Any recommendations for shoes that work well for horses with thin hoof walls (nail holes closer to the outside)? I have used PBs, they're OK. Because I mail-order most things, I don't get to browse shoes very often. But shipping costs are cheaper than gas & sales tax!

Sandy

Sandy Zeigler wrote:
Race plates with race nails or you can use St. Criox ultra light or light rims and Kirchaert SX-7. A good nail for the SX-7 and light rims is a Mustad JC 0, fits the hole pretty nice, slim and short blade.

The St. Croix light rim with the JC 0 nail works great. Also a good winter shoe has good traction and the snow does not build up in the shoe too bad.

I fit the nail holes to the white line then grind the excess steel. This works pretty good on light horses with thin walls. If you can't safely nail on shoes then glue ons is a better option. The sigafoos series I work great.

Hi Sandy,

I would get a catalogue from Meader's Supply, www.meadersupply.com . They are great people to work with and ship to most of us free. I can order by 4PM, and it's on my porch the next day.

You didn't say what size horse you were dealing with, but check some of the aluminum race plates as they tend to be punched quite fine and use smaller nails. Of course you can re-punch ANY shoe to meet the specific needs of a particular horse.

Dave

Phil posted: I fit the nail holes to the white line then grind the excess steel.
Sandy,
I personally don't like this method of achieving finer nail holes. I think by reducing the web width of the shoe you can potentially compromise the available base of support the shoe has to offer. It only takes a few minutes to repunch new holes between the original ones. Dave... again

This is a good chance to practice handmades. Once you get the hang of it you will find no shoe fits better.
Bill

Bill Adams wrote:
I will put my first pair on a thick wall warm blood or draft first.

Bill Adams in gray

This is a good chance to practice handmades. Once you get the hang of it you will find no shoe fits better.

Dad gum it, you beat me to it.

I really enjoyed forging in school, and made quite a few shoes, but haven't nailed any handmades on a live horse yet! I've got a stock of handmade eggbars, straight bars, half rounds, swedged fronts & hinds, elevated bar (patten) shoes...

So far I haven't come across a situation where I really needed to make one, or where an owner was willing to pay. I try to make sure I'm stocked with a variety of sizes & styles. I'd love to ride along with someone who uses handmades regularly!

I shoe a few thin-walled horses, and I'd like a wider web than the PBs. They are average/smallish horses, so I think a lite shoe will work fine.

Thanks for the info. I'll try a few new shoes with my next order, and maybe the cold weather will get me out forging some stuff!

Sandy

Tom Stovall, CJF wrote:
Then this day is a notable day indeed. Even a blind pig, as they say.

Sandy,
Don't pass this up. At this point in your carrier don't wory about charging for handmades. Learn how to make them, write it off as R&D. Get good so that when the Vet says they need some weird shoe you can say "No problem, I have the bar stock right here and I'll make the shoe and have it on before the coctaill wears off".
I've done it, it's fun, and thats when it pays quite well.

Phil,
Cool. This week?
Bill

Sandy,

What's a "PB"? A peanut butter shoe? A poor boy shoe? I'm stumped!:confused:

World Race Plates are punched quite fine, as are most of the race horse shoes and training plates, epecially the ones by "Victory".

I've been known to drill or punch new holes in shoes that don't quite suit me-well actually suit the horse.

Although I established my "moniker" many moons ago when I was all gung ho about hand turned shoes. I'll admit, I am fast learning there is only so much hammering in your body and with the plethora of premade shoes on the market, I can modify them to what I need as I need it with my drill press and forge or makita.

I like the Australian 4.5 race nails and Cooper's 3.5 for these thin walled horses (like pasos and some TB's)

Hope this helps!

one of the good things with hand-mades is you can choose the section
of iron for a foot

you can make the nail holes to fit any nail you like put them where
you like

put a clip s where you might not get nails in
make the shape of the horses foot in mind

forge the heels you like to suite the horse
fitting hand mades is no problem

a well made made is easy fitted
foot trim and fit play a big part in how you can drive nails

Sorry Kim, it's Kerckhaert PB. And they are racing plates. I don't know what the PB stands for, it makes me think of peanut butter as well.

http://www.kerckhaert.com/php/horseshoe.php?id=26&group=140

Sandy

Forgewizard wrote:

Hi Kim
do you not find by drilling nail holes
that the nails shear after awhile

Bill Adams wrote:
This week!! Not this week or next week, but the first time I nail on a pair of my handmades, it will probably be one of my horses. That way I can have a beer, listen to music and take my time as I make my shoes.

I do see what you mean though, as time goes on I see more and more the need for handmades. I have to get back to practiceing again. I am getting better at punching a decent nail hole. Getting the hang of fullering is a bugger, ruined a nice creaser.

Phil Armitage wrote:
Phil start with concaves work your way up
forget about fullering til your down the road a bit

then you can venture
if i can help you just shout

SMitty says:
Hi Smitty,

THe first time I saw this done and it was suggested I thought the same thing. That farrier said, "No, they don't shear. Try it."

SO I did. ANd they didn't! At least not at anyhigher rate than I have encountered the occassional sheared nail in regularly punched shoes ( factory or hand made).

Could it bbe they didn't shear because the nail now lined up better with the white line and wasn't under as much force?

I was VERY skeptical, to the point of thinking that guy was nuts! I'd been taught to punch and forepunch each nail hole and pitch the hole too. And this guy wants me to just drill a hole straight through?

I don't have to do this very often. But is in my arsenal when I have to use it.

Regards,
Kim