I think that if you do a 50-50 trim, you don't have much choice so maybe the question should be is 50-50 the only way to trim?
I like to get 50/50 from the COA at least, sometimes 40% anterior, 60% caudal. I get this set up by moving the shoe forward or backwards.
It seems to give a decent result, but I don't consider it to be magic for all horses, environments etc. Since the foot (shoe) moves forward during a cycle things will change. If you have a talented rider who can tell, ask if they feel the horse does better in the beginning or at the end of a cycle. If at the beginning, perhaps it should be even further back. If at the end perhaps more forward.
The third option could be getting them done when they're due. You bring up a good point Jack. I think that most of the wear we see on the toe happens at the end of the cycle. I do have several riders who notice "that they must be due in a week". Then the ol' cowboys who know it's time when they're clicking all the time.
how about 50% to the left and 50% to the right , i am a big believer in the golden mean ration and use a Farmillo gauge on a regular basis
I would love to see this trim and fit in other shoes from n/b shoes before the trim , the trim, the fit, the finished job, leaving donnie aside
I tend to shoe to the hoof,the leg and the horse most of the time this comes somewere between 60/40 and50/50. Ive tried a few different gages Chris but not that one. Adda patton left me one when she was out here years ago, used it for a wile but always ended up going with what i felt was write for the horse in stead of what the gage was telling me. Thanks for your thoughts on this guys .
been shoeing for a few months now and to be honest have never come across any foot or any breed that does not fall into the "golden mean " rule after a decent foot trimming , the Farmillo rule fits into this protocol very nicely plus it makes a good hoof pick and spanner on studs , it is a handy little tool that slips into your knife pocket
Chris every critter on earth falls into the golden means rule other wise they would fall on there face . Well with the excption of the tree sloth and aint they gracefull
I use that Farmillo gauge on just about every horse. Like you said it has a very good hoof pick. When I first got that thing, I measured my work with it after I trimmed, and was fine to his parameters. It hangs on the box as a $45 hoof pick now.
