You'll find a number of significant enhancements to your favorite Diamond horseshoes; higher quality steel for more durable wear, deeper crease in the shoe allowing maximum contact of the nail head for a stronger hold, cleaner and more precise nail punching and an adjusted nail pitch resulting in less hoof wall damage and more secure fit.

This is one of the most common questions asked about horseshoes. The target for most manufacturers of riding horseshoes made for the North American market is to crease and punch for a city head nail, normally the 5 City. The V-shaped crease of the Diamond horseshoe allows a countersink which maximizes contact with the nail head.

The first line of defense against hoof disease is usually the farrier. While horse owners may want you to quickly eliminate a suspected hoof infection in one treatment (as part of the routine trimming and shoeing), it will be important to provide sound advice in the form of a game plan.

Back strain among farriers is often considered the price one pays for doing something one loves. Years spent curled into a human question mark all too frequently take their toll in the form of herniated disks, strained back muscles and - ultimately and unfortunately - pain.

A successful commitment to customer service requires some planning. There is no doubt you have to be quick on your feet in dealing with your customers but you can't overlook the advantages of thorough planning.

When asked to work on a horse with a club foot, take extra time to evaluate the whole horse. Look at the horse from all angles. Watch the horse as it takes a couple of steps; this can help you see where the foot cannot take stress. A horse will protect himself just as you do when hurting. Learning this and understanding the lame horse is mandatory for a farrier to have a successful, positive shoeing experience. Doing anything less is simply application, not correction.

We have developed a list of reference points that have helped us in evaluating limb balance and developing a plan for trimming the hoof to maintain or enhance the balance. We are putting together a series of DVDs that will go into the details of these reference points and how we see them affecting balance. The following list and images give a good overview of those points and will hopefully give you food for thought in your daily work.

Radiology of the equine hoof is used to confirm various disease processes such as laminitis, third phalanx fractures, osteoarthritis (ring bone), navicular disease and extensive hoof wall separations.

The foundation of any shoeing job is the foot preparation. One statistic that all farriers should be aware of is that most chronic lameness is caused by poor or improper foot care. Look at it this way. The horse is stuck with the job you do until the next time he's shod. Unfortunately, if the work is hastily done and the feet are out of balance that's what the horse has to work with as a base of support.

One of the steps to getting a good trim is often overlooked. If you don't have a good view of the balance of the bottom of the foot it is difficult to get the best trim. How you hold the leg affects the view of the foot, sometimes dramatically changing the perception you end up with.

In order to gain a better understanding of how to approach a variety of situations in foot care, a working knowledge of the parts of the foot and leg and how they relate or 'communicate' with each other is necessary.

The Natural Angle presented a group of questions regarding vet/farrier relations to Stephen O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS. His thoughtful responses may give you some guidance when confronted with various foot problems and sensitive issues involving lameness and lower limb problems. Dr. O'Grady's background as a farrier before becoming a veterinarian and his continued work with lower limb problems offers a unique perspective on questions facing the farrier, veterinarian and horse owner.

"White line" disease is a problem that is affecting all breeds of horses. It can be an absolute nightmare to deal with. It knows no boundaries. I have seen it in many areas of the United States and in all breeds. I have seen it in barefoot as well as shod horses and it occurs in the best barns as well as the worst.

These photos show a simple one heat modification that can be used on a daily basis. All four blows take place on the horn. Remember to lock the shoe against the horn before each hit. This is an efficient way to turn generic or front patterns into a nice squared hind pattern with a minimum of effort. Notice that the shoe has been turned after the first hit and then again after the third hit. Your first two blows set the toe, the next two straighten the branches at the first two nail holes.

Many of the most experienced and respected farriers in the industry will tell you that the trim is the most important step in shoeing a horse. If you don't get the trim right then keeping the horse sound and the hoof in good condition is going to be more difficult. We have a few simple suggestions regarding the observations you should make before jumping into the trim of a front foot.

The following information will be useful in setting up a wheel for sharpening your hoof knives, including the hook. These photos are of a wheel being set up to sharpen left hand knives. Since this type of wheel is directional, you will need to groove the opposite side of the wheel for right hand knives. Knives should always be sharpened or buffed with the blade facing down to avoid injury and to get the best results. Always make sure the wheel is rotating in the proper direction. An arrow is usually placed on these types of wheels to indicate rotational direction.

Treatment for many injuries to the hoof can be aided by the immediate application of a frog support device. Veterinarians and farriers for years have found this first stage treatment to be complimentary to the more extensive treatment that may follow. Farriers can train horse owners to apply a simple device such as the Lily Pad that is described in this article. Remember that in many cases time is critical to the success of the overall treatment and immediate attention can often aid in recovery.