Pro tip: Forging each shoe by hand is better than grabbing factory ones

A lot of farriers pick factory shoes to finish jobs fast. I think this misses key fit points and can cause soreness later on. Do you see more lameness cases with pre-shaped shoes?

4 comments

4 Comments

abby_fisher2mo ago

So @dylan_ward, how many bad fits do you see from those factory shoes?

wendym822mo ago

Used to think factory shoes were fine to save time. Then my gelding went lame after a quick shoeing job, and the vet pointed out how the shoe didn't match his hoof shape at all. Seeing him off for weeks made me a believer in hand shaping every time. Now I won't let a farrier near my horses with a pre-made shoe.

adams.river1mo ago

Funny thing is, a bad shoe fit can mess up a horse's back over time too. Like a bad tire throwing a car's alignment off, but way slower.

dylan_ward2mo ago

A vet I know in Kentucky mentioned that lameness spikes after rushed shoeing jobs. He said it's often from farriers using factory shoes that don't fit the hoof right. Tbh, that's why I always take the time to shape each shoe by hand.