Decent deal? Decent shoe?

[SEMichiganfarrier]

I was browsing Ebay and ran into this auction and thought it seemed like a decent deal. Right now I use St. Croix shoes mostly for the basic stuff and these seem quite a bit cheaper. Anybody heard of Clarke shoes? Thought about grabbing a box of 00, 0 and 1's

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4395180866&category=10034&rd=1

[NHFarrier]

It's funny, I saw this same auction a few days ago. They look to me like a Kerchaert, very thin webbed....I stopped using Kerchaert shoes because they were too soft, didn't protect enough of the sole, and worn too quickly at the toe for a reset. These Clarke shoes look like they'd be the same.

If you are looking for a decent shoe that is on the inexpensive side, try Equine Forging's Custom Fits....I did after Slowshoe mentioned them and I really like them. They wear really well, shape easily and have enough meat for those who hot shoe and draw clips. They have a nice wide web, but are still similar to Kerchaerts.

Amy

[Red Amor]

nasty bloodythings , got half a dozen sets you can have it ya want em:)

[Rick Burten]

I stopped using Kerchaert shoes because they were too soft, didn't protect enough of the sole, and worn too quickly at the toe for a reset.
Amy

I use a fair amount of Keerchaert shoes(not exclusively, but I do use them) and find that because of the variety of styles available, I have no problem selecting the web width that I need/feel appropriate. As for toe wear, I'd just as soon have that toe wear back as that foot grows, and if I don't get a reset, so what? The cost of the shoes really is not a significant part of the fees I charge. Iif it were, I'd raise my fees accordingly. And, If I really want to slow down that wear, whether it is at the toe, or overall, I just heat the shoe(s) and quickly quench them at the area(s) I want hardened.

If you had ever used the old Diamond Saddlelites, you'd never complain about the width of the web of any shoe/sole protection offered. Besides, Why are you having to protect so much sole in the first place?

Rick

[SlowShoe]

I was browsing Ebay and ran into this auction and thought it seemed like a decent deal. Right now I use St. Croix shoes mostly for the basic stuff and these seem quite a bit cheaper.

I called this guy on the phone a while back. He said the shoes were like a St. Croix PL. I know Clarke shoes come in front patterns to make shaping a bit easier. Those St. Croix PL's can get on my nerves pounding on them all day, not much a of a web. BUt they are GOOD for those thin walled TB's or a horse who requires nails a bit closer to the outside.. Anyway the Clarke shoes are made in Australia, and he got like 200,000 of them from an auction, and the guy is not a farrier.

At $1 per pair, it might be worth it just to have them in the inventory.

Heres the clarke website..

http://www.clarkehorseshoes.com.au/
I think this is what the shoes are... (http://www.clarkehorseshoes.com.au/productsByCategory.asp?strSubCatalogID=3&strSubCatalog_NAME=Hack)

NHFarrier Have you noticed that the Equine Forgings 00 are allmost as big as the 0's? Only slightly smaller. Thats why i think i may pick up a box of these shoes. Also what nails are you useing with them? And on a side note Kerkheart makes some very nice wide webbed shoes.. the Sx8's are pretty darn good (basically like the Equine forgings shoes) then theres the DF's and what not, so I think you were just getting the cheapos and giveing them a bad wrap.. For hinds I think I like the St.Croix Euro better for 0 and up. They have a really nice Crease, its a beefy shoe, and the nail holes are spaced perfectly and punched really nice. They leave a nice amount of room for clipping between 1 and 2.. They are 3.00 per pair unclipped by the box of 10. I like em better than the sx8s and their cheaper. But the EF shoes are naerly as good and are 40 cents cheaper per pair.. One of my good farrier buddys has nicknamed me 'heab'.. heh =]

-Josh

[NHFarrier]

I like the SX7/SX8 for 00-1, but some horses with 1 or 2, I just don't the Kerchaert shoes have enough meat. I am from a rocky area, and a horse with a bigger foot doesn't seem to get enough protection. Like Slowshoe said, I do like them for TB and shelly horses. They also don't last well on a horse that travels "heavy" on it's feet, like a few draft riding horses that I do. I admit, I haven't tried other types from Kerchaert. I use the Custom Fits or St Croix Etra-Ez when I feel the SX7/SX8 aren't enough. Sole protection was the wrong choice of words and not what I was trying to say- I should have said the SX7/SX8 don't offer enough support/stability on a bigger foot.

I usually don't buy shoes by the price, and I'll usually go for a more expensive shoe before a cheap shoe. I was using mostly SX8, and some SX7 for lighter horses. I am not giving them a bad wrap, I just prefer to use a St Croix on a big foot. With the Custom Fits I like either a Mustad 5 E head or a Delta 5 Combo slim. They seat really nicely.

Amy

[curtis B.]

I have been using the Rayguang shoes over the last 2 years (maybe 3)
They are very similiar to the st.croix shoe-He has a style that is similiar to the x-ez and eventer also he has them in alumin and with a 2degree wedge in the steele pattern-
they hold up very nice for resets
the nail holes are good-
the clips are already thined out (which saves time)
and come with the rolled toe and the foot surface is beveled-
and they are CHEAPER!!


you can get them at
horseshoes unlimited
just ask for ray-