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Discussion on Why are different shoes used on horses
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Member:
Gr82bme
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Posted on Friday, Oct 17, 2003 - 12:59 pm:
This is my first posting on any site. I just joined this morning so i hope I am doing this right.  A friend of mine is looking to buy a 9 yr old gelding. He has on toe & heel shoes? Are these shoes used for any certain reason? She was told that is just the type of shoes her farrier uses on all the horses? Also he has smaller hooves. Any ideas would help. Thanks in advance
Debby
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 10:26 am:
Hello Debbie,
This looks great but I am not familiar with the term a "toe and heel" shoe. Can you better describe what you mean.
DrO
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Member:
Gr82bme
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Posted on Friday, Nov 7, 2003 - 2:29 pm:
Dr. O
Sorry I missed your post back to me. This is the term the woman's farrier used. It looks like studs you put on a shoe for the winter, but they are thicker & wider. Almost like a bolt has been put on the ends of the shoe. The owner said this was cause she rode in rocks? I never heard of this type of shoe or heard of the term either. Thanks for helping.
Debby
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Friday, Nov 7, 2003 - 3:20 pm:
Hello Debby,
Welcome to Horseadvice.  I have seen this type of a shoe used on my geldings pasture mate. The reason his owner wanted them put on is, he had a horizontal crack in his front hoof and it was winter with snow on the ground. I guess the little bolts in the back were there for traction in the snow and ice. I have also seen these shoes placed on jumping horses in competition for better traction on moist/wet grass. If the farrier is placing a one size fits all kind of a shoe on all the horses, regardless of what their individual needs are then I would consider having your friend check out this horse with a good vet exam and a different farrier together. Just what I can gather from sitting behind my computer screen is that this horse is coming from a trail riding establishment? Correct me if I am wrong. What does your friend intend on doing with this horse? The answer to this question will have a bearing on how this horse is shod or not. I hope I haven't confused you further. Susan Bilsky
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Friday, Nov 7, 2003 - 10:32 pm:
I've seen horses with borium(sp?) spotted on toes and heels of shoes for traction on ice and granite, as Susan mentions, and also an "ice stud" used for the same purpose. I would certainly want to know why the horse has them on. I have a hard time believing the farrier uses them on all his clients' horses if they are what I'm thinking of. They are dangerous on a young horse, or "frisky" horse, as a horse can easily twist a leg when the borium or clip grabs the ice or rock but the rest of the horse continues to move. Also, they can be hard on a pasture mate if kicked by a horse with these shoes. If what Susan is talking about are the same shoes, I'm uncertain as to what they would have to do with a hoof crack.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Nov 9, 2003 - 8:25 am:
I concur with Susan and Sara.
DrO
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Monday, Nov 10, 2003 - 1:47 am:
The borium studs are sometimes used here on horses which hunt but that are a bit too fond of canter/gallop on the road when it's not necessary to avoid slipping especially when turning off a road into a field etc. Some horses prefer to canter rather than trot fast on the road and it can be quite dangerous and difficult to control.
However, I am still not sure what a toe and heel shoe is... can you describe it a bit more, Debbie?
Imogen
Imogen
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Member:
Sefiroth
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Posted on Monday, Nov 10, 2003 - 11:22 am:
I believe a toe and heel shoe is one that has toe and heel caulks built in for added traction and grab. Here's a picture.
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Monday, Nov 10, 2003 - 4:46 pm:
Hi, my gelding had on what my farrier called a heel & toe shoe at one time and it was to raise him off the gravel so he wouldn't get sore he had very thin soles at the time. The farrier said they use them alot for horses that are trail ridden on rocky rough terrain. They lift them off the ground about a quarter inch or maybe even a litte more. I did not notice better traction except for in mud. When I got my new farrier he said take them off or that boy is going to pull something out in the pasture. He did a nice job trimming and my horse is now barefoot, so in conclusion I would have this horses feet checked over well as he might have soft soles or cruddy feet. Sharons pic is close to what my geldings looked like except they extended further down to raise him off the ground.
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Member:
Gr82bme
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 - 6:06 pm:
Thanks all for your help. I was out of town & just got back. We changed our mind on buying this horse for my friend. The owner told us that we didn't need to have a vet or my farrier look at this horse. There was nothing wrong with it & if we didn't belive her to buy somewhere else. And so we did. I found her a 17 yr old lesson mare. This will work out for her since it is her first horse. It was used for lessons & trail for the last 13 years. I think this is a much better match for her. Thanks again for all your help. I love this site.
Debby
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 - 10:54 pm:
Sounds to me like you were wise to buy elsewhere! The horse may have been fine; but the seller's attitude is a bit strange. If she won't let you have a vet out to do a pre-purchase exam,there could be a reason.
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Member:
Westks
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 - 10:47 am:
I agree with Sara anyone who objects to pre-purchase exam will not sell a horse to me!
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Member:
Gr82bme
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 - 10:57 am:
SARA & JANETTE
Thank you for agreeing with me. I told my friend the same thing. If they won't let us have a vet check or even talk to their farrier-we need to look elsewhere. This would have been her first horse & I think the sellers knew she was not experienced in looking to buy a horse. Thank godness she asked for help. The new horse we found will suit her better. Thanks again for all the help
Debby
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 - 11:32 am:
Debby,
Congratulations on your friends new purchase . Ditto for Sara and Janette. If she won't let another vet or farrier near this horse for sale, then why should a prospective buyer go near it either. I hope your friend has many years of enjoyment and friendship with her new baby. Perhaps if she has a computer with internet access, she could become a member of this site. I can't tell you the wealth of learning I have gained from this site, it's hard to put a price on this treasure chest of knowledge. Hope all goes well with your friend and her new friend  .
Cheers,
Susan B.
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Member:
Gr82bme
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 - 12:16 pm:
SARA & JANETTE
Thank you for agreeing with me. I told my friend the same thing. If they won't let us have a vet check or even talk to their farrier-we need to look elsewhere. This would have been her first horse & I think the sellers knew she was not experienced in looking to buy a horse. Thank godness she asked for help. The new horse we found will suit her better. Thanks again for all the help
Debby
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Member:
Gr82bme
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 - 12:38 pm:
Susan
Weird somehow it reposted an old message instead of the one I wrote??
I will pass on the congrats to my friend. She is very excited about getting a horse of her own. She had another but had to sale it. Long story. This one will suit her fine. They are a great match. I do tell everyone who has a horse & a computer about this site. I love it. There is so much info here I never know where to go first.  I am sure she will be joining soon. The site would be a great help to her. Thanks again
Debby
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 - 1:01 pm:
Debby,
See in the upper right hand corner of the duplicate post the note pad with the red X through it. If you click on this you will be able to delete this duplicate post, but only if you are the originator of this post and within a short time limit. 60 minutes, I think. Don't worry stuff happens to the best of us. Susan B. 
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