Showerthought: I used a 3/4 inch crease nail on a draft horse last week and the clinch was way too tight.

I was trying to get a stronger hold on a big hoof, but it actually started to pull the shoe. Now I'm wondering if a thicker nail is ever worth the risk on heavy breeds, or if you should just stick with the standard. What's your go-to for big draft feet?

3 comments

3 Comments

amymason3mo ago

Oh man, been there. I had a Percheron that was pulling shoes constantly. Tried a thicker nail once and got the same problem, it just pinched the hoof wall too much. My farrier actually switched me to a wider webbed shoe with the standard nail count. More hold from the shoe shape itself, less stress from the nail. For real big feet, sometimes you just need more steel, not more nail.

saraho483mo ago

Interesting! @amymason, did the wider web help with any other issues, like hoof cracks? I've seen some big horses where the shoe itself seems to hold everything together better, but I wonder if it changes how the foot lands.

williamt441mo ago

My farrier says the opposite actually. He's worked on Draft crosses for 20 years. Wide web shoes can make the foot land harder on the inside edge. The extra steel changes the breakover point. I've seen it cause quarter cracks on heavy horses that never had them before. Sticking with a standard web and better nail placement works better for my guys. Less shoe mass, less leverage on the hoof wall.