Hot shoeing vs cold shoeing, which is best???

horses4me · 08-19-2008, 03:23 PM

I have just switched farriers. and he Hot shoed my mare, said it is better and lasts longer. I was just wondering which is better and what the pros and cons are of both?

Tobiesmom · 08-19-2008, 05:01 PM

Just my personal experience.... I've had one farrier who did hot shoes... he was excellent, did a beautiful job and the results were very good. Advocates will say the shoes stay on better and the hooves staying in better shape (less chipping, tearing, etc.). However, you can also hear some horror stories of hot shoeing gone bad... burned hooves, etc.

If your horse has good feet and doesn't throw shoes earily and doesn't have corrective issues that might require forged shoes, you can save some money by using a good cold shoer. In a lot of regions, forged shoes are very, very expensive. But if you have someone good who does your horses' feet well, keep him (or her) near and dear to you (whether hot shoes or not!!)

Karen Cole · 08-19-2008, 05:18 PM

By hot shoe do you mean he took a premade shoe...with holes and bent it to fit the horse, took a premade shoe and punched holes in it after heating it or cut a piece of steel and made the shoe himself?

Iam asking because I've heard the term hot shoe used in a number of ways.

As for what lasts longer we have had people call saying they just bought a horse and the sellers said he was the Farrier and the horse was due...when I relay the message he will say yeah I shod the horse....6 months ago!!. NOT OUR IDEA by the way, when he shoes he buys from a shoe company and bends the shoe on an anvil to fit the horse...the shoes are premade. If he is pulling clips then he heats the shoe but he doesn't often use the forge.

Karen

tuffsmom · 08-19-2008, 05:25 PM

I have had horses done both ways. The thing I saw with cold shoeing is that you make the hoof fit the shoe.

The hot shoe is a pre-made shoe that is bent to fit the hoof. With one of my mares, I like the hot shoeing better.

Karen Cole · 08-19-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffsmom

I have had horses done both ways. The thing I saw with cold shoeing is that you make the hoof fit the shoe.

Hot or cold the hoof should never be made to fit the shoe. Shoes can be bent w/o heating them up.

Karen

horses4me · 08-19-2008, 09:09 PM

well, he did heat it up, and fit it to my mares foot, it also has toe tips on it. Yes, she tends to lose her shoes fast, but these have stayed in place. My mare was super good about the shoe being hot and put on her foot, she didnt care in the least. But i do have another mare that might be a bit of a handful to do, so i probable should just do the cold shoes with her. thanks a bunch..

**seerfarm** · 08-19-2008, 09:14 PM

Yes, I have one that I have hot shoed. Hot shoeing helps by setting a small groove for the shoe to set in, this with toe clips help tremendously for horses who slide out of there shoes so to speak.

pasopony · 08-21-2008, 09:46 AM

Hot shoeing to me is taking the shoe (handmade or keg) and heating it up, shaping it, then burning it into the horse's hoof while it's still hot. Just heating up a shoe to bend it is not hot shoeing. Hot shoeing helps burn of small irregularities in the hoof and makes a perfect fit for the shoe (and any clips).

sli92 · 08-21-2008, 09:53 AM

In my personal experience, hot shod horses in my area have had shoes stay on longer, fit better(it seems to be easier to fit a hot shoe than a cold shoe), and is easier to make "perfect"

I do know of ONE single person I would trust to cold shoe my horse, and about 4 to hot shoe. Maybe it is easier, maybe it is just easier to get good at it, I dont know... all I know is who I trust to go near my horse with either type.

For jumpers with cork holes, i 100% prefer a hot shoe.

horses4me · 08-21-2008, 10:00 AM

so do you guys think i should still tyr to hot shoe my one mare that might not be as patient? I have to agree that the hot shoes are staying on and tight alot longer then the cold shoes. Plus changing farriers for me, was a smart move. My old one, i think, was burned out. It took him 2 minutes to trim all four feet and about 2 minutes to put on front shoes and total of 5 minutes per horse. That IMO isnt takning enough time to make sure the shoe fits well. Plus my new farrier found a nail that was "cut" off in my mares foot!! Said it looked like a mis-hit nail? He said is wasnt hurting my mare, but what if it absessed or something? Scary!

**Range** · 08-22-2008, 07:59 PM

I'll tell you this...hot shod is the only way to go with clips. That's what those toe things are you said he has now.

HighHorse · 08-22-2008, 09:06 PM

I've heard horror stories with eyebrow waxing too, but it doesn't stop me

ohiobred · 08-23-2008, 08:56 AM

why don't u ask your farrier or your vet!!!? half of these posts i see are so wrong! ASK YOUR FARRIER!!

nrhareiner · 08-25-2008, 09:50 PM

I have had horses shoed both ways and by the same farreir. I find that for the average horse it is not needed. Some of my reiners I have hot shoed as the plates tend to need to be bent and it is very very hard to bend a slider.

Do they stay on longer??? I have found that if you follow a good 4-5 week trim reset it makes not real differance. What I do like about hot shoeing is that the shoe and foot mold togather better but a good farrier can do just as well with a rasp.

It comes down to if you want to pay the extra. Mine did not charge extra for hot shoeing as he liked to do it. But it takes extra time and they have to know what they are doing.

Heidi

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08-19-2008, 03:23 PM
horses4me Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 139	Hot shoeing vs cold shoeing, which is best??? I have just switched farriers. and he Hot shoed my mare, said it is better and lasts longer. I was just wondering which is better and what the pros and cons are of both? __________________ horse gal

08-19-2008, 05:01 PM
Tobiesmom Weanling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 444	Just my personal experience.... I've had one farrier who did hot shoes... he was excellent, did a beautiful job and the results were very good. Advocates will say the shoes stay on better and the hooves staying in better shape (less chipping, tearing, etc.). However, you can also hear some horror stories of hot shoeing gone bad... burned hooves, etc. If your horse has good feet and doesn't throw shoes earily and doesn't have corrective issues that might require forged shoes, you can save some money by using a good cold shoer. In a lot of regions, forged shoes are very, very expensive. But if you have someone good who does your horses' feet well, keep him (or her) near and dear to you (whether hot shoes or not!!)

08-19-2008, 05:18 PM
Karen Cole Long Yearling Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,434	By hot shoe do you mean he took a premade shoe...with holes and bent it to fit the horse, took a premade shoe and punched holes in it after heating it or cut a piece of steel and made the shoe himself? Iam asking because I've heard the term hot shoe used in a number of ways. As for what lasts longer we have had people call saying they just bought a horse and the sellers said he was the Farrier and the horse was due...when I relay the message he will say yeah I shod the horse....6 months ago!!. NOT OUR IDEA by the way, when he shoes he buys from a shoe company and bends the shoe on an anvil to fit the horse...the shoes are premade. If he is pulling clips then he heats the shoe but he doesn't often use the forge. Karen

08-19-2008, 05:25 PM
tuffsmom Seasoned Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 4,077	I have had horses done both ways. The thing I saw with cold shoeing is that you make the hoof fit the shoe. The hot shoe is a pre-made shoe that is bent to fit the hoof. With one of my mares, I like the hot shoeing better. __________________

08-19-2008, 09:09 PM
horses4me Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 139	well, he did heat it up, and fit it to my mares foot, it also has toe tips on it. Yes, she tends to lose her shoes fast, but these have stayed in place. My mare was super good about the shoe being hot and put on her foot, she didnt care in the least. But i do have another mare that might be a bit of a handful to do, so i probable should just do the cold shoes with her. thanks a bunch.. __________________ horse gal

08-19-2008, 09:14 PM
seerfarm Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portal, Ga Posts: 7,844	Yes, I have one that I have hot shoed. Hot shoeing helps by setting a small groove for the shoe to set in, this with toe clips help tremendously for horses who slide out of there shoes so to speak. __________________ The man who questions opinions is wise. The man who quarrels with facts is a fool.

08-21-2008, 09:46 AM
pasopony Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 821	Hot shoeing to me is taking the shoe (handmade or keg) and heating it up, shaping it, then burning it into the horse's hoof while it's still hot. Just heating up a shoe to bend it is not hot shoeing. Hot shoeing helps burn of small irregularities in the hoof and makes a perfect fit for the shoe (and any clips). __________________ Horses are not my whole life, but horses make my life whole.

08-21-2008, 09:53 AM
sli92 Yearling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 596	In my personal experience, hot shod horses in my area have had shoes stay on longer, fit better(it seems to be easier to fit a hot shoe than a cold shoe), and is easier to make "perfect" I do know of ONE single person I would trust to cold shoe my horse, and about 4 to hot shoe. Maybe it is easier, maybe it is just easier to get good at it, I dont know... all I know is who I trust to go near my horse with either type. For jumpers with cork holes, i 100% prefer a hot shoe. __________________ ~Sarah * PA Sebastion(Oh CanadaxCrystal Vision)

08-21-2008, 10:00 AM
horses4me Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 139	so do you guys think i should still tyr to hot shoe my one mare that might not be as patient? I have to agree that the hot shoes are staying on and tight alot longer then the cold shoes. Plus changing farriers for me, was a smart move. My old one, i think, was burned out. It took him 2 minutes to trim all four feet and about 2 minutes to put on front shoes and total of 5 minutes per horse. That IMO isnt takning enough time to make sure the shoe fits well. Plus my new farrier found a nail that was "cut" off in my mares foot!! Said it looked like a mis-hit nail? He said is wasnt hurting my mare, but what if it absessed or something? Scary! __________________ horse gal

08-22-2008, 07:59 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,732	I'll tell you this...hot shod is the only way to go with clips. That's what those toe things are you said he has now. __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

08-22-2008, 09:06 PM
HighHorse Started Join Date: May 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 2,908	I've heard horror stories with eyebrow waxing too, but it doesn't stop me __________________ I played with a clouded leopard

08-23-2008, 08:56 AM
ohiobred Halter broke Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: northern ohio Posts: 198	why don't u ask your farrier or your vet!!!? half of these posts i see are so wrong! ASK YOUR FARRIER!! __________________ that forge ain't for cookin your lunch in boy!

08-25-2008, 09:50 PM
nrhareiner Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 743	I have had horses shoed both ways and by the same farreir. I find that for the average horse it is not needed. Some of my reiners I have hot shoed as the plates tend to need to be bent and it is very very hard to bend a slider. Do they stay on longer??? I have found that if you follow a good 4-5 week trim reset it makes not real differance. What I do like about hot shoeing is that the shoe and foot mold togather better but a good farrier can do just as well with a rasp. It comes down to if you want to pay the extra. Mine did not charge extra for hot shoeing as he liked to do it. But it takes extra time and they have to know what they are doing. Heidi __________________ Double Eagle Photography www.doubleeagleph.com Definision of Gun Control: Hiting what you aim at.