A supplier I would like to try doesn't carry Mustad products. They do carry Kerckhaert. Most of my shoes are Kerckhaert so I am considering trying the 'steel comfort'. Will I be disappointed with the shoe if comparing it to Equilibriums?

no. compared to mustad steel comfort is way better finished shoe.

hmmm exciting I had hoped that would be the answer. I would be happy to get an improved Kerckhaert version of the Equilibrium.

thanks

edited because &^%* crud my brain is done for the day

I haven´t used many pairs of either. SSP´s are so easily converted to similars...

I have heard those are good, haven't tried them. I don't get to the farrier supply often as it is a bit away so just order and have things shipped.

Those equilibriums are punched way too coarse for most of what I work on, and also they have about 1/8" boxed off all the way around the shoe?! So you set the shoe wide and roll it back?

I haven't seen these new kerck's yet, but so far I don't think I've seen a kerck shoe I didn't like.

Comfort has a much better finish than Equilibrium. However my supplier claims Mustad has switched production site and will make the Equilibrium at the St Croix factory. This because the U S market doesn't approve of the coarse finish.
They showed a prototype of the new Equilibrium at a clinic here and it is much more similar to Comfort in finish.
Have to agree w you though Juhani i tend to use SSP 22x10 more and more where i previously used Equilibriums.

I have never taken an equilibrium off that is not just worn off at the toe and the rest of the shoe looks like new ,is this trying to tell me something ???
I just use 22x10 with Side clips and a hammer .

Hey Alicia,

I have some horses in both the equilibriums and comfort shoes and like both. Many people on this forum tend to take things as someone is stating an absolute or something thats irrefutable...I just want to be clear that these are just my personal thoughts on the two shoes

Mustad equilibrium
the equilibrium shoe is made from 10mm stock to be able to get the amount of roll their researchers deemed necessary. I personally do not think they are punched too coarsely at all. Actually, I would prefer the 3s and 4s to be punched a tad more coarsely but I'm also used to using a lot of Sn and Sn vet gras shoes. I would prefer they were not boxed so much out of the box. My main complaint with them is once you get to a size 1 and smaller, it really becomes quite a lot of shoe.

kerckhaert comfort
Ok, right out of the box its a much cleaner looking shoe I must admit. Its obviously a lighter shoe since its made from 8mm stock. However, you have to wonder if mustad's researchers deemed 10mm stock was necessary to achieve the correct roll, how much benefit does the comfort shoe actually have? Well, for starters where a equilibrium shoe sometimes dwarfs a foot the comfort looks quite nice. The comforts are also punched finer, which a lot of farriers seem to like and feel more comfortable with. I think the comfort is a great shoe for a hunter...both the steel and aluminum version. Its a nice light shoe with some ease of breakover built right in. Especially for a horse where you have the shoe set back as much as you safely can but still needs a bit more breakover relief(which is usually why I'll use either an equilibrium or comfort). Also, on this shoe I feel comfortable "rocking" the toe in addition to the "roll" that is built in. In general, I feel like the comfort is a very safe shoe...punched conservatively, light weight, sole relief. However, almost the opposite of the equilibrium...when you get to a size 3 comfort, their isn't a whole lot of substance to it for a size 3 shoe-once again, works fine for a hunter.

Much like everything in our craft, which shoe demands on the horse and the situation. Hope that helps!

Mp__4659
Mike Phillips

That is correct, Mike, the Mustad Equilibrium is 10mm for the proper unrolling of the hoof off the ground, which can not happen as well with an 8mm shoe, according to the research done by Dr. Meike Van Heel. We did try an 8mm version as a "Lite", it just does not work as well for that effect. I agree that the Comfort has a nicer finish, but that has little to do with the function. Once the shoe is on the foot it will shine up any way.

Steve Kraus, CJF (Mustad Farrier Consultant)

Reading about this comfort and equilibrium shoes made nowadays makes my jaw fall down.

As shoers we have tapered or feathered or rockered toes for a gazillion years to achieve exactly the same thing those manufacturers claim is needed to make a horse comfortable.

I can't believe this.


Ronald Aalders

It's called saving time.

how many horse more a day can you shoe with all this so called "saved time " ?
chris

chris bunting wrote:
I think we are talking few minutes. and atleast in my case; 6 more boxes of shoes that I have to have with me... I think I stick to carrying SSP´s...

i dont quite understand why folk take on a traditional hands on profession then look for ways to take shortcuts and easier ways when it is a known fact it is a physical and hands on craft that requires a lot of forge work . perhaps its just me that sees it this way
chris