A vet in Boise told me to use a different nail shape on a draft horse last month.

He said a wider, more rounded nail would prevent wall cracks on a big Percheron I was shoeing. I tried it, and the owner called yesterday to say the horse is moving better than it has in years. What's the best piece of advice you've gotten from a vet or trainer that worked out?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancyd852mo ago

What if that nail shape just hides a bigger hoof problem?

jamieburns4d ago

I get where you're coming from with "hides a bigger hoof problem," but I actually see it the other way. That nail shape isn't hiding anything, it's just a tool to fix a specific issue. If the hoof is healthy and balanced underneath, a wider nail isn't masking anything, it's matching the hoof's natural shape. You can see a thin, cracked, or brittle wall just fine regardless of what nail you use. The risk is more about using the wrong nail for the wrong hoof, which can cause new problems like splits or poor shoe retention. I'd say the shape is more of a solution than a cover-up.

james_ross2mo ago

A vet in Boise? That's wild, I didn't even know they had draft horses out there. I always picture Idaho as more of a quarter horse place. The advice itself makes total sense though, a wider nail for a wider hoof. My farrier told me something similar about using a softer metal for an older horse with thin walls. It stopped the chipping we'd see every six weeks.