PSA: An old-timer at the Michigan Horse Expo told me my clinch block was too smooth.

He said a slightly rougher surface from a light file pass gives the nail a better bite, and after trying it on a draft horse last month, I haven't had a clinch work loose since.

3 comments

3 Comments

richard_dixon1mo ago

I always thought that was a myth but I guess not lol

the_kevin1mo ago

Wait, so we're just taking random advice from some guy at an expo now? A smooth clinch block is fine if your nails are sharp and you're driving them right. Sounds like a band-aid for a bad shoeing job.

caleb_thomas931mo ago

Look at it from the metal's point of view. A perfectly smooth block makes a perfectly smooth clinch. That shiny surface has less friction for the nail to press against. Adding a tiny bit of texture gives the metal something to grab onto as it deforms. It's not about sharp nails, it's about the final lock. The old guy might be onto something with the physics of it.