In this Christmas Special of The Hoofcare Companion, host Marc Jerram reflects on the demands of elite racehorse farriery while thanking listeners for their incredible support throughout 2025. This episode takes a deep dive into the specialised art and science of shoeing the Thoroughbred racehorse — an athlete operating at the absolute limits of biomechanical performance.

From breed-specific hoof challenges to trimming protocols, shoe selection, and the key differences between flat and National Hunt racing, this episode brings together practical farriery insight with evidence-based understanding. Whether you’re working on the track, in training yards, or managing performance horses in other disciplines, this episode highlights how precision hoofcare underpins soundness, performance, and career longevity.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why racehorse farriery is different
  Understanding the extreme forces placed on the hoof at racing speeds and why small errors can have major consequences.
• Thoroughbred hoof characteristics
  Thin walls, shallow soles, long pasterns, and how selective breeding for speed influences hoof integrity and injury risk.
• Static & dynamic hoof assessment
  The importance of evaluating balance, hoof–pastern axis, landing patterns, breakover, and how movement reveals issues unseen at rest.
• Conservative trimming protocols
  Why horn preservation is critical in racehorses and how functional balance matters more than cosmetic symmetry.
• Shoes & shoeing strategies
  Aluminium vs steel shoes, toe clips, breakover modifications, heel support, and surface-specific considerations.
• Flat racing vs National Hunt shoeing
  Key differences in speed, endurance, traction, durability, and how shoeing strategies adapt between disciplines.
• Common Thoroughbred foot problems
  Thin soles, underrun heels, white line disease, poor horn quality, and how farriery plays a preventative role.
• Collaboration in elite hoofcare
  The importance of teamwork between farrier, veterinarian, and trainer in managing soundness and performance.

🎄 Christmas Message

Marc also takes a moment to thank listeners, guests, and supporters for being part of The Hoofcare Companion throughout 2025, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best for a sound, successful, and progressive 2026.

🎧 Who This Episode Is For

• Farriers working with racehorses or performance horses
• Equine veterinarians and students
• Trainers and industry professionals
• Anyone interested in elite hoof biomechanics and applied farriery

📌 Subscribe & Support

If you’ve enjoyed The Hoofcare Companion this year, please subscribe, share the podcast with colleagues, and leave a review — your support helps keep evidence-based hoofcare conversations moving forward.

Support the show

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

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For an eBook version visit here:

The Hoofcare Companion (eBook Edition) eBook : Jerram, Marc: Amazon.co.uk: Books