Switched from aluminum to steel shoes for my regulars and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long

Honestly, I've been using aluminum front shoes on my trotters for like 5 years because I thought they'd be lighter and faster. But last month, I had a client with a heavy-footed gelding who kept wearing through them in under 4 weeks. A guy at the local farrier clinic in Lexington told me to try steel, said I'd get at least 8 to 10 weeks out of them. I finally gave in, and ngl, the difference in wear is night and day, plus the horse isn't stumbling any more. Anyone else stubbornly stuck on one material and regretted it?

2 comments

2 Comments

hall.ruby1mo agoMost Upvoted

Funny enough, I stuck with aluminum for years just because I liked the sound of them clacking down the driveway. My farrier finally told me I was being ridiculous, and he was right. Steel shoes on my old gelding have been a game changer, he's not stumbling on gravel anymore.

webb.val1mo ago

Your mileage may vary on this, but I actually had the opposite issue with a standardbred mare I used to work with. She was so light on her feet that steel fronts made her clumsy and she'd grab her left front every other stride. I switched her to a lighter aluminum egg bar on that foot and it fixed the whole thing. I think it really depends on the horse's gait and how they land. Some of them just don't need the extra weight and the steel can mess with their natural balance. So I wouldn't say steel is always better, you know? It's about what fits the individual horse in my book.