This is a great close up of a special shoe that was custom made for a mare named Patience in Wyoming. Patience does most of her work on trails, sometimes climbing up steep inclines, or across rocky areas that require a very sure footed horse. Patience loves her job, but her hooves don't always agree and she gets bruised easily. Her owner designed and forged these special shoes that cover the bottom of her hoof, except the frog area, by melting two iron shoes together to make a plate. He shaped the plate so the frog is still exposed (the frog is important for blood flow, among other things) but the sole is protected.
By leaving the frog exposed, Patience will still get the benefit of pressure on that area which helps pump blood back up through the legs, and she will be able to safely navigate the trails without risk of bruising. Sometimes it just takes creativity on the part of an owner or farrier to keep a horse's hooves healthy and happy.
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