Travis's Soap Box
Good Farriery Does Not Come In Plain Black and White Boxes....

Hoof care is unique to each horse. There is no generic program to be applied to every horse. Don't trust anyone who says s/he shoes every horse the same way. Every horse does not need a rockered toe; every horse does not need trailers, etc....
A Good Farrier Is A Maintenance Worker....

The farrier can't be blamed if he's not called. Hoof care must be a regular, scheduled maintenance activity. Put your horse on a schedule with a competent farrier.
There's No Law That Says All Horses Have to Be Shod....

There are only three valid reasons for shoeing:
Protection--If a horse's rate of hoof wear exceeds his rate of hoof growth, or if he's being asked to work on rough or variable terrain, his hooves must be protected.
Traction-- The horse's usage will sometimes dictate that we take away traction (e.g. reining horses) or provide additional traction (e.g. pulling horses).
Gait Alteration--A farrier will try to change an animals way of going for one of two reasons: either to stop the horse from hitting (interfering in some way) or in an attempt to modify a particular gait to better meet an arbitrary standard.
Balance is Essential....

For some reason it is difficult for people to look at a hoof and determine if it is balanced. Skilled professionals should have a trained eye. Horses that are not balanced are not sound.
The Hoof is Plastic, Not Elastic....

It changes shape, but it does not retain its shape: it's plastic--not elastic. Subsequently, even an expert should find it extremely difficult--virtually impossible--to evaluate the trim or shoe job after even a short period of time has passed. Don't let someone tell you that your farrier has done a poor job unless that person watched the shoe job take place or evaluated it very shortly after completion.
Where A Farrier Went To School Or Who S/He Schooled with
Is Virtually Irrelevant Unless S/He's New To The Trade....

The farrier industry/trade is not static. The basics are essential, but technology and technique are rethought daily. The most important measure of a farrier, then, is not where he went to school, but whether he goes to school every day. If he's not taking advantage of continuing education--reading books and periodicals, attending clinics and seminars--he's not educated. There's a big difference between having ten years of experience and having one year's experience repeated ten times.
Trainers Are Called Trainers Because Their Job Is To Train...Not to Shoe, Not To Do Vet Work....

Likewise, horseshoers are called horseshoers because their job is to shoe horses, not to train them, not to vet them. Establish a good working team of equine professionals (trainers, farriers, veterinarians, dentists, chiropractors, etc.) and make sure they can work together and that you facilitate their working together
by calling upon the appropriate person for the task at hand. As the owner, you're the coordinator.
Shoenailers Look At Feet, Real Farriers Look At Horses....

You can look at a horse statically, you can look at a limb, you can look at a hoof capsule, but you've got to look at the whole horse to do things properly, and you've got to see that horse in motion. Good horseshoers will often evaluate a horse dynamically without the owner or casual bystander even knowing it: They may watch the horses in the paddock as they drive in, they may watch the horse moving down the alleyway as he's being brought to the shoeing area, or they may simply be listening (without looking) to the cadence and rythym of the horse's footfalls as he's being brought to the shoeing area--but they're paying attention and evaluating that horse in motion.
Although I try not to appear too opinionated, I seldom lack for an opinion, and this page is simply a forum to voice those opinions. It may also help horse owners understand the business a bit better, and encourage them to have a better base of knowledge on the subject. There are alot of so called experts existing within this business that have purely unrealistic views on farriery, and this section is simply to set a few things straight. The ideas here are formed from experience, as well as research.
Short Shoeing Is Bad Shoeing....

Many problems I see from farriery are a result of not providing enough support. Mostly caudal (heel) support.
The "Ideal Angle" Is A Very Misleading Phrase...

Despite all the ludicrous statements that you'll find in various texts and people regarding shoeing angles, there is NO generic, "ideal" angle! I've seen all kinds of  prescriptions, most of them ridiculously low, but the ideal angle is one which is appropriate for the individual horse. Most saddle horses trotting around the countryside will fall somewhere between 52 and 58 degrees. If one is make an error, it's best to make the angle a bit too high rather than too low. I've not seen any horses that I felt should be at less than 50 degrees. If you have questions about this, ask me to demonstrate in person.
All Horseshoeing Is Not The Same....

Yes, the anatomy is the same, but gaits and usage vary radically, even within breeds. The end result that you desire is more specific to usage than to breed or type; subsequently the farrier you select should be familiar with the discipline or activity you are engaged in. In effect, don't expect a walking horse shoer to work on your dressage horse, and don't call a dressage shoer to shoe your walking horse. Good farriers don't necessarily specialize, but they'll have a range that they want to work within.
If You Drive On A Flat Tire, You Will Ruin The Rim...

If your horse is lame, acknowledge it, work with your veterinarian and farrier to correct it; don't try to force the horse to work his way through it. Likewise if you don't keep up on your shoeing and your horse is 12 weeks into his shoes, and he throws a shoe and breaks a huge hunk of hoof off, or steps on the shoenail and lames himself, DON'T blame the farrier. It's the same as if you blame the tire shop for your bent rim because you were stupid enough to drive on it while it was flat!
No Matter How Good A Farrier Is, He Will Occasionally Find Himself Standing In A Pool Of Blood...

It doesn't matter how good you are or how experienced you are, you're occasionally going to take a nail too close or a knife too deep, especially when working on bad-footed or bad-mannered horses. This does not mean that you're dealing with a bad farrier (unless s/he tries to hide it from you). It simply means that the tolerance limits for shoeing are much closer than the average person is aware of. Tolerance limits for properly driving a nail are in the range of 1/60,000 of an inch. It's amazing that farriers don't quick more horses than they do. This is not to be confused with the inexperienced butcher who pares your horse's sole out until he bleeds, and then puts pads on to cover it up, I have unfortunately followed behind a few of those, and they had no business shoeing. My point is don't automatically assume the worst, if you have been using your farrier for years, and trust him, then keep using him.
You Can Take A Crowbar And Straighten Anything, But Some Things Can't Stand The Strain...

If a mature horse has angular deviations, (meaning CROOKED LEGS), you have to optimize what you have, and live with it. You don't crank on it, and you don't screw around with it. You shoe the horse as he stands and try to keep him sound. That's it and that's all. "Corrective" shoeing CANNOT re-invent mother nature and genetics! My favorite saying in this instance is "I don't build 'em, I just shoe 'em". No one can make a crooked legged horse straight! If you don't know if your horse is crooked legged ASK, unless your farrier also happens to have sold you the horse, he is generally going to shoot you straight, and should have the knowledge and eye to judge as well.
Foal Hoofcare Is Essential....

Regular maintenance at this most important time is preventative maintenance. Furthermore, good farriers can recognize problems in foals, recognizing angular and/or flexural deformities while they're manageable. Which is BEFORE the age of 4 months old!! After this age the growth plates have already made it impossible to change a thing.
The Heighth Of The Nail Has Nothing To Do With Whether The Horse Is Going To Be Quicked Or Not....

High nails are generally good nails. They help because they're not on an acute angle, so if the horse rips off a shoe, he's not as likely to rip hoof wall away with it. And they're usually into more substantive hoof wall.
"Cutting Doughnuts" Is Tough On Your Tires, Your Shocks, Your Tierods, And Your Rearend....

Hotwalkers and longelines are useful tools, but it concerns me that they're often used to excess. Although longeing has become a "training" tool of choice, I suggest that longeing be kept to a minimum. It creates repetitive uneven weight loads on the fetlock, pastern and coffin joints. Since--more often than not--longeing is used as a quieting aid for fresh horses, there's often a lot of stress also placed on the horse's head, pulling him back into the pattern, which places stress on his back and spinal process. Of course if you longe a horse properly (working the horse in large circles, using a surcingle and driving set, or longeing the horse "free"), it's not a problem.