I see way too many guys using the wrong shoe size for draft horses

I was at a clinic in Ohio last month and watched three different farriers try to fit a Percheron with shoes that were clearly two sizes too small. The heels were hanging off the back and the toes were pinched in. I told one guy his shoe was a half inch too short and he got defensive. This is a real problem because if the shoe doesn't cover the heel properly, you get cracks and lameness down the road. I've been doing this for 12 years and I always measure twice before I grab a shoe off the rack. Why do so many people rush this part? Has anyone else seen this hurt a horse long term?

3 comments

3 Comments

laura_wright1mo ago

People rush everything now, not just shoeing horses. Everyone wants a quick fix instead of taking time to do it right the first time. That lazy attitude is what causes long term damage you can't undo.

ross.kevin1mo ago

Not sure I see it that way, @laura_wright. Sometimes taking your time doesn't mean you're doing it right either - just means you're taking longer to make the same mistakes. Quick fixes can work fine if you know what you're doing.

riverreed10d ago

Sometimes taking your time doesn't mean you're doing it right either" - that's a wild take. I've watched guys spend three hours fighting a shoe that just isn't going to fit right no matter how many times they heat it up. Meanwhile a quick soak and 10 minutes with the rasp could've fixed it. Being slow isn't the same as being careful. It's just being slow.