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I used to think a hot shoe was just for looks until a horse in Bend, Oregon changed my mind
For the first five years, I'd only hot shoe if an owner specifically asked for it, thinking it was mostly a show thing. Then I worked on a quarter horse with persistent heel cracks that cold shoeing just couldn't fix. I finally tried a hot fit, burning the shoe to the hoof wall, and the difference in how the plate seated was immediate. The cracks started to close up within two shoeings. Now I won't touch a problem hoof without the forge. Anyone else have a specific issue that made you switch to hot shoeing as your go-to?
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rubyk8612d ago
Ever seen a hot shoe fix a navicular flare-up?
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cora_scott7712d ago
Actually, cold shoeing can work fine for a lot of regular maintenance, it's not totally useless lol. But yeah, seeing a hot shoe mold to the hoof wall is a game changer for problem feet. That burn creates a perfect seal you just can't get cold. Once you see it fix a long term issue like that, it's hard to go back.
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Hot shoeing can actually cause more problems than it fixes sometimes. That burn you're talking about can damage the hoof wall if it's not done just right. I've seen horses get sore from the heat, even with a good farrier. A well-fit cold shoe does the job without the risk.
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