Scheduling an appointment with your
horse's farrier could seem like a simple job, make sure he comes out every 6 to
8 weeks to trim the feet and pound some shoes on. Maybe the worst thing
you would ever have to do is schedule another appointment because just a few
weeks later your horse throws a shoe. Not too complicated, just hand out
a hundred bucks for every typical job and your horse is all good for your next
ride. Consider how all this works when you horse isn't just a backyard pony,
trail riding mount or little hunter-jumper competing at the local shows.
Your horse is now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes even
worth millions. Shoeing is more than just a bimonthly call to a farrier
for a hundred dollar set of shoes. The right set of shoes could make or
break your racehorse. A bad job on your farrier's part could cost you a
race. A hoof problem for a backyard pony could require a few weeks of
extra care, but for a racehorse, hoof problems could scratch you from a race or
worse, result in the permanent crippling of a horse's career.