California farrier finds modifying manufactured clips makes them work better and saves time over drawing his own

For years, I have built and fitted my own clips on my horseshoes. But with the advent of pre-clipped shoes on the market, I decided to try them out and see if they could be beneficial to my practice.

Initially, pre-clipped shoes seemed awkward, ill-fitting and too large. But, just as with keg shoes, I found they are a starting point, requiring some skill and attention to modify them to achieve the desired result.

Cross-Section First

When I buy keg shoes, I select them for a particular cross-section. Whether they are a front, hind or compromise pattern is secondary to the choice of cross-section. Next, I shape the shoe to fit the hoof I’m working on. Looking at pre-clipped shoes in the same way revealed their possibilities.

Typically, pre-clipped shoes are going to need some adjustments to get the right fit. Clips that are too tall or wide can be made smaller. Thick clips can be made thinner. If they are set on the outside of the web of the shoe, I forge them back into the web.

 

Figure 2. Determine the clip…