In a effort to increase our research and development in farriery we’ve recently invested in the Metron Software designed to help farriers and veternarians evaluate and document hoof changes.  We recommend our customers to invest in a detailed hoof evaluation of their horses hooves every 6 months or every 3 visits to ensure their horses are “on the right track”. 

The 1st evaluation is free and each evaluation afterwards will be performed for only $45.  With the evaluation you’ll receive a copy on CD to keep on file for your records.  We’ll also contact you personally to explain the details of the hoof evaluation for free.  Please contact us if your interested.  Thank You.

I got a chance to look at a few x rays today of a nice semi-retired jumping horse at a barn I shoe at.  The horse isn’t under my care but I was thankful for the opportunity to take a look at the shoeing and the x rays.  The films were not very clear but I’d like to talk about what I saw and what I think. P3 was flat, the hoof pastern axis was broken back, a small spur or exitosis distal tip of P2, and a little bit of Side bone on the LF and RF.  The horse has been abscessing in the heel area every few weeks and is very sensitive in the heel area with hoof testers. 

This very situation always make me think about the advantages and disavantages of wedge shoes on heel sore horses. 

I want to make sure I state that there’s an exception to every rule.  When I write this I’m only brainstorming my ideas and opinions. 

I believe additional support to the hoof via frog, sole, and shoe support are very important when considering the application of a wedge shoe.  If I have a heel sore horse with a broken back hoof pastern axis I’m going to focus on 2 things in particular:

1. doing what I can to realign hoof pastern axis
2. reduce break-over forces

  If I have to wedge a horse to help realign P1, P2, and P3 than I more than likely will use some type of support via the frog, shoe, or the sole in a means to take pressure off the heals that are already sore.  The trimming of a foot before applying a wedge shoe is very important as well.  Some horses left with too tall of a heel that has run forward  as a result will sometimes need to have the heels trimmed back then wedged back up after balancing the hoof. 

With this horse in-particular wedging the heels without supporting the rest of the foot will only increase pressure in the heel region. 

Andrew Grimm, CF, RJF

I was home sick Monday and Tuesday but, I was able to work today with a slight headache.   Roxy (my dog) and I was at Urbana Riding Club in Urbana,MD.   I was originally scheduled to trim 20 school horses and 2 boarders horses but, I only did the boarders 2 and 10 of the school horses because of time constraints.  All the horses were anxious to go outside and eat the nice spring grass. 

For anyone interested in learning more about the services and summer programs offered at Urbana Riding Club please visit http://www.urbanaridingclub.com/.

Andrew Grimm, CF, RJF

Hello everyone,  if you haven’t already heard, here at Andrew Grimm, Farrier, LLC. we’ve started new customer incentive programs designed to save customers money.  If you have any ideas or suggestions than please let us know.   Thanks.

Right now we offer:

1. Multi horse discounts
2. Referral programs
3. Saturday appointments
4. Seasonal specials

Hello everyone, Happy Easter.  I want to welcome you to our website.  Here we will always keep you up to date on latest services we offer, and all of the new customer incentive programs we’ve made available to our customers.  Please stay tuned.  We’re very busy learning how to use our new website features but, we promise to have it completed promptly.   Thanks everyone.

Andrew Grimm, CF, RJF