Shoeing question

Kat

Kat

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I always thought that horse shoes had one toe clip on the shoes for the front and two toe clips on the hind shoes.

The only time I have seen two clips on the fronts has been because there has been some sort of problem (I can't remember what it was supposed to help with though).

I went to look at a horse at the weekend and it had two toe clips all round. When I asked they were surprised I thought this was odd and said that their farrier does them all like that.

Am I right to think this is odd???

I'm not buying the horse anyway but was interested to know whether this is common or whether they were having me on!
 
Yes this is very common, I think it all depends on the farrier though not sure.
I know my farrier at home does 1 toe clip on the fronts, but my farrier at uni has 2 toe clips on the fronts and I actually prefer it that way. For some reason with 2 toe clips my horse felt a bit more balanced and his trot was better. Don't know if it is just my horse though
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Yep that rings a bell with me sashpip, I knew I had come across a horse shod like this as a corrective measure.

But it sounds like some farriers do shoe like this as a matter of course so maybe there wasn't actually any reason for this horse to have been shod like this.
 
Isn't it something to do with preventing the hoof wall flaring and also to do with helping to keep the shoes on better in horses with weaker feet?
 
It is quite common, especially with horses that have stud holes in, as it can help stabilise the shoe. I like my horses shod like that if they are prone to long toes, and my last horse was always shod like this! When I let my farrier know I was selling him, he shod him with "normal" front shoes again as he said although it is very common, vets and purchasers will often ask questions...
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He didn't have studs and if anything had quite boxy little feet.

My first thought was is it to keep the shoes on better, so I asked, but they said he had really good feet and actually was unshod behind for quite a while.

Guess I'll never know, as I'm not pursuing the horse further but interesting to read all the responses! You learn something new every day.
 
Oh dear dog. there is some serious mis-information flying around. I did not want to have to answer this question now i wanted to do it tonight. I really dont have time for a full answer right now but four point shoeing aka natural balance, have a read of this article here: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/36962.html is NOT the same as shoeing a horse with double clipped fronts.

Double clipped fronts can be used for many reasons. One being a clip is worth two nails in the foot so is often used on horses with poor horn qaulity. Another reason has to do with breakover although to speed up the break over you also roll the toes. A double clipped shoe is set slightly differently on the foot allowing for added heel support 9with the extra support of two clips). they are also good for horses with joint problems and stumblers which is where the improvement/speed of breakover comes into play. Double clipped shoes are used to help bring back and keep back run away toes (especially on TB types) It is more commonly used on horses with flat or expanded hooves.

There are lots of uses for double clipped shoes which is why they appear so common. There is often nothing wrong with a horse shod with double clips but some people do still find it odd or associate it with remedial work.

I would use them without cause though and it doesnt seem form the description that the horse above needs them unless he is a stumbler or anything like that.

If i think of anything else or anyone has any questions ill be back tonight
 
Ok, this is not odd at all and fairly common and I personally wouldn't be concerned - my horses are all shod in quarter clips on the fronts- it is easier for the toe to be kept short and pulled back(if the horse likes to be shod like that), the Farrier can shoe the horse longer and wider at the heels to offer more heel support ( I like horses to be shod like this even if they don't have a problem) and the clips will keep the shoe more stable and allow the toe to roll more. (Rolled toe shoes will have a similar effect). A lot of comp horses are shod like this.

P.S Natural Balance shoes may also have quarter clips, and some horses love'em and some hate 'em!!!........ if the horse has been shod NB or you have any doubts as to the foot balance , if your friend was to proceed with a vetting, maybe get them xrayed!! thats all I'm going to say
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I'm sure The Farrier will be able fill you in much more than what I can!

A shoe is only as good as the Farrier that has dressed the foot and put it on in the first place IMHO
 
[ QUOTE ]
Double clipped fronts can be used for many reasons. One being a clip is worth two nails in the foot so is often used on horses with poor horn qaulity.
A double clipped shoe is set slightly differently on the foot allowing for added heel support 9with the extra support of two clips). they are also good for horses with joint problems and stumblers which is where the improvement/speed of breakover comes into play. Double clipped shoes are used to help bring back and keep back run away toes (especially on TB types) It is more commonly used on horses with flat or expanded hooves.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is why my horse has them. He has ringbone in one front pastern so has side clips and lateral extensions. Farrier also complained when he first started shoeing him that his feet were too big and too long, so from what I gather he's been slowly taking them shorter. For some reason he doesn't seem to grow much foot so farrier struggles to find room for new nail holes each time (despite him having good, strong feet, the horn just doesn't grow quickly). Horse gets footy if nails are put too high so I think the side clips mean he doesn't have to have so many nails.

Something like that anyway! Either way..horse is more sound now than he's ever been and doesn't stumble over his front feet anymore
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