Rafael Forteza
An old craft. Thought anew.
Rafael Forteza brings together classical farriery and modern equine podiatry. He assesses not only the hoof but the whole horse, and where standard solutions fall short he develops individual shoeing, up to the 3D-printed Apex shoe.
From the anvil to digital design, every tool serves the same goal, a solution that fits this horse and this hoof.
Looking at the whole horse.
It begins with assessment. Rafael looks at hoof shape and balance as much as at movement, limb conformation, age and the horse’s work. In complex cases current radiographs can show how the internal structures sit within the hoof capsule. From this comes an individual plan. Shoes, pads and reconstruction materials are tools, what matters is what this horse needs at this moment.
01Assessment
02Design
03Finished workFrom the radiograph to the individual shoe.
Apex grew out of cases in which no commercially available shoe offered an appropriate solution. The concrete starting point came in 2025: a donkey with complex laminitis, for which there were neither suitable shoes nor the right sizes. Rafael developed a customised approach for that case, and the Apex 3D concept came out of that work. Less than a year later, Apex has worked with clients and horses in the United States, France, Spain, Tunisia and Israel.
The method is the same every time. Hoof measurements and radiographs form the basis of the digital design, the shoe or pad is 3D-printed and then fitted on the horse. Modern technology extends the classical craft exactly where a conventional shoe reaches its limits.
- Developed for one hoof.
- Designed digitally.
- Made by 3D printing.
- Fitted on the horse.
A complete forge on wheels.
Rafael brings the workplace straight to the horse. The workshop truck carries the farrier’s classical tools as well as machines and materials for modern, individually adapted solutions. He can work hooves, prepare shoes and fine-tune the care to the horse right there on site.
From Mallorca.
For the horse.
Rafael is Mallorcan, from a Mallorcan family. He was born in Palma and grew up in Sóller. Today he works mobile across the island. Every assessment takes place where horse, husbandry and daily life come together, at the yard and with an eye on the practical conditions on site.
“Caring for the hoof means understanding its function, its relationship with the rest of the locomotor system and its importance for the animal’s wellbeing, movement and quality of life.”Rafael Forteza, farrier and equine podiatrist
Rafael’s path runs through classical farriery, clinical hoof work and modern equine podiatry. His training combines practical experience at the anvil with biomechanics, radiograph interpretation and therapeutic shoeing.
- Heartland Horseshoeing SchoolUSAFoundations and advanced farriery with Chris and Cody Gregory.
- Rood & Riddle Equine HospitalKentuckyClinical cases between veterinary medicine, equine podiatry and therapeutic shoeing.
- International Equine Podiatry CenterLexingtonIntensive courses and a one-to-one internship with Dr Ric Redden on radiographs, venograms, laminitis and hoof balance.
- AFT Clinic and WEPAUSA and SwitzerlandAdvanced forging and international training.
at a time.
Get in touch with Rafael
For appointments and further information the direct route is Rafael Forteza’s official website, where horse owners also find more insight into his work and into Apex Horseshoes.
Helpful for a first assessment
Details of previous hoof care, existing photographs and current radiographs can make a first appraisal easier in complex cases. Which documents are useful in a given case Rafael settles directly with the owners and the treating veterinarian.
Editorial profile in collaboration with Rafael Forteza, who reviewed the facts before publication. The assessment and treatment of a hoof belong in the hands of qualified professionals and, where there are medical findings, take place in coordination with the veterinarian.
