Dave Gilliam has been a professional farrier for over 20 years, and works throughout the United States, but is based in Florida. Dave’s focus is primarily Hunters and Jumpers, and lameness. Early in his career, Dave developed an interest in lameness and sport horses, and has since continued his education and now has a strong focus on lameness and sport horses. Dave recently graduated from the Royal Veterinary College's Equine Locomotor Research program, a prestigious graduate-level course that concluded with a scientific research project and thesis. He is also the founder and president of Equine Soundness Professionals, an organization for veterinarians and farriers that focus on lower limb lameness.
D.E. Hoof Taps have proven to be quite useful tools for many of the hoof maladies and structural defects that we commonly see. I most often apply the hoof taps in cases of white line disease (pretty common in southern Florida!) and hoof cracks. The taps having an anti-bacterial surface is an important feature, and clients love that they can be applied under any type of shoe. Hoof taps are simple to apply, and I have gotten visible results that both the client and I can easily see.
Got to use some hoof taps from Doug Ehrmann in
My wood shoes and trims this pics are from when I put them in I went back to trim and to my good Surprise cracks grew out good product Doug
- Andre Lebron of NY,
a professional farrier for over 30 years
Separation addressed at an early stage.
One cycle for this horse is seven weeks.
New Hooftaps can be applied if needed.
Horse came in horrible shape, overgrown, underweight, couldn't walk. He is still an ongoing project. He is doing much better, put on weight and bringing his feet back under himself in the front, and standing up in the back. When I started working on him, he couldn't hold one foot up for longer for a minute or so. The DE HoofTaps have helped him tremendously. We were so concerned with him we didn’t take any before pictures.
Five week cycle
Five week cycle
As you can see, horse is on his way to improving.
I call this tool the Tap Setter, as explained in the directions. Here's how I made it.
Take an old clinch cutter and grind down the cutter side to approx. 1/16"
Simple tool when needed.