By Laci Jones

If it were not for the horseshoe and wagon wheel, the United States would not have been founded, according to Lee Liles. The owner of the National Museum of Horse Shoeing Tools and Hall of Honor said Oklahoma is the grandest example in the world.

Horseshoe books date back to 400 B.C. In fact, the oldest horseshoe at the museum in Sulphur, Okla., is more than 500 years old from Denmark.

“I don’t like going back much farther than 1860 because we don’t have the documentation to back it up,” Liles explained. “You got a few magazines like the Harper Weekly and the Wallaces’ Report, but you want to verify the facts.”

19th Century Patents
The first patent on a horseshoe manufacturing machine in the United States was issued in 1834 to Henry Burden, a Scottish-born industrial engineer. By 1850, Burden had more than 50 different patents on his machines at Burden Iron Works in Troy, N.Y., Liles added.

This was all before the first horseshoe nail patent, which was issued in 1863 to Daniel Dodge in Keeseville, N.Y. The horseshoe nail is the most difficult nail in history to manufacture, Liles explained.

“It’s got a lot of different tapers to it,” he explained. “The nail needs to be strong and durable enough to drive through a foot, come out, be turned over 180 degrees and clenched down in the horse’s foot.”

The nail industry has changed a lot throughout the years, Liles said. In 1853, the horseshoe nail was made from Swedish Iron, but copper nails have become popular in recent years. The oldest nail company left in the United States was the Capewell Horse Nail Company owned by the Mustad family. The nail company started in 1881, and they recently moved out of the country.

“All of these major shoe companies, tool companies and nail companies were located in the northeast United States,” he explained. “That’s where the population was. There weren’t any companies located down here in the South like Oklahoma or Texas.”

Horseshoeing Literature

Most information on horseshoeing actually came from Germany, Liles explained. German books were first written in 1861 by Leisring and Hardman. In 1882, Lungwitz was added as a co-writer.

“[Leisring, Hardman and Lungwitz] were the main vets at the Royal Veterinary College,” Liles said. “[Hardman] wrote his own first book in 1884 and wrote 24 editions. Nobody else has ever written that many books.”

Liles said books are the greatest assets for education. In 1866, the U.S. Congress adapted the cavalry books would be written on the Dunbar System.

“Alexander Dunbar was a person who our Federal Government paid to teach anatomy to horseshoers back in that era,” Liles explained.

John Kerman, who was running a horse shoeing school at Fort Carlisle, Penn., wrote the book written on the Dunbar System. The first American horseshoe book was written in 1871. In 1902, Kerman came to the shoeing school at Fort Riley, Kan.

“The cavalry has been the main source of horseshoers in this country up to the 1950s,” Liles said. “The Army technical manual, TM-220, has been the most copied horseshoeing book in history.”

In the 1890s, Pennsylvania State recruited Mississippi-native, John Adams as a professor. The university sent Adams to Germany to study under Lungwitz.

“When he came back in about 1896, he and Lungwitz were such good friends that he had permission to write the American edition of the Lungwitz book,” Liles explained. “When he came back, Adams brought an instructor from Germany to Penn State to teach anatomy and horseshoeing to the vet students.”

Even Cornell University and Michigan State University had a protégé of Lungwitz in 1913, Liles said.

William Russell

“We had a great educator in Cincinnati, Ohio, who wrote 15 horseshoeing books from 1879 to 1907,” Liles explained. “His name was William Russell.”

In 1887, the first shoemaking contest was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Russell won. “The contest consisted of making 100 shoes on an opry stage in front of 3,000 spectators,” Liles explained.

Russell made 100 horseshoes in two hours and 40 minutes with the help of a team. John Silk, who later became a famous horseshoer, was one of Russell’s competitors.

In the 1890s, many horseshoers, including Russell, created display cases filled with their horseshoes. Many of these display cases are still intact and hanging in the museum. One of the cases was in the World Fair in St. Louis in 1904.

“When it went to the World Fair, they added nails to the case,” he added. A photo of the case at the World Fair was added into one of Russell’s books, and it was one of the last display cases he made. Russell offered all of his collection for sale in the same year.

“He died in 1907,” Liles explained. “He was a sick man, and he was blind when he died.”

Aluminum Horseshoe

Liles also has a case located at the museum built in 1895 had an aluminum horseshoe inside. “That is very rare,” he said. “In that era, they only produced 65 pounds of aluminum per year. Aluminum was a precious metal, and you had to buy it through a jeweler.”

Liles said he does not think the aluminum held up well to wear and tear. William Wedekind received the title, “The World’s Greatest Horseshoer” at the 1892 Chicago World’s Fair. Wedekind even made an aluminum horseshoe in 1883.

“It was so light that it floated on water,” Liles explained. “They can’t duplicate the shoe today to make it float on the water.”

The Right Shoe

Liles said when people come to museum, they are used to dealing with one breed of horse and one discipline with the horse. The type of horseshoe used depends on the breed and the discipline. “In this country, we have roughly 400 different breeds of horses,” Liles said.

Liles said he was a horseshoer, which is a lot different from a cowboy shoer. For instance, a horse that is going to go trail riding or ranching needs a high-quality steel horseshoe.

A show horse will wear aluminum shoes because the aluminum will wear the toe quicker. “It will give him a quicker time to break that shoe in,” he added. “If your shoe isn’t new at the show, he has to get that shoe back to where it feels comfortable.”

Many of the plastic shoes are meant for horses that are on concrete, asphalt or wood. Liles said plastic shoes are commonly used in the circus.

A common misconception is people think the weight of the horseshoe affects a horse in either racing or working.  “They think plastic is so much lighter,” he explained. “If that is the case, why don’t you just ride him barefoot?”

To learn more about the history of the horseshoe, visit www.horseshoeingmuseum.com.

This article was originally posted in the July 2016 issue of Oklahoma Farm & Ranch. 

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By Summer McMillen

As the land starts to thaw and cowboys and cowkids everywhere are gearing up for spring there is one specimen in particular that is dreading the coming season. And that is ponies. Or more specifically, kid horses.

Let’s look at life from the kid horses point of view for a second.they have the winter off. They’ve gotten to enjoy some much needed R&R in the back pasture. Their hair has gotten long and so have their hooves. They’ve spent the winter feasting on native grasses, alfalfa, and the occasional bucket of grain when it’s was especially cold.

They’ve gotten to wonder aimlessly while the real work horses were still being caught for essential tasks. The most work these kid horses have had to endure the last few months were being tied to the arena fence to get the cockleburs brushed out of their tail.

Yes, life has been calm for these kid horses. But, there is a season for everything and the season for being used and abused is fast approaching.

My own children all share a little pony they affectionately call “Rubble.” He is a certified welsh pony that is as tall as he is wide and is as passive as he is…not. They spend summers riding him bareback. And when they aren’t riding him bareback they are riding him fully saddled. Tiny little bit in his mouth being yanked in every which direction.

The little fellow takes everything in stride. But I can feel him starting to resent me from the back pasture already. Every time I carry him some feed he gives me a look that just screams “please keep all three of your children away from me forever please.” I laugh at him and tell him he doesn’t mean it and then he runs away as fast as he can. It’s a special bond.

Kid horses are funny like that. We entrust them with the lives of those most special to us. We saddle them up and throw the little cowkids on them and assign them small tasks like moving 200 pairs to a new pasture or, holding the herd while dad doctors wheat cattle. More often than not, the young partners get their job done. Sometimes in unlikely ways.

Last summer my daughter hopped up on Rubble bareback and was going to trot down the road and get our mail. A simple and harmless task I thought. I was proud of her for taking the initiative. I was also proud of her when I looked out the window, saw the little pony start crow hopping with excitement and the unassuming 8-year-old being catapulted in the ditch. Instead of crying she climbed back on. Tenacity, I thought. That’s what kid horses are good at teaching.

A few months later I was watering all our geldings. The three kids whom I raised, better known as the three amigos, were all harassing the little pony. My youngest son decided it was his turn. He climbed up on Rubbles back as proud as a peacock.  But, he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to look that pony in the eye. So he starts leaning. Farther and farther until he leaned all the way to the ground. Lost a boot in the process. Instead of rushing to his side I waited for the tears. He was only two years old at the time after all. Instead his face was filled with glee. Joy, I thought. That’s what kid horses are good at teaching.

My middle boy is afraid of heights. So mounting a horse has been tough for him. When we introduced Rubble, I wasn’t sure he could even manage his height. After a little encouragement he donned his chaps, boots, and hat with a turkey feather in it and mounted the little horse. In a matter of five minutes the little cowboy had rubble trotting around the arena with his hand in the air and his spurs in his neck. (Gently of course.) Confidence builder, I thought. That’s what kid horses are good at teaching.

While, most of the time kid horses are a nuisance. Eating all our alfalfa and requiring special horse shoes to function properly.. they are more often than not a priceless gift. Teaching the ones we love most how to have tenacity, joy, and confidence.

While the ponies in our life may love their time off in the winter you can’t convince me that they don’t love their jobs in the spring. Even if it’s just a little bit. When that little cowboy shoves a bucket of grain in their face after a job well done together, the ponies head sits a little higher and so does that little cowboys hat.

By Garrett Metcalf, DVM

A foot abscess is a common occurrence in horses throughout the year, with wet weather often contributing to an increase in cases. These abscesses can cause significant pain, lameness, swelling, and overall misery, making it important to address them quickly and manage pain to keep the horse comfortable. There are various methods used to treat foot abscesses, and this article will outline techniques to evaluate and treat them as efficiently as possible.

A foot abscess is a localized or sometimes diffuse infection trapped between the sensitive and non-sensitive laminae within the hoof capsule. Abscesses may develop spontaneously due to everyday stress and environmental factors that allow bacteria to penetrate down to the sensitive tissues. Other causes include penetrating injuries to the sole from nails, sharp rocks, or even thorns. Poor hoof care and misdriven shoeing nails can also lead to abscess formation. Common sites include the white line, where the sole and hoof wall meet, and the bars of the heels.

The level of lameness caused by a foot abscess can vary, but it often results in visible discomfort at the walk and can even cause non-weight-bearing lameness. Swelling that begins at the foot and moves up the leg may occur, particularly if the abscess migrates and ruptures at the coronary band. These cases are often referred to as “gravel” abscesses, which are simply abscesses that find the path of least resistance and exit at the coronary band, creating a draining tract. In some cases, especially involving a hind foot, the horse’s movement may appear so abnormal that it mimics neurological issues, confusing owners and veterinarians.

Diagnosing a foot abscess begins with a lameness exam. Most affected horses will be visibly lame at the walk, though in some cases a trot may be necessary to detect the issue. Regional nerve blocks can help confirm that the pain is originating from the foot and not another part of the limb. Horses with abscesses often show an increased digital pulse and, occasionally, noticeable heat in the foot. The bounding pulse is due to inflammation and is most easily felt just above the hoof near the ankle. If the horse is shod, removing the shoe is often necessary for a thorough exam. Hoof testers are useful in identifying the most painful area, and horses with abscesses are typically reactive to pressure. Cleaning out the foot with a hoof knife is important for exposing any defects or tracts in the sole or frog. Often, a dark spot or line will lead to the source of the abscess.

There are multiple ways to treat an abscess, and opinions vary widely, but my preferred approach is to open the abscess as soon as possible. This provides nearly immediate relief for the horse and allows the infection to begin resolving. A sharp hoof knife or loop knife is a reliable tool to open the abscess and create drainage through the bottom of the foot. Allowing the abscess to drain from the sole reduces the risk of a gravel abscess and makes it easier to treat the area with topical poultices. After opening, it’s important to bandage the foot both to draw out remaining infection and to keep the area clean.

A large baby diaper makes a simple, effective bandage. It’s absorbent and fits the hoof well. Secure it with layers of Vetrap, duct tape, and Elastikon, or place the hoof in a medicine boot to keep it protected. Poultice choice is often based on personal experience and availability, but the goal is the same — to draw out infection and prevent contamination. Products like Magna Paste, an Epsom salt-based poultice, are effective, as is a homemade mix of sugar and Betadine. There are many other options, but whatever product is chosen should be safe and offer antimicrobial properties.

In some cases, an abscess may be difficult to locate or open. Soaking the foot in warm Epsom salt water can help soften the hoof and encourage the abscess to rupture or become easier to identify. Pain management is also helpful while waiting for the abscess to surface. If the abscess continues to recur or proves difficult to treat, radiographs can help evaluate the hoof’s internal structures. While most abscesses don’t show up on X-rays — since the fluid is the same density as the hoof — they may be visible if gas is present within the abscess. Radiographs are especially important in cases of puncture wounds, to ensure deeper structures like the coffin joint or navicular bursa aren’t involved. In cases of penetration, it’s best to leave the foreign object in place until X-rays are taken, which helps determine the extent of the injury and what structures may have been affected.

While preventing all foot abscesses isn’t always possible, good hoof care goes a long way. Regular trimming on a consistent schedule helps maintain healthy laminae and prevents stretching of the white line, which can allow bacteria to enter. Careful shoeing practices, including proper nail placement, can further reduce the risk of abscess development.

Foot abscesses are painful, frustrating, and often sudden — but with proper diagnosis, drainage, and aftercare, horses typically recover well and quickly return to soundness.