Hot take: I stopped using traditional clips for most front shoes and my clients are happier

I know everyone says you gotta use clips on the front for security, but I started skipping them on horses with good wall condition and moderate workload. I got tired of half the clips cracking the wall or causing chips after 4 weeks. So I tried a full bar shoe with just nail holes and some extra nail placement on a couple geldings back in February. Six months later, not a single lost shoe and the feet look way cleaner at reset. My mentor would probably call me lazy, but the horses are moving fine and the owners like not paying for wall damage. Has anyone else tried ditching clips on front feet and got better results long term?

2 comments

2 Comments

chen.jade1mo ago

Hot take" is right but honestly I think you're onto something. I've had the same experience with clips on good wall - they just cause more problems than they solve most of the time. The extra nail holes in a full bar give way better hold without splitting anything. Your mentor can call it lazy but the proof is in the clean feet and no lost shoes. People act like clips are the only way to keep a shoe on but that's just not true for a lot of horses.

leeknight1mo ago

Your mileage may vary but I've seen clips cause hoof cracks way more often than splitting.