Road nails: front, back or on both...???

phantomhorse

phantomhorse

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For riding skitty youngster around steep hilly lanes... what would you recommend? Farrier says fit behind only, I rekon front only, but just wondered what others think. :confused:
 
I took my farriers advice and just put them on the back feet and am quite happy with the result. You could always try it one way and have different/all 4 at the next shoeing if you are not happy!
 
I have mine all round but I have to say I'm not convinced they're much use because although they work initially they do wear down really quickly.
 
I would have said back only

However my mare fell over and skinned her knees after just a slight startle, but was on really smooth dark slippy road surface. So I am going to insist on fronts too on monday!

They are just raised "dots" much smaller than a nail head.
 
When we're hacking out I find he can occasionally slip infront when going down hill as hes a big horse, recently backed and still unbalanced. Equally I can see how he might slip behind whilst going uphill on the rod. Makes me wonder why the farrier says most of his clients just have the hinds done? Mine wears knee boots and brushing boots ATM as a precaution.

If road nails arent very long lasting, what is better that I can ask my farrier to fit this afternoon?

I plan to up the amount of road work we'll be doing from now on so it might be better to have something thatll last the full 6 weeks between shoeings.
 
Road nails last me between shoeings - 5 weeks. My farrier says I am too old to have a horse fall on me (cheeky lad) so its road nails all round. Hang the expense.
 
I have road nails all round, after much debate with farrier who initially wanted to just put on hinds. There is apparently a belief that there is more chance of pulled tendons if the fronts don't have some 'give'. Logic dictates to me that there is more risk of pulls if the front feet do slip. I have had road nails all round for the last three years (since having shoes all round) and have had no issues, I did have the horrible experience of all four hooves sliding away on a glass like road surface before the road nails and do not wish to experience that again! Farrier now puts road nails all round for a few custoners :)
 
I have them all round, and always have had since I lived in these parts. There are lovely quiet lanes for hacking, but they're very hilly, and don't have a close acquaintanceship with the Highways Department! On some the tarmac is really treacherous and glassy.

My road nails last me the 6 weeks between shoeing, but the last week is always a bit scary and I'm very careful where I ride for those final few days.

I buy my road nails direct from Mordax Studs, near Skelmersdale. They are a most efficient firm. You order them by phone and the nails are with you two days later. I order them in 96s (i.e. 24 shoeings worth at a time) and your farrier will fit them for nothing. Cuts the price by about half. It's ages since I last bought them but think it worked out then at about 36p per nail. Also very useful if you bulk buy for others.
 
Road nails in all four and fitted at the heels on all four. As they are tungsten they last the full 6 weeks.

Farrier does not charge extra for these.
 
I have them all round, better safe than sorry. TBH I put them on for the ice last year to move him round the yard safely so he did not get stranded in his box. Kept with them as they stopped any slipping on the beach ramps.
 
I have gone to all round too as having a nightmare on resurfaced roads in our area. This has made such a difference and wish I had done it years ago.
 
Sorry to hijack tread but those of you who say your road nails last between shoeing, are they the kind of little pimple ones or something different? I'm considering asking my farrier if there is an alternative.
 
Jen_Cots said:
I would have said back only

However my mare fell over and skinned her knees after just a slight startle, but was on really smooth dark slippy road surface. So I am going to insist on fronts too on monday!

They are just raised "dots" much smaller than a nail head.
Click to expand...

We have been having the exactly same problems with this new shiny road surface and have reported it the council and BHS. Its like riding a horse on rollerskates.... Thankfully we haven't gone to our knees...yet! Hope you were ok!
 
road pins last a very long time (had shoes re-fitted with them in) and they lasted over 12 weeks all together and taz is in full work and hack 3 times a week :)
 
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