I would like to hear your opinions about nail placement. If you would only use four nails per hoof, where would you put them? I know that Mikel mentioned to not use the first nail due to Martin Kenny's study, Smitty stated that the heel nails are the most important ones. Then somebody said to not use the heel nails as they could interfere with hoof expansion. So how do you prefer to nail them? And would you rotate for each shoeing cycle - let's say first and third first and next cycle second and fourth? Looking forward to your opinion. Thanks very mucho!
Stef, I find the whiteline to be the best guide there is..I don't care how far forward I nail but I refrain from nails in the heels Unless totally have too...
Stef, I've gotten so I use only two nails per side on many horses. If you got a good trim and fit, they will hang. I guess this is a subject with many different replies. Like Gary, I don't nail too far back. Also when you make shoes, you can put the nail hole where you want them.
Stef, like Gary and Mikel, i ve always tried to use the white line as the guide, depending on the hoof condition, i sometimes deviate to what will keep the shoe on. Hand made , out of a box/bag or cellophane, if you have a forge, drill ,or another way of making a hole in the material your nailing up, you can put the appropriate hole where/if needed. Regards Ray
Gary, sorry, thought they had them over there, I know i ve used them here and elsewhere, for your benefit, they are a device that goes round and round , configured so that when tapered and sharpened somewhat, they will remove material out of a piece of stock that resembles a circular hole! great device, hope that splains drill?? for you. Regards Ray
"Do the nails seat well in a circular hole?" Kylek, in an aluminum shoe, they fit exceptionally well. I know I'll get some flak for this, especially from across the pond, but IMHO nail fit is highly over rated, although placement is not. Take a shoe that is recommended for a size 6 nail, and smack a size 5 in it, E or city, and see if it easily comes out. The one problem you might run into in the thicker stock is the nail surface "disappearing" below the ground surface, Whack an E head and a City head into the same shoe, and see how it comes out. As Ray says, to a certain degree, the softer metal (usually the shoe) will usually deform somewhat to fit the harder metal (usually the nail). That's how they get away with putting round holes in aluminum shoes. You won't win any contests using the "wrong" nail, but it will stay in the shoe. Ok guys, let me have it. Regards
I can't disagree w/ anything posted yet. As for # of nails and/or placement, look at the foot. If I'm setting a shoe back I may use the last 3 sets of holes(keg shoe), on a normal foot I may use the first 3, club foot I may leave out the toe and heel both. I leave out nails that I know won't hold, come out low, are over bad foot or will quick one. Hinds I tend to leave out the inside heel and outside toe, why, don't know. I just like it and seems to work fine. Fits the foot. That's the best thing to remember, nail so it fits the foot. Just like shaping your shoe. Trim the foot to fit the horse, shape the shoe to fit the foot and nail to fit both. If you do it right you won't know most of the time, but, if you do it wrong you'll know right away.
This brings the old question are we doing a good job that is making a horse perform well, or is the horse performing well despite our poor craftsmanship (Just to make something clear this is not directed at anyone's skills in this forum). I can understand drilling round holes in aluminium shoes and the nail forcing its way. But with steel you won't get a good fit between the nail and the hole. If you use a nail smaller than what is needed it will be difficult to clinch (if it sinks in the fullering). If you use a bigger size than needed, the head will be worn out and the shoe comes loose. Bottom line is if you have round hole use a round nail, if you have a rectangular hole use a rectangular nail and it is always a good idea use the most appropriate nail size.
Some of the nail holes that appear in machine made shoes, round ones would be a closer fit.. At least the nail would be held at 4 points....
Stef, and any other readers directly to your question of nail placement, a drill can be used if needed to make a hole if one9a hole is not exactly where you need it, in case you do not have a forge(and appropriate fuel) ,pritchel ,fore punch etc.. it is not the only means of getting a hole in a piece of material. Ray
Sorry Stef, maybe I should have asked the question in a new topic. I just kinda threw it out there. Sent from my GT-I9100M using Tapatalk
If I had to go that route, after drilling the hole, I would use the 'pointy end' of my buffer to 'pritchel' the round holes in to a rectangular shape to better suit the nails. Though if one does not have a pritchel, I have to wonder if they have any business shoeing horses in the first place...
