The Farriers Wife

06/16/2026

On this day we were called to look at a horse that JoAnne Wilson was using with her students who were studying muscles and soft tissue work through massage with Wilson Meagher Sports Therapy. They noted that this horse traveled with visible foot soreness. We also noted that the glue on shoe was applied slightly to the outside and the heels were folding over, laying flat against the sole indicating the need to be trimmed back. The horse had a slightly broken forward hoof pastern angle. Travis proceeded to remove the glue shoe, clean up the hoof and begin the trim at the heels. He modified a steel shoe in the forge to account for the confirmation of the limb above, nailed on the shoe and as we can see the hoof pastern angle is strait. The result was BIG! The students noted a change in the soft tissue before they began to work on the horse and the rider stated that her horse "has full range of motion, more than ever before." Last update from the owner was two weeks after the shoeing and the horse is sound!

06/14/2026

Working with Geoff always brings great teamwork! This day Travis pulled the shoes and trimmed up the hinds while Geoff cleaned up the old shoe and changed a few modificiations.

06/11/2026

Jenny and Clara have invited us to give a clinic at Timber Valley Ranch Ohio Guide Outfitters in August. If you want to learn more about reading the confirmation of the horse by watching it move and posture, THIS is the clinic to attend! This is for all who are involved in horses to learn from some of the best who work closely with each other and horse owners in effort to make each horse feel the best it can.

06/09/2026

Before the day begins with horses, these two take the time to sharpen knives and buff tools. Farrier work is much more than what they do at the horse! Sharp tools save arms from getting sore and make work more efficient. These two make a great team.

06/08/2026

This gelding had a quarter crack appear since we were here last. He also has been adjusting to a new life, new barn and new friends.
After cleaning it out and finding a few small pebbles in it, he was snorting and blowing to show his relief. Travis modified his shoe by slimming the area under the crack to release the pressure applied so he could move more comfortably and it will also allow the hoof to grow down without continuing to crack. His wonderful human will keep us updated on his progress and we will make changes if necessary, but he walked off with a nice even clip clop so I think he is on the mend.

06/07/2026

Trying to be serious and talk while working isn’t always easy; my favorite part is how he just picks it up and keeps going. Here Travis is practicing how he moves the hot steel with brush stokes with the hammer. It saves your arms, makes the steel move and if your tonges are in the direction which you wish to move the steel, it will move and flow into place. I love to learn these tricks to share with you.

06/06/2026

A great afternoon helping this guy out. Our second visit to this guy who has limited mobility in his right front due to calcification in his knee. It was exciting to hear he is not going to be retired, and that he had three very successful trail ride with his owner since our last visit. Travis got him trimmed up nice and modified the shoe to help him break over more easily. We are so lucky to have great clients here in Maryland who want to give their equine buddies the best life!

06/04/2026

Each month the packing gets easier, Turbo is more relaxed traveling, and the time with my farrier husband makes me love him even more!

06/02/2026

What a great article. So much to think about when the foot is sore, and the VET cannot possibly have all the answers! Ask ALL your equine professionals such as chiropractors, dentists, body workers and farriers before settling with one diagnosis. Second opinions matter. https://www.facebook.com/share/18ZK2QetPQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

THE SYMPTOM IS IN THE FOOT. THE CAUSE IS OFTEN SOMEWHERE ELSE.

A horse becomes footsore.

The natural assumption is that the problem must be in the foot.

Sometimes that's exactly what's happened.

An abscess is in the foot.

A puncture wound is in the foot.

A crack is in the foot.

The problem and the symptom occupy the same place.

But not always.

A horse lands toe-first.

What you see is in the foot.

The cause may be hock arthritis.

A horse starts wearing one foot faster than the others.

The symptom is in the foot.

The cause may be a change in how the horse is loading its limbs.

A horse repeatedly loses a shoe from the same foot.

The symptom is in the foot.

The cause may be a movement pattern that has changed because the horse is uncomfortable elsewhere.

A horse develops bruising in the same area over and over again.

The symptom is in the foot.

The cause may be altered movement from joint disease higher up.

A horse develops contracted heels.

The symptom is in the foot.

The cause may be persistent avoidance of loading part of the limb because something else hurts.

A horse grows noticeably uneven feet.

The symptom is in the feet.

The cause may be asymmetry elsewhere in the body changing how those feet are loaded.

A horse struggles on hard ground.

The pain shows in the feet.

The cause may be endocrine disease affecting the lamellae.

A horse develops laminitis.

The pain is in the feet.

The damage is in the feet.

Yet the process often begins with insulin dysregulation or other hormonal disturbance long before the foot shows it.

A horse develops recurrent abscesses.

The symptom is in the foot.

The cause may be chronic lamellar damage that has been present for months or years.

A horse struggles to turn.

The symptom may look like foot pain.

The cause may be the hocks.

Or the stifles.

Or somewhere else entirely.

A horse doesn't want to go forward.

The feet may be blamed.

The cause could be orthopaedic pain.

It could be gastric disease.

It could be respiratory disease.

It could be something else altogether.

The point is not that the feet are unimportant.

Quite the opposite.

The feet are often the first place the horse reveals that something is wrong.

But they are not always telling us where the problem started.

One of the most valuable habits in equine healthcare is learning not to stop at the first thing you can see.

The foot matters.

But it is attached to a whole horse.

And sometimes the foot is not the problem.

It's the messenger.