Archie’s pre-competition shoe check routine

Competition mornings begin with coffee, tack on the float, and a quick look at Archie’s feet before I let him near the loading ramp. That last check is not the full inspection. It is a prompt to slow down, look for a loose shoe or fresh mud, and decide where the proper check will happen. A horse can look sound over grass and still have a worn horseshoe, a tight nail, or a tender sole once the warm-up arena is churned up. My routine for checking Archie’s shoe condition before every competition exists to catch those small changes while there is still time to call the farrier or withdraw.

I have competed Archie in dressage, show jumping and cross-country, so his feet need to suit more than one job. The shoe that feels secure in a dressage arena may not be my choice for fast twists and a cross-country landing. Rather than changing things on a whim, I use the same sequence each time: clean every hoof, inspect fit and shoe wear, compare the feet, check the surrounding hoof for weakness, then make a decision before boots obscure what I saw. It is a practical routine shaped by farrier visits, travel, Australian weather and Archie’s habit of telling me through his body when something is not quite right.

Start with the schedule and purpose

The routine starts with the calendar, not with a hoof pick. Seven to ten days before an event, I check whether Archie is due for a reset and ask his farrier what he recommends for the discipline and likely ground. If the shoes are already due for renewal, they go on before the competition rather than becoming an overnight repair. This gives the farrier time to balance the hoof and lets Archie settle into the new shoe before he has to concentrate on a test, a course or a fast round.

I also consider where Archie will be competing. A grass-based cross-country venue, an indoor show-jumping arena and a sand dressage court place different demands on the same foot. In the Australian summer, a dry spell can harden the ground before a seemingly innocuous warm-up, while a storm can leave grass holding water around the edges of an arena. I check the forecast, talk with the farrier about the likely surface and make sure any proposed shoe change can be made and tested in good time.

At the yard, what everyone calls a “shoe check” can range from a glance to a proper inspection. For competition, I keep a small kit together: a blunt-edged hoof pick, stiff brush, clean rag, tape measure, torch and my phone. The tools are cleaned before and after use because dirt trapped around the frog can hide a problem. I also keep Archie’s farrier notes in the phone so the shoe size, shoeing cycle and previous concerns are available when I need to explain what I have found.

Clean every foot before judging the shoe

Archie’s feet are picked out and washed before I make any judgement about the horseshoes. I work from heel to toe, then around the frog and sole, taking care not to scrape away evidence of a fresh injury. The hoof pick is used to loosen packed material rather than cut into the sole. Once the foot is clean, I can see the white line, the junctions between the shoe and hoof, and any bruising or discharge that might otherwise remain hidden.

Next, I check that each shoe is sitting fully against the hoof. The heel should meet the wall without an obvious gap, and the quarters should not look pinched or overridden. I look for flare that has become excessive, a shoe that has shifted, or a nail sitting proud of the shoe. On the underside, I examine the toe and heel for uneven wear. A rounded or thinning toe can point to long stretches of schooling on one side, while a hollow-looking heel or distorted shoe may suggest that the foot needs attention before it travels.

The nails and clinches get their own close look. Nail heads should sit neatly in their holes, and the clinches should be tight and even rather than loose, bent or missing. I feel around each shoe without trying to pull it off. Any obvious movement, a lifting corner, severe thinning or a crack in the shoe means I do not continue with a casual “probably fine” attitude. I photograph the problem from several angles and compare all four feet, looking for one that is warmer, more sensitive, or shaped differently from the others.

I also separate shoe problems from hoof problems. A shoe can be sound while the wall is chipped, the heel is cracked or the sole is bruised. Conversely, a scuffed shoe may still fit perfectly and need no urgent attention. By checking the whole foot instead of assuming every change comes from the horseshoe, I avoid replacing the cause of a problem with guesswork. If there is pain, swelling, heat, discharge or an obvious change in Archie’s movement, the farrier or veterinarian becomes part of the check rather than a later consideration.

Record the details that matter

After every competition, Archie’s shoeing details go into my records. I note the shoe size and type, the date of the reset, the shape and placement of the shoes, the studs or borium used and any comment from the farrier. A photograph taken square to the shoe is more useful than a quick side view, especially when I need to explain that the toe is running forward or that one heel is wearing faster. These records also help when I speak with a farrier covering a different area, which happens when we travel away from our regular yard.

Certain findings require a conversation rather than a self-directed repair. A loose shoe, a proud nail, severe shoe distortion or a fresh crack near the coronet is not something I try to straighten with a hammer. Pulling a nail at the venue can introduce infection, and fitting an emergency shoe without first preparing the hoof can do more harm than leaving it in the care of a professional. I take clear photographs, keep the area clean and contact the farrier or an eventing support service as early as possible.

Discipline also affects the check. Dressage, show jumping and cross-country may call for different shoe profiles, and any change should be discussed and fitted properly. I do not treat removable studs as a way to rescue a loose shoe. For cross-country, I confirm that the shoe has suitable security and that any stud holes, borium or other material are appropriate for the expected ground. On grass that has softened after rain, a more aggressive stud may be sensible; on a dry, hard surface, the choice can be very different.

Competition morning and Australian conditions

The first full inspection happens before Archie leaves home. After he has been led around, picked out and checked again, the shoes are compared with the previous week’s notes. Then I repeat the check after the float trip, because travel can loosen mud, change the pressure on a shoe and reveal a sharp edge that was not obvious at home. When we travel to venues around Goulburn and the southern tablelands, the ground can alter quickly between yard and course, so I never assume the shoes I inspected at home are still the best choice for the day.

At the venue, Archie gets time to settle before I check him again. I look at the shoes and the ground around them rather than focusing on what should be happening. Mud packed under a shoe can hide a missing nail; a hard, glassy surface can make a worn shoe twist more readily; and deep, wet ground can place extra pressure on the heel. Our EFA-affiliated club and the local eventing community are practical about this. At an Intersafe or novice class, riders often discuss a “shoe check” over a coffee, but experienced riders know that an observation is no substitute for getting your hands on the foot.

After warm-up, I make another visual check before the cross-country phase. Boots can hide the heel and some of the quarter, so I look at what remains visible and assess whether there is any new sensitivity in Archie’s movement. If a farrier is available, I show them the exact area of concern. If not, I use the photographs and my notes to make a conservative decision. That attention to small details was the lesson I kept returning to when documenting our first novice event step by step: the competition is only one part of a much longer preparation process.

Recheck after the event

When the last phase is finished, I do not assume the shoes survived it perfectly. After Archie has cooled down and his legs have been checked, I clean his feet again and examine each shoe for movement, proud nails, heat or distorted metal. A shoe can look intact from above while the toe has flexed or the heel has shifted. I photograph anything unusual, record how Archie felt during the round and include the information in my next message to the farrier.

The Australian weather shapes the interval before the next reset. Heavy rain can soften ground and encourage the shoes to wear differently, while a sudden hot, dry spell can harden it and reduce shock absorption. Muddy boots and wet dressings also need attention because retained moisture around the coronet can cause problems that have nothing to do with the shoe itself. Regional farriers may have busy periods and long travel distances, so I book a reset when it is needed rather than waiting for a crack to become urgent.

The value of this routine is not that it predicts every injury or guarantees a clear round. Its value is that it gives me consistent stopping points: before travel, on arrival, after warm-up and after competition. At each point I either confirm that Archie is ready, arrange professional help, or decide that he should not continue. That final decision matters more than any checklist. A horseshoe that is secure, correctly fitted and suited to the surface gives Archie a fair chance; if the answer is uncertain, a missed start is better than pushing him onto a course when his feet are not ready.