Rant: Why I ditched nailed shoes for glue-ons on my own horses

Everyone in this group seems to swear by traditional nailed shoes for everything. But I got tired of dealing with cracked hoof walls on my two geldings after every reset, especially during wet seasons here in Oregon. So about 6 months ago, I switched to glue-on aluminum shoes and it took a while to figure out the prep work but now I get 6 weeks between resets with zero cracking. My farrier buddy says I'm crazy but has anyone else found glue-ons worth the extra effort?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona_lane20d ago

Hold up. You're saying 6 weeks between resets is a win? My farrier is out every 4 weeks nailed or not. I'm not seeing how that extra time is worth the hassle of glue.

wesley_thompson3d ago

Every 4 weeks? Your farrier must love that payment schedule.

robert_smith3620d ago

Six weeks between resets sounds about right to me for glue-ons once you nail the prep. My own draft cross has thin walls that used to split like crazy with nails every 4 weeks. We switched to regular glue-ons about a year ago and the difference is night and day. I put in the extra time cleaning and drying the hoof before applying, and it pays off with no cracks or chips. Your farrier probably hates them because they take more setup than nailing on a shoe. But for wet ground or soft feet, I really think glue is the better option.