I finally called out a guy for using the wrong nails on a draft horse

Had a client last Tuesday with a Percheron that was limping bad. Pulled the shoe and found he used #4 nails way too short for a draft hoof. They barely held the shoe on and one was bent over inside the white line. I asked him why he didnt grab #6s and he said he ran out. Told him he shouldve just called me instead of risking that horse going lame. Anyone else deal with farriers cutting corners on nail sizes?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_cameron17d ago

Aluminum shoes on a Belgian? That's just asking for trouble.

rosepark17d ago

Last summer I was shoeing a Belgian up in Monroe and the owner told me the last guy used aluminum shoes on him. Aluminum on a 2,000 pound draft horse. Those shoes were flattened out like pancakes by week three and the horse was throwing sparks on the pavement. Some folks just don't think ahead I guess.

shane_morgan17d ago

Honestly bet the farrier who put those on was just used to working on Thoroughbreds or something. A lot of guys get into a routine with racehorses and don't stop to think about the actual weight difference. That Belgian's got more mass on one leg than a whole racehorse. Plus aluminum doesn't hold up to gravel or pavement at all, it just grinds down. The real problem is those shoes probably cost twice as much as steel and lasted maybe a quarter of the time. Owner got ripped off hard and didn't even know it till you showed up.