the balance of the bottom of the foot it is difficult to get the best trim. How you hold the leg affects the view of the foot, sometimes dramatically changing the perception you end up with.
October 1, 2018
Farriery for Mismatched Feet
by Stephen E. O’Grady, DVM, MRCVS The management of mismatched hoof angles remains a controversial subject for both the farrier and veterinarian. Mismatched feet could be defined as forefeet
September 27, 2018
Guidelines of Balancing a Horses Limb
By Bob Pethick, CJF APF Farriers should not be trying to straighten limbs in aged horses. You’re simply trying to make the horse comfortable for it’s conformation. To help a
September 13, 2018
Basic Shoeing: 12 Points of Reference for Evaluating Limb Balance
By Dave Farley and Roy Bloom We have developed a list of reference points that have helped us in evaluating limb balance and developing a plan for trimming the hoof
September 11, 2018
Forging a Plain Stamped Shoe
by Roy Bloom, APF CJF Roy Bloom, APF CJF provided us with an opportunity to get some good step by step shots of him forging a plain stamped shoe using
September 11, 2018
Options for Break Over in Every Day Work
by Doug Workman, APF CJF There are many thoughts on the subject of break over as it pertains to the horse’s foot and limb function. I would like to discuss
