{"id":19464,"date":"2026-02-22T18:02:46","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T18:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dressagetoday.com\/?p=19464"},"modified":"2026-02-22T18:02:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T18:02:53","slug":"fancy-footwork-shoeing-your-dressage-horse-for-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dressagetoday.com\/horse-care\/hoof-care\/fancy-footwork-shoeing-your-dressage-horse-for-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Fancy Footwork: Shoeing Your Dressage Horse for Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dressage horses are equine athletes who perform with power and grace in the dressage ring. They need to be be able to move freely and comfortably, and poor shoeing can lead to problems. Horse owners and riders often wonder how to tell if their sporthorses are shod properly for peak performance. To learn more, we asked Chuck Jones, a certified journeyman farrier with a diploma from the Worshipful Company of Farriers in England. He served as the U.S. Team Farrier for dressage and jumping at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He has been shoeing sporthorses for many years, and his goal is to help horses stay sound and comfortable in their job and perform at their best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Multi-Dimensional Assessment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jones says that determining if a sporthorse is properly shod involves working with the horse, owner, rider and sometimes the veterinarian in a team effort. The first thing he does as a farrier is look at the feet and evaluate the basics, which include hoof balance and condition of the hooves. \u201cAfter looking at the horse standing still on level ground, it is important to watch the horse move and evaluate foot strike (the way the feet land),\u201d he says. Evaluation must look at the whole picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones says the biomechanics of the horse\u2019s structure and movement are affected by shoeing, so it\u2019s important for farriers to understand equine biomechanics and be able to explain it to the owner or rider. Biomechanics involves the mechanics of a living body and the forces exerted by muscles and gravity on the skeletal structure. Even though this is a complex subject often discussed among farriers, Jones tries to put it in simple terms for his clients. \u201cSimply stated, it is the study and evaluation of the horse\u2019s conformation, hoof and leg, in motion,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll of us sometimes get stuck in a two-dimensional view when it comes to horses and balance,\u201d says Jones. \u201cWe must keep reminding ourselves that it is always multi\u00addimensional.\u201d It is also important to evaluate each horse as an individual since no two horses are the same. They all have differences in conformation, which affects the way the feet are shaped and how they move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chuck Jones says farrier aim to trim and shoe in the best way for each individual horse. Courtesy Chuck Jones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEach horse has his own physical traits,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen a horse is brought to me to shoe, my job is to evaluate the feet and shoe the horse properly based on his conformation and his job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones says a horse may not have textbook-perfect feet, but that\u2019s fine if they are normal for his individual conformation. The farrier tries to trim and shoe a horse in the best way for that particular horse. \u201cWe try to manage a conformation fault rather than try to correct it. If we understand how to manage it, we won\u2019t overdo it,\u201d he says. Trying to correct a fault with trimming or shoeing simply puts more stress on another part of the foot or leg. The trim and the shoe must match the horse\u2019s conformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Considerations When Shoeing a Sporthorse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jones explains that the horse\u2019s environment, conformation, discipline and the footing at various shows are some of the factors that must be taken into consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEach of these factors will affect the way we shoe these horses,\u201d he says. \u201cRegarding discipline, for example, when we shoe show hunters, our objective is to support the low, long movement that is ideal for a show hunter and in doing so, we might use a light shoe that reduces unwanted knee action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones says there are many things to consider with the various disciplines, and the farrier must look at all these things when trying to make the right decision for that horse. The footing may be different at different shows. If the horse is working on grass, it might be wet with dew in the morning and slippery, requiring more traction than when the horse is working on synthetic footing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sporthorses working on grass often have their shoes drilled for studs to provide better traction. Courtesy Chuck Jones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf a show jumper or event horse is working on grass, we figure out what kind of studs to add to the shoes,\u201d Jones says. \u201cThis is based on how much moisture is on the grass, and how much is in the soil from rain. There are many variables when making these decisions.\u201d The farrier can add a little or a lot of traction to shoes, depending on footing and the competition (whether dressage, show jumping, eventing, or some other discipline).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Environmental Effects on a Sporthorse’s Hooves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jones notes that there are many issues that might need to be addressed when shoeing sporthorses. \u201cThese [shoeing issues] include various characteristics of the hoof, the needs of the discipline and any environmental issues that affect the hoof or the shoeing,\u201d says Jones. \u201cMany people don\u2019t take into consideration the environment where the horse lives. For example, a tropical environment with high humidity is hard on horses\u2019 feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For sporthorses who winter in Florida, Jones says the wet, tropical climate can be hard on their feet. \u00a9Amy K. Dragoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Since Jones has been shoeing horses on the A circuit for many years, he is familiar with horses going to Florida for the winter and north for the summer. \u201cFlorida is wet with a tropical environment, and this in itself is hard on horses\u2019 feet. Many of us farriers on the show circuit are happy when these horses go north, even though it\u2019s harder on us to travel more, with more stress and longer hours, to follow them,\u201d he says. \u201cWe are excited for the horses to go north because their feet automatically start getting better after they get out of the tropics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Management Changes to Consider for Improved Hoof Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sporthorse performance is affected by many things, including a rider\u2019s or trainer\u2019s talent, but there are other important influences. \u201cGrooms, and their attention to details regarding the whole horse and his environment, are critical factors,\u201d Jones says. \u201cFarm management\u2014maintaining riding surfaces, the amount of bedding used and even how clean the stalls are\u2014will also have an impact on the condition and health of the horse\u2019s feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He points out that sporthorses are often frequently bathed, which mimics a humid environment and can negatively affect their hooves. \u201cSome grooms wash these horses several times a day during summer months because they don\u2019t want any skin problems. However, this can be hard on the feet,\u201d Jones says. It\u2019s important to try to keep the feet from becoming too wet or saturated when bathing the horse. Frequent washing, with the feet alternately wet and dry, tends to damage the surface, resulting in more hoof cracks. It\u2019s similar to a person whose hands are in and out of water all the time; the skin tends to crack and chap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Frequent baths can negatively affect a horse’s hooves. \u00a9Amy K. Dragoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also common for horses\u2019 legs to be washed with dish\u00adwashing soaps, which are designed to break down fats and oils. Thus, they tend to remove the natural oils from the horse\u2019s hooves. This can contribute to degrading of the hoof capsule,\u201d he says. \u201cTo minimize damage to the hoof horn, I suggest using a mild soap designed for use on animals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a show barn wants to continue using dish soap, Jones asks that they apply a hoof dressing before they bathe the horse to help repel water better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When to Reassess a Sporthorse\u2019s Hooves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jones says the foot and shoeing should be reassessed each time the farrier comes to trim or shoe. \u201cThe horse\u2019s movement and the related shoeing is in constant flux, and there might be subtle changes\u2014good or bad\u2014reported by the rider and trainer. This might allow the farrier to see the horse in the context of his performance. Our job is to keep the horse comfortable and sound while performing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rider may be the first to notice that something is a little off. Jones says it\u2019s important to not be timid about mentioning any concerns to the farrier. \u201cI really trust the riders,\u201d he says. When a rider or trainer is in tune with the horse they are riding, training and competing, they can feel subtle changes. They may not be able to explain exactly what\u2019s wrong, but they definitely know something is wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones always utilizes any information from the rider. He then combines it with his own experience to determine how the shoeing will progress. \u201cWe watch the horse move at the walk, at the jog and again under tack. We use hoof testers to see if there are any signs of discomfort or pain responses,\u201d he says. \u201cThere are a multitude of little things that each farrier might do to reassess the horse. At the end of the day, however, we need to find out how the horse feels when ridden. We want to know what the rider feels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jones explains that farriers will watch sporthorses walk and trot in hand to assess their movement. \u00a9Amy K. Dragoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Discussing Concerns With Your Farrier or Veterinarian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes what the rider notices may be subtle, but farriers use that information as they make their assessments. \u201cThe rider might tell me that the horse feels great, but sometimes when bending to the left, he hesitates. The horse isn\u2019t lame, but there\u2019s something not quite right. That gives me some direction for my evaluation. The farrier sometimes has to play detective, working to put the pieces together,\u201d says Jones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rider needs to keep the farrier up to date on any changes in movement or performance. \u201cRiders often have insight on how the horse feels when ridden, and this is very important information,\u201d he says. \u201cI want to be kept in the loop because it helps me plan for the next shoeing. I might need to come out sooner than scheduled and then, if needed, I can talk with the veterinarian.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones notes that it\u2019s a team effort to keep horses sound. \u201cEach member of the team has a piece they are accountable for. We must work together to achieve success,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s all about the horse and rider. If it starts to become anything different than that, we need to take a new look and work together.\u201d The horse\u2019s comfort and soundness must come first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For More:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n