Jay Tovey and co-host Mark Trussler continue their chat with farrier Alex, focusing on foot balance, conformation assessment, and trimming and shoeing plans with an emphasis on the caudal hoof. Alex describes his influences from Stefan Wehrli and Dr. Rick Redden, explaining trimming in multiple planes (landing, standing, and breakover phases) and using heel rockers to increase caudal weight-bearing without lowering key angles, sometimes adapting in three planes for medial-lateral differences and shunted heels. He outlines how he evaluates balance by observing gait, checking limb alignment, feeling for flares, assessing sole depth and symmetry, and using the central sulcus as a reference, plus strategies like floating overloaded areas and narrowing the shoe’s ground surface. Discussion covers toe flare and heel distortion, environment and breeding differences between Germany and the UK, common conformation issues (offset knees, club feet), early foal management, skepticism about forcing level landing, approaches to flares and dorsal dressing, breakover mapping and toe support, shoe thickness choices, and advice to stay open-minded, keep learning, and collaborate with vets and colleagues.
