I recently picked up the mounted police contract and they use ÖLLÖV rubber horseshoes. My questions is, is there an easy way to punch out the nail holes on these shoes? I just punched them with a pritchel and cut the excess rubber off the back that came from the hole but I am hoping there is an easier/quicker way. Has anyone heated a pritchel and burned the hole out? I tried but mine was too thick at the end and was making the holes bigger.

Maybe you could just drill them? Thats the way I always put nail holes in the thick Equithitics brand 'sneakers'.
And PS I have seen cariage horses who were in Ollovs for long periods that develop terribly contracted frogs and heels from the frog being so high off the ground for so long. I think a pour in material in the back half the feet would help that a lot. The Budweiser clydesdales use custom made frog support pads with their thick rubber shoes for that reason, and say the horses are moving a lot better with it.
Patty

B&B Shoeing wrote:
Why Ollov? Find a product you like that meets the horse's needs and the client's needs. Rubber shoes of any kind are generally unforgiving and hard to shape. Find a product that works for you, not the last farrier. Just because the client has grown used to a certain product, doesn't make it right for every horse in the barn. Look at all the differint feet and confirmations in that barn, if one shoe fits them all, look harder. I'm not bustin your chops, I'm just saying make your life easier and more enjoyible, you might even gain more respect with the client.

And as Patty said, drill em out if you stick with the Ollov.

Yes I made a pritchel to work on them, but I don't use the shoes anymore. They are so hard to shape unless you have the special tool. Also I don't know if it was me or not, but I found if you don't have really good hooves, these shoes wear the horn down.

Had a horse one time I spent 6 months getting the heals to grow out on. The owner wanted the Öllöv shoes on so we did. After one shoeing the heal I had worked so hard to get were now gone.

They were also a lot of extra work if you have a thin walled hoof - no way to punch fine holes in them.

Mikel