WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON FOOT PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN HITCH HORSES?
Dale McMain: “Thrush is always a common problem, but it is easily cured. The second most common problem is over shoeing which causes interfering, loss of shoes, loss of foot, and many headaches for the shoer.” Jim Rupple: “Any time you keep a horse shod for long periods of time, you can encounter problems. Dropped soles, quarter cracks and under run heels are the most common.” Tim Kriz: “The most common problem I see with hitch horses is cracked feet because of no pads and packing– especially on a horse that really pounds the ground.” Dale Schlabach: “I feel that the most common foot problem on hitch horses is contracted heels from being shod year after year, and not having proper frog pressure. Hooves become dry and brittle from having a lot of growth. It becomes a problem to keep shoes nailed on properly without cutting the foot back in the midst of` show season.” Will Lent: “Thrush, abscesses and cracks.” WHAT CAN THE FARRIER DO TO SOLVE OR MINIMIZE THESE PROBLEMS ? Dale McMain: “D
