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| Staff Writer |
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Celebrated for transforming horses with severe hoof issues into champions, Ian Mckinlay dedicated his life to the art of equine hoof care.
Originally from Ontario, McKinlay was mentored by his father, J.C. McKinlay.
McKinlay's impressive resume includes feats with legends like Breeders' Cup Classic winner Saint Liam and Kentucky Derby champion Big Brown.
With a career built on skill, dedication, and a pioneering spirit, Ian McKinlay continues to elevate the standards of farriery and leave an indelible mark on the world of horse racing.
McKinlay's sophisticated understanding of hoof care reveals the delicate balance between track conditions, nutritional support, and genetic factors in maintaining the health and performance of racehorses.
"Most of it would be palmar heel pain, the back third of the foot. And that's due to concussion," McKinlay begins, highlighting how modern track conditions impact equine health.
"Now they've changed all the tracks over here and put in a stone dust base. When the track surface gets worn out, like here at Belmont, over time, they have a sand surface that breaks down due to heavy traffic of horses and it gets powdery," he observes.
"It gets really dry in the wintertime and they can't put water on the track. So, the hoof will go right straight to the bottom, and then you end up with solar abscesses due to concussion. When I first started with the Thoroughbreds back in 1985, they'd never had that type of base, and I never saw those types of injuries. Now you see them all the time."
McKinlay suggests a more effective track surface solution, "It would be a safer track. You don't get holes in the base if you use stone dust which is obviously good. I wish they'd put two or three inches of clay on top of that. I was told they actually did that down in Maryland because they were having a lot of breakdowns. A good trackman is worth his weight in gold."
Turning to the evolution of racing conditions and the role of nutrition, McKinlay reflects on the progress in horse racing.
"When I started, the two-minute mile was the benchmark in standardbred racing. Now it’s common to go in 1:50. That's how much faster it's gotten."
"In the thoroughbred world, it really doesn't change that much. I wouldn't doubt we'll be picking up a little bit more, but you don't see world records being broken that often in the Thoroughbred game," he notes.
On the subject of nutrition, McKinlay acknowledges not only its role but also its limits. He emphasises that while supplements can improve a horse's condition, they cannot change genetic predispositions.
"A lot of the feeds are loaded with all kinds of minerals and vitamins," he says,
"But usually, they will add various products that will give the best hoof possible. I usually try to explain to owners that if you have got real fine hair, there's no supplement you're going to take to give you full-bodied hair. Systemically, it just doesn't happen."
"The supplements give them the best hoof they can have; there's no doubt about that. But you're certainly not going to thicken walls and stuff like that; that just doesn't happen."
Assessing hoof health, McKinlay describes, "When I grind away the hoof, you can tell the texture of the foot.”
"It's almost like comparing hardwood to softwood. Horses with a good, tough hoof are less prone to quarter cracks. Those with softer hooves just don't have the integrity they need in the wall."
Ian McKinlay's insights are a balance of technical expertise, innovative spirit, and a deep connection to the horses he serves.
His dedication to hoof care transcends a horse's status.
"To me, it really doesn't matter," he asserts.
"I just look at the problem horse. I wouldn't treat a cheap horse any differently than I would a good horse. I'm going to give him a foot that matches his body."
He explores the latest advancements in farriery, noting, "It's a new world now because you can create a hoof wall. They have walls that are so thin-walled, though, in the heel area, they will just roll under."
He describes the challenges this presents, "Someone once said it almost looks like somebody let the air out of a tire, it just kind of squats down and bulges."
McKinlay explains how hoof issues can spiral into bigger problems.
"Once they're sore on their feet, the secondary issues come quickly. They just don't address the ground in a way that's comfortable. They start landing heavily on the toe and start stabbing."
"When they get sore up front, they have to use their hind end more. Thoroughbreds, especially, will get underneath themselves to get the weight off the front end because of the extra weight of the rider."
"But, as soon as you get their feet right, everything calms down. Then you probably have to heal a few secondary issues."
Looking ahead, McKinlay is also excited about new technologies.
"I'm meeting a guy who works with Olympic athletes. They put sensors in their shoes to see how they address the ground, and they're pretty confident we can put them on the horseshoes. This technology is going to be fascinating for me. You're going to have data to prove everything."
"When we glue shoes on horses that are going a little crabby, just shortly after or within two days, you can see that he is moving much better." McKinlay reflects.
McKinlay's approach to horses is grounded in empathy and observation. "I've never been kicked," he states. "Most of these horses at the track are pretty well-broken." He adds, "but those guys that go to farms and work with younger unbroken horses, that's a different world.
Some of the owners don't even tell you.
They could just say, 'Watch him. He can be dirty.' Usually, they'll probably bite before they kick you. But that's very rare."
"Ten years ago, they used to use a lot of steroids. Now you can't use steroids anymore on horses, and their temperament has changed dramatically."
Describing the relief horses feel when their hoof issues are addressed, he says, "Sometimes when you pull the shoes, they just take a deep breath, a big sigh. And when you glue on the new shoe, they set it down, and you can see the change. Many will start licking their lips."
He acknowledges the behavioural shifts that follow, "I've had horses that can't stand on the foot when you start, but as soon as you glue the shoe on that foot, I go to the other side, pick up the opposite foot and they stand perfectly sound."
"They're talking to you every moment you're around them. It's through actions. They can't speak, but everything they're doing, they're communicating with you."
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Ian McKinlay's path to becoming a renowned farrier began with a unique foundation in the racing world.
"In the beginning, I was actually training standardbreds; I didn't do any shoeing then. But I had a trainer's license because we'd race at the local tracks around us," he reflects on those formative years.
His early exposure to the thrill of the racetrack was more about the excitement of racing than the craft of farriery.
After completing his college education, McKinlay made a pivotal career move to Detroit, where he honed his skills in a specialised aspect of standardbred care.
"Quarter cracks, wall separations caused by an abscess from the sole, and white line disease, which is just a fungus. They are the only things I worked on," he explains, revealing his intense focus on mastering this complex problem.
His expertise with a specialised glue became crucial. As he explains, "My father learned early from experience that If you didn't lace the cracks, they ended up re-cracking."
McKinlay's reputation soon attracted him to the prestigious New York-New Jersey racing scene.
"I came down to New York to see the Meadowlands; some guy flew me down to work on one I had worked on in Detroit because the guys patched completely differently in New York," he recounts.
This move marked his transition from a local specialist to a prominent figure in one of the most esteemed racing regions.
Years later, McKinlay ventured into the world of Thoroughbreds.
"I had never even laid eyes on or seen thoroughbreds, I had never been around them. It was probably five or six years later that I started working on Thoroughbreds," he admits.
Initially, he underestimated the hoof issues of Thoroughbreds due to their softer tracks. "I never thought they'd have problems because the track is so soft. There's no concussion."
However, he quickly discovered the unique challenges Thoroughbreds face. "I would venture to say, probably the worst hoofed equine—is the Thoroughbred racehorse, probably just through breeding and whatnot."
McKinlay's demanding schedule requires constant travel, demanding early starts, and relentless pace of his job.
"Belmont is about two and a half hours drive from the place I live. Now I'm on the road all the time," he shares, detailing his daily routine.
His work spans Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey, and he makes frequent trips to Belmont, balancing long days with a focus on lameness work.
He also embraces continuous learning, even on the road.
"It's the beauty of YouTube; you can get educated in your car. If you listen to enough interviews, you'll know who's fabricating and the truth," he notes. McKinlay sees this as a crucial tool in discerning genuine expertise in the horse industry.
Despite the gruelling hours, McKinlay finds deep satisfaction in his work. "It's long days, but very gratifying, for sure."
The art of farriery is a meticulous balance of safety, expertise, and collaboration.
Emphasising the need for an educated client who understands equine feet, he asserts,"It's absolutely crucial."
"Most horses with hoof lameness show you when they are walking towards you, and as soon as you see a profile of that foot, you know whether you're going to be able to help them. Then, when you pick the foot up, it just confirms it. A lot of it is a subtle lameness."
Reflecting on his journey, McKinlay recalls a pivotal lesson from a top vet who thrived in both the standardbred and show-horse worlds.
"I asked him how much secondary lameness comes from just tender front feet. He said, "all secondary lameness. I was certainly not expecting that answer. I didn't think it would be that helpful to horses by simply relieving pain in their hooves."
"I put glues on all kinds of horses and all that inflammation just calms right down. So if you've got an educated trainer and a knowledgeable veterinarian, it's a great experience for everyone.”
"Some of these stables are so big. The trainer sees that the horse is getting better, but also listens to the riders and the groom. It's a massive team in the racing stable. And your vet is obviously very key."
McKinlay observes how modern techniques have evolved.
"A lot of the stuff now that you'll see, they just have a different way of making it.”
"Most types of pads and shoes have probably been tried before; it's just the degree of concussion they can absorb, and stuff like that has changed."
“Glue-on shoes were a massive innovation for the equine world. We learned a lot of tough lessons during the early years. Hoofs are very dynamic and expand and contract with every stride.” McKinlay continues, “ Direct glue-ons, meaning shoes glued on directly to the bottom of the hoof, caused all kinds of problems. So I created a padded shoe with a softer heel piece to absorb the concussion so the horse’s hoof would address the ground heel first as it wants to.”
For McKinlay, precision is the essence of his craft.
"Application is probably the biggest part of it. Without a doubt, most can nail a shoe on, but if it's not fit right, there will be ramifications.”
He critiques traditional methods:
"The problem that the traditional blacksmith faces is horses ripping their shoes off. It's a little bit of a vicious cycle because they'll set him a little short and tight so the hind foot can't rip the shoe off. But in the end, that's what's causing the problem. That's where your sole pressure comes from."
McKinlay acknowledges the industry’s evolution while staying true to core principles and remaining sceptical of some innovations, like 3D-printed or laser-cut shoes. McKinlay maintains, "If you have a perfect foot, you can just about take a shoe out of a box that will fit with only a few tweeks."
Looking ahead, McKinlay is enthusiastic about the future of equine wearables and gait analysis technologies. "It's going to be exciting because it's so new," he says.
"With enough data, we will see that horses probably move in the same way because of hoof lameness. It should also show they'll try to protect themselves from the different lamenesses that are going on. What's even more important is how they move after different treatments are applied.”
McKinlay envisions practical applications of these advancements. "We're going to start out in the standardbred world because that track is consistently hard. We'll be able to film it very easily with a GoPro and put on these sensors," he explains.
He's particularly excited about integrating GPS and gait analysis technologies. "The one that goes on the saddle to give all the GPS information."
"With this thing, it'll tell you how the hoof is landing, how that foot leaves the ground. Every stride on all four feet working together. It's going to be exciting." He concludes with a sense of wonder.
McKinlay also reflects on a moment that perfectly encapsulates his deep connection with the horses he cares for.
"Last weekend, it was awesome," McKinlay recalls with a grin.
"Some guy shipped a horse to me—a cheap standardbred with some soreness—and we glued shoes on. Next start, he just went to the front and never looked back."
For McKinlay, such victories are the essence of his craft.
"I have been blessed with the horses I've got to work with, and it's great being part of the team," he says, savouring the joy and fulfilment his role provides.
Looking ahead, McKinlay dreams of expanding his horizons.
"I hope to go to Saudi someday, though. And Dubai, too. I heard it's unbelievable," he confides, his eyes alight with excitement.
His aspiration to explore these prestigious racing venues highlights his enduring passion for the sport and its global community.
Reflecting on his serendipitous career path, McKinlay says, "I kind of lucked out because I went to Detroit, and then my next stop was New York."
"I was living in Canada, fairly close to Toronto. Greenwood, Woodbine, and Mohawk are all right there. But I ended up going to the States, and it couldn't have worked out any better." He adds.
From Canada to the US, McKinlay's journey through the worlds of standardbred and thoroughbred racing illustrates a blend of fortunate opportunities and remarkable skill. His work transforms the lives of the horses he touches and sets a gold standard for the craft of farriery.
As McKinlay looks towards new adventures in racing's prestigious arenas, his career stands as a shining example of how passion and expertise can forge a path to greatness in the world of equine sports.