A client's comment about his old horse's shoes got me thinking

I was trimming a 28 year old gelding for a regular client yesterday, and he was watching me work. Out of the blue, he said, 'You know, the guy who shod him for the first 15 years always used a size 1, even when he was younger and bigger. Said it was better for his hoof wall.' I've always gone by the rule of fitting the biggest shoe the hoof can carry, so that stopped me cold. This horse has great feet for his age, no real issues. It made me wonder if I've been over-shoeing some of my clients' horses, especially the lighter-boned ones, just because the hoof looks like it can take it. Maybe a little less steel is better for the long haul. Has anyone else had a client share an old farrier's trick that actually made sense?

2 comments

2 Comments

oscar_ellis6d agoRising Star

That bit about the size 1 shoe for 15 years is wild. I've seen the same thing with some old timers using a smaller shoe on quarter horses, saying it lets the hoof flex more naturally. My old boss used to say a big shoe is like a concrete block on your foot, it stops all the little movements that keep things healthy. Makes you wonder if we're just putting on the biggest shoe we can because it looks right in the moment, not because it's good for the horse ten years down the road.

phoenix1986d agoMost Upvoted

Right, because nothing says healthy hoof like a permanent wedgie for the horse lol.