Correct Shoeing: Doping-free Performance Enhancement For The Horse
By Gustav Optenplatz
As responsible horse owners, we invest a lot in our horses—through good feed, training, and education. We work on our riding skills and techniques, and we try to optimize the sport performance of our horse. We exert a lot of willpower, time and energy to achieve the sport success we desire.
From the point of view of the farrier, I would like to point out that despite our best efforts, all of our work and energy will not result in success if the horse’s alignment in not optimized. In other words, the horse’s performance will suffer if the hoof angles and positions are not aligned with the upper part of the leg.
The following results might be apparent:
- the horse stiffens on one side
- the horse does not carry himself
- the leans over the outside shoulder
- the horse stiffens up, particularly in turns
- the horse shows asymmetrical/unnatural muscle development
If these problems stem from the hoof, then no amount of proper training can overcome these problems. Trying to work a horse through these problems will only result in an overuse of the associated ligaments, tendons and joints, and to problems in the horse’s back and shoulder muscles.
From a biomechanical point of view,the horse pictured above has a number of problems: Poor shoeing resulted in a hoof with a toe that is too long, and with underrun heels. This led to inadequate pastern support, requiring the superficial deep flexor tendon to help support the pastern. These unnatural forces resulted in swelling and pain in the pastern and superficial deep flexor tendon. To avoid more pain in the front legs, the horse tried to carry more weight behind, and therefore was lacking the forward moving function of the hindlegs. This was a direct result of the changes in the front hooves. The rider, however, still asked for the forward movement, and so the horse tried to compensate with his breast and upper arm muscles. The horse became unridable. This downward spiral could have been prevented had the horse been shod correctly.
If you have difficulties with your horse, consider whether or not less than optimal shoeing could be the culprit. Does your horse have shoes that are too small? Are the heels different in heights? Are the hooves different in length? How are the hoof angles? Does the horse have hoof angle problems? All of these factors are not only cosmetic faults—they can also have a serious negative influence on the movement and the work ethic of the horse. The best way to treat problems, or prevent them before they occur, is to look to your horse’s feet.
Germany’s Gustav Optenplatz is a fourth generation master farrier who has been operating his own business since 1979. His client list included such illustrious members as Gabriela Grillo’s Ultimo, French rider and European Champion Margit Otto-Crepin’s Corlandus, and Olympic-Champion Nicole Uphoff’s Rembrandt. Current clients include Klaus Balkenhol, Trainer of the US Dressage Tream, Jean Bemelmans, National Trainer of the Spanish Dressage Team, Beatrix Ferrer-Salat and her gelding Beauvalais, and Italian Olympic rider Daria Fantoni and her horse, Sonnyboy. He is routinely retained by prestigious horseshows, such as Madison Square Garden, NY and Longschamps, Paris as their in-house farrier, and at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, he was the official farrier for the Italian Team. In addition to dressage horses, Gustav also cares for the jumping horses of Nations’ Cup riders Holger Hetzel and Willy Bettinger of Germany, the Olympic eventing horse, Kiwi, of Herbert Blöcker, and the stallions of the German Holsteiner Association. Gustav is also active in teaching, giving lectures for the German Farriers Association and holding clinics in his own workshop for other professional farriers on hoof balance and biomechanics of the horse. Because of his longterm relationship spanning more than 20 years with dressage trainers Jürgen and Jennifer Hoffmann, whose horses have also benefited from his services, Gustav will now be periodically available in California, too. Gustav plans to travel to Encinitas at least 4 times a year, and will be available for consultation and/or shoeing, with or without the owner’s personal farrier, through Jürgen Hoffmann. Interested horse owners should call Jürgen at 858-945-6022 or e-mail germandressage@aol.com to find out when Gustav’s next visit is scheduled.
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