Heavy Shoes

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kal40

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Hi

Picked new neddy up last week and have fallen in love with him. He is just perfect for me.

I have a question about his shoes though and hopefully someone can shed some light.

He was just shod before I bought him and the lady who sold him to me said that it wasn't her usual farrier but a newly qualified guy. The farrier put different and much heavier shoes on him but she didn't think to ask why. He is a cob so has good sized feet but these shoes just seem huge and heavy.

Someone at the farm (at home) said they thought these were 'driving plates'. Has anyone heard of these? My farrier is uncontactable for the next couple of days so I can't call him and ask.

Can anyone enlighten me. This is my first cob after TBs and WBs.

Thanks
 
A friend on my yard had her horse shod by a newer qual'd guy that put on what our regular farrier called continental plates - they were really wide and had no groove - you'd imagine them to be really slidey on grass, for example. They could be similar to driving plates - a driving plate to me would be something to enhance knee action (ie toe weighted) and is what is used on hackneys, ASB's, Morgans etc for animation. Just a thought, anyway.
 
There are many different sections and 'heavier shoes' offer more wear than thinner sections but the problem arises if you are putting on a section that is too heavy for the feet.

Why do they think they are driving plates? are they singled clipped at the hinds? Is this a driving horse?

Have your farrier have a look and if he feels they need changing then do, otherwise carry on as you are.

Heavier shoes put more strain on the limbs

eta if they are a plain stamp (no visible grooving on the shoes) then you may want to change these for fullered shoes as these offer more grip
 
Thanks for the replies folks. TheFarrier: I think they are flat with no groove.

He is a riding horse and the reason I ask this q is that when we were out last night I felt as if he was struggling to lift his feet (maybe thats an exaggeration) but as if he had heavy legs. Also, he tripped with me on the road and slid a few times. After this he was walking very gingerly - not striding out like he usually does.

Like I said, my farrier is uncontactable for a couple of days but we have left a message for him. I'll get him to come and have a look - I trust him totally.
 
Hi. My boy has heavy shoes on but they are fullered however I am finding they are actually wearing quicker than the thinner shoes I used to have and they are falling off more, I think because his hooves are so dry and brittle at the moment and they are putting more strain on the hoof so I am at my wits end!
 
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