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Discussion on Hot Shoeing vs. Cold shoeing
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Member:
ginny
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 28, 2011 - 7:08 pm:
I have been using a new farrier for a few months now and this shoer likes to hot shoe. (My other farries have all used cold shoeing.) I have noticed that my horses are starting to lose shoes before their six week appointment. One of my friends suggested that the hot shoeing was to blame because it dries out the hoof. I have read the opposite in a Farriers Journal. I am now confused and don't know whether I should ask my farrier to cold shoe my horses or hot shoe. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 29, 2011 - 7:54 am:
Hello Virginia,
Properly done hot shoes should not come off quicker than cold shoes. Hot shoeing should not damage the wall other than the coagulation of the horn's protein at the weight bearing surface of the wall. Done properly this should create a tighter fit making it less likely the shoe will come off.
You should look elsewhere for the cause. A properly fitted shoe, with nails driven a proper distance up the wall, and well clenched into healthy wall should prevent most problems. However a very rocky, uneven, or perhaps a thick mud environment may all shorten the life of the shoe as will weak crumbly walls.
DrO
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Member:
ginny
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 29, 2011 - 7:23 pm:
DrO,
Thanks so much for your response to my question. At the time of my post I was really on the fence about which way to go. I feel better now about letting my farrier continue to hot shoe my horses.
Thanks so much for the Horseman's Advisor. I think it is great to have a place to go to get answers to our questions. You have really filled a need for all of us horse owners.
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 29, 2011 - 8:34 pm:
Another advantage to hot shoeing imo is that the farrier can adjust the shoe to fit the horse easier. In cold shoeing it seems many farriers adjust the foot to fit the shoe.
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Member:
paul303
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 30, 2011 - 12:23 am:
Well said, Sara. I've found the same thing.
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Member:
cometrdr
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 30, 2011 - 6:01 pm:
i have found a reason the shoes come off is the clinches loosen up when you have wet then dry. the wet makes the hoof swell - like rain season, dewy grass what have you. then the hoof dries out - no more dew - no more rain (like AZ where we live) the hoof shrinks due to lack of moisture and the clinches now become loose and the shoe no matter how good the farrier hot or cold gets loose on you. Your profile doesnt state where you live Ginny - could that be something that is happening too?
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Member:
ginny
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 30, 2011 - 7:11 pm:
Thank-you for your comments, Sara, Lee, and Muffi.
I live in the western part of North Carolina, in the mountains. We have been having very dry weather lately. It has been very hot during the day (unseasonably so) but with high humidity and dew in the early morning. It makes sense what you all said about the dry and the wet. I had my farrier out today and decided that I would have him hot shoe after all. I really appreciate your comments. It made the decision easier.
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 30, 2011 - 8:48 pm:
Some carriers will seal over the nail holes to prevent moisture and bacteria getting into the hoof. I would think this might help if moisture changes are causing the loose shoes. The number of nails used or clips might make a difference also.
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New Member:
divamare
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 30, 2011 - 11:31 pm:
For what it's worth, I prefer hot shoeing over cold shoeing for the reason Sara stated already...seems the shoe is made to fit the foot instead of the other way around. Of course, like Dr. O said, "Properly done".  Is the new farrier using a different type of shoe than was used previously? Or fewer nails? If the terrain is the same...sure seems like it should be the shoe/nails unless the hoof wall has weakened? Or maybe just bad luck? Only time we lost shoes around here was when we had the thick clay sucking mud.
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Member:
helenw
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Posted on Friday, Jul 1, 2011 - 8:55 am:
This is an interesting discussion just from the angle of national or regional differences. Here in the UK we would be very dubious about a farrier who only cold shoes, simply because it is near impossible to get a really accurate fit. The only exception would be where the horse is frightened of the smoke and palaver of hot shoeing. I'm guessing that here, cold shoeing as an option has pretty well died out. I certainly haven't met or heard of a farrier who does it regularly, for years.
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