Hoof Matters - Professional Farrier Services

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

They saw me and came running (shoot! Missed that part on camera) but then they followed me right in…love these two littles!

08/23/2026

Hey Washington clients! Looking forward to seeing you this week!

08/08/2026

To my lovely clients who have recently come outside for their appointments in sandals….please don’t.

This was 3 days ago….with safety toed boots. He hit me behind the safety toe.
He is a good old horse, and not exactly sure why he pulled away, but it happened quick, and I usually can catch it….but caught my hip and I couldn’t get my foot out of the way.

He even skinned my foot through the thick boot and thick wool socks. So please…put close toed shoes on at least….

07/13/2026

I think it’s pretty safe to say i won these new Badonkadonk clients over. Eli, Freya and Gypsy were so good! Gypsy decided my knee was a good place to rest her weary head while skeptic Freya (though she calmly offered me three feet) got trimmed! Love these little so much!

07/08/2026

No, it didn't just ‘fall off’. And no, the mud didn't suck it off either 😅
If you've ever tried removing a shoe, you know it's not that easy (even if your farrier makes it look simple)
A shoe doesn't simply drop off a hoof. Something pulls it off. And once you know what, it's a lot easier to prevent.

So what actually pulls a shoe off?
🦶 Overreaching
the hind foot striking the back of the front hoof and catching the shoe. Deep going, fast work, jumping, hills, downhill ground and fitness levels all make it more likely.
💧 Waterlogged hooves
constant wet softens the horn, so has less strength to hold the shoe.
🪰 Fly aggrivation
Unsettled horses, pulling shapes to get away from flies and itching and stamping in dry weather loosens shoes too.
🐎 Movement and balance
Soreness, slipping, scrambling, a horse on the forehand, even a horse or its herd mate standing on its own shoe in the field. All made worse by uneven or slippy ground.
🧠 Unsettled horses
Spooks and startles, playfulness or fighting

How you can help keep them on:
✅ Correctly fitted overreach boots for turnout and fast work
✅ Manage turnout - protect from flies, roll field and avoid too much mud.
✅ Pick out and check feet daily to catch a loose shoe early
✅ Keep to your farrier's recommended interval, before the shoe loosens

A loose or thrown shoe can damage the hoof wall, so the sooner you call, the better but more often than not, it's the management, the weather or the horse, not the work.

Lost a shoe? Find it if you can (a buried, nail-up shoe is a hazard)

07/04/2026

Sunshine says HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY from Hoof Matters!

06/29/2026

Not all pictures of hooves are created equal. Whether you are taking pictures to send them to your farrier or vet, or to keep records of how your horse's feet change over time, you must ensure those pictures are taken correctly.
Store all your horse's information and pictures in our Horse Tracker for free 👇
https://www.horseeducationonline.com/horse-tracker

06/24/2026

Hello Washington Clients! I’m leaving, on a jet plane! I’ll see you soon!

04/08/2026

Meet: Pooky, Dinker, and Baby (now nicknamed Artemis by me because he likes to fly to the moon) 🤣

For years multiple farriers refused to do them, even try them…I showed up to a client’s house to do her horses and lo and behold there were donkeys! She told me I wasn’t doing them because they were feral and no one would do them…. which I didn’t take as an answer and instantly started becoming friends with snacks and scritches.

Well, today I got to do these lovely intact jacks. It wasn’t smooth sailing but these boys exceeded expectations and the pics here show they still wanted to be around me and have some snacks post trims! That’s a great sign that in short order, I have no doubt, they will be good solid citizens. To all those farriers who refused, thanks! Your loss is my gain! Bestest of days doing what you love. 💕