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Mustering Season Hoofcare In Outback Australia

By Carl O’Dwyer

The Australian environment is very hard on horses’ feet, especially stock horses that are used for the mustering season in Outback Australia. Traveling long distances on difficult terrain, in varying climatic conditions and with a rider on their back definitely has an impact on your horse’s hoof, and this is why stock horses generally need to be shod with steel horseshoes to protect their feet when working during mustering season.

Horses that are in this situation need to be carefully maintained in order to ensure soundness of the horse and prevent injuries in the hoof. Not only does this keep your horses healthy, but it also ensures that they have the ability to perform at their best and get the job done. 

With this in mind, the first thing you need to do at the beginning of the Mustering season is to assess the condition of your horses’ feet. The four points below are the main things you will want to focus on, with each being broken down in this blog:

• Are the feet sound for the job at hand

• Do the hooves need trimming, tidying up and shoeing

• Do you have the right horseshoes and horseshoe nails suited to the type of hoof –does your horse have thick or thin-walled hooves

• What are your plans for regular maintenance? I.e. Regular shoeing of your horse ensures that they stay sound and grow a strong, healthy hoof wall 

Each of these four factors are vital to ensuring the health of your horse and their feet, so each is expanded upon below with tips and product recommendations to ensure you have the right knowledge and tools to get the job done successfully. 

Are The Feet Sound For Mustering Season?

The first thing you need to consider is whether it is safe for your horse/s to participate in the mustering season. Ideally, if you have access, this will be determined by a person who is qualified to assess your horses, either a Farrier, Veterinarian, or an experienced Stockperson. Once you have made that assessment, you will be in a position to determine if your horse/s are going to be suitable for the jobs ahead.

Do The Hooves Need Trimming, Tidying Up And Shoeing? 

If you have not ridden your horses for some time, it is almost certain its feet will need trimming or tidying up of some sort. The exact care that your horses’ hooves will require will depend on the climate that you live in and when they were last worked on, which is why assessing their hooves before preparing them for mustering season is so important.

Mustad Australia supply a range of quality tool kits which are ideal for remote locations where you are only going to use these tools sparingly. I cannot recommend strongly enough that if you are performing hoof maintenance, you need to make sure you have good tools. This makes your job easier, and it is more comfortable for the horse as quality tools are always better. I also strongly recommend that if you are performing Hoof maintenance that you invest in a good quality Farrier Apron – the reason for this is that it makes the job of the farrier much easier, as well as giving comfort to the horse as when you are wearing an apron and the horses leg is between your legs, the apron wraps around the hoof, which in my experience seems to make the horse more comfortable.

The entry level brand of tools that Mustad Australia supplies is the EDGE range of tools – these are a good quality product range that are ideal if you are attending to 0-10 horses per month. Mid-range is the Mustad Black tools – this range is available as individual tools, or in a protective tool box   is idea for storage. The Mustad black tools are a proven quality and the most popular range of tools we sell. Then there is the Premium range is the Mustad Premium tools – our highest quality range of tools suited to the Professional farrier.

Tool Kits For Mustering Season

As mentioned above, our Mustad Black Tool Kits are ideal for stations that handle their own hoofcare in Outback Australia. There are three options available, with each serving a different purpose, and you can learn more about them in the Farrier Tool Box Kit section of our website.

Mustad Farrier Toolbox

A full kit that is ideal for shaping and fitting horseshoes. I prefer hot fitting as I have been doing this for 57 years, however, you can also shape shoes cold if you do not have access to a forge. This kit does not include an Anvil or a Stall Jack, however I recommend the O’Dwyer 20Kg Anvil as you can fit most shoes on this little anvil and it gives you the benefit of being somewhat portable.

You will also need an anvil stand. We recommend the Blacksmith Italia Power Block anvil stand for in your workshop, while the Truckvil and Vanvil are ideal for working on the go.

Mustad Trim Kit

This kit is ideal for trimming the horse’s hooves and includes all the tools you need for the task. 

Mustad Emergency Shoe Removal Kit

Ideal for those rides that are remote. Has all the tools you need to safely remove a shoe that may have come loose, which will be better for the health of the hoof if the shoe is removed correctly.

A Note On Storing Your Farrier Tools In Outback Australia

Proper storage of your tools when not in use is important. These tools are all made from quality steel, however they can rust if they are exposed to damp environments. After use, wipe the tools free of debris and spray them with a lubricant/oil for storage. I suggest that the tools are stored in tool bag or wrap which keeps them free from dampness, so be sure to purchase one for your items. The exception to this is if you select a kit from the Mustad Black range of tools, as they have their own protective toolbox which is ideal for prolonged periods of storage. This way you can rest assured that when you are ready to use them again, your tools will be in good shape.

Do you have the right horseshoes and horseshoe nails suited to the type of hoof? 

Selection of the right horseshoes and nails is extremely important to keeping your horse sound. Selecting the wrong product can harm your horse and its ability to perform at its best, so it’s important to understand whether your horse has thick or thin-walled hooves.

The first consideration is what type of horse do you have? Generally, in Outback Australia and other remote areas of the country, most horses are Australian Stockhorses or Thoroughbred crosses. In most cases (not all) this will mean your horse will have a thin to medium wall thickness. The shoes I recommend for this type of horse and also for Mustering work is as follows: 

O’Dwyer Flat Hack Shoe (FHS)

Suggested nail: Mustad BH.5, Rifle BH.5, Derby E4Slim

The O’Dwyer Flat Hack Shoe (FHS) provides greater coverage at the heels (in comparison to a traditional flat shoe) and is suitable for fitment to both front and hind hooves.

O’Dwyer Standard Hack Shoe (SHS)

Suggested Nail: Mustad BH.5, Derby E3Slim, Rifle E.3

Ideal for use on thin walled horses, the O’Dwyer Standard Hack Shoe has a concave section for improved grip and offers a closed, boxed heel. O’Dwyer SHS horseshoes are available as a set of four, or in separate front and hind pairs.

NZ Concave steel shoes

Suggested Nail: Mustad E.3, E.4, Derby E.3Slim, Derby E.4Slim

NZ Concave shoes offer good protection for your horse and have a shape that is easy to fit. The shoes are made from mild carbon steel, so they will be a little easier to shape by hand.

St Croix Concorde Xtra Steel shoes

Suggested Nail: Mustad E.3Slim, Derby E.3Slim

The St Croix Concorde Xtra steel shoes are specifically designed for Thoroughbreds with thin walls. The shoe is 8mm thick and offers excellent coverage for protection from hard surfaces. The front shoes are the same shape, however please bear in mind, the hind shoes are shaped asymmetrically, meaning that the hind shoes are shaped into left and right hind shoes. This is clearly identified on the shoe, so you will need to ensure you fit the shoes to the right hoof.

Top Shoe Fitting And Shaping Tip

Shoes should not be fitted out of the packet/box without shaping to the horse’s hoof after the hoof has been trimmed. As a tip, when shaping shoes to fit the hoof, I suggest that the shoes are fitted to the front half of the hoof first, then the heels are either closed in or straightened out. This makes the shoe fit a lot easier. Please bear in mind that shaping steel shoes cold will always be harder to shape than when they are hot. 

A Note On Nail Selection

In terms of nail section, it is important that you select the appropriate nail that fits the shoe. If you use a nail that is too big for the shoe, it will not lock up on the nail hole correctly and shoes become loose and likely fall off.

Most importantly to consider is if you use a nail that is too large for a thin-walled horse, it causes nail trauma, which can split the inside section of the hoof wall, creating hoof wall weaknesses (such as Quarter cracks, white line trauma, and other problems). It is so important you select the correct shoes and nails for your horse.

All of the nails Mustad Australia sell today, including Mustad, Derby and Rifle horseshoe nails, are available in original sizes as well as slim sizes. Examples are as follows: 

• Mustad BH.5 horseshoe Nails are also available in a Mustad BH.5Slim 
• Mustad E.4 horseshoe Nails also available in Mustad E.4Slim 
• Derby E.3 horseshoe Nails also available in Derby E.3Slim 
• Derby E.4 horseshoe Nails also available in Derby E.4Slim 
• Rifle E.5 horseshoe Nails also available in Rifle E.5Slim 

Mustad is the leader in Horseshoe Nail Innovation and design and for several years now the slim range of nails have been available. They are thinner, yet just as strong as the original nails and offer the added benefit of being better for the horse’s hoof. The Mustad nails I use today are Mustad Slim Horseshoe nails. 

What are your plans for regular maintenance? 

Finally, it is vital to create a plan for regular hoofcare and maintenance. This includes both trimming and reshoeing.

To plan when your horse will need shoeing in the future, use a 5 or 6 week cycle as this allows the foot to grow and be safely trimmed. Shoes should be either refitted or replaced depending on wear of the shoes.

If you are refitting steel shoes, please make sure you are aware that you may need to use a larger nail if the nail holes in the shoe have worn and become larger. You will need to bear in mind that using larger nails on thin-walled hooves can cause nail trauma (as mentioned previously). If you are not sure, it is always best to fit new shoes with the right nail, instead of taking the risk of refitting older shoes with larger nails.

Hoofcare in Outback Australia is a delicate task, and particularly vital during mustering season. To keep your horses in top health, make sure you have the right equipment on hand to perform the job (Mustad tool kits mentioned above), as well as the replacement shoes and nails, and always follow the proper procedures.