5
Question about the trend of using thinner shoes on draft horses
I've been seeing more folks, especially newer farriers, putting regular keg shoes on draft horses around here. I worked on a Percheron last week that had been shod with a size 2 plain stamp, and the owner said the last guy said it was 'close enough.' That's a problem. Draft feet are built different, they need the right support. A shoe that's too thin or narrow can lead to serious issues like quarter cracks or underrun heels because the weight isn't spread right. I learned this the hard way about ten years ago on a Belgian mare, and it took months to correct the damage. Using a proper wide-web shoe made for drafts isn't just a suggestion, it's basic good practice. Has anyone else had to fix this kind of work lately, and what's your go-to draft shoe?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
patricia3222d ago
Oh man, that's so frustrating. I was just reading an old thread on a farrier forum where a guy detailed how a thin shoe on a Shire caused the hoof wall to actually start folding under from the weight. He had to switch to a proper wide-webbed shoe and do a ton of corrective trimming to get the heel support back. It's not just about the size number, it's the whole shape and support.
8
xena58223d ago
That "close enough" line is a red flag. I read a piece in a farrier journal last year that broke down the pressure math. Putting a narrow shoe on a draft hoof concentrates force on a smaller area of the wall, which is exactly how you get those quarter cracks they mentioned.
3