Switched to a lighter shoe on a draft cross and saw a big change in his stride

I had a big Belgian cross with a heavy, flat foot that always seemed to drag a bit. On a hunch, I put him in a size 2 aluminum shoe instead of the usual steel. After about three weeks, his owner called to say he was moving with a much quicker, cleaner step (her words, not mine). I guess the weight difference, even just a few ounces per shoe, really matters for some of these bigger, slower-moving horses. Anyone else seen a big change from just switching shoe material?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia8432mo ago

That weight difference can be a real game changer. It's not just about the foot coming up faster, it's about the whole leg cycle. A heavier shoe makes the leg act like a longer pendulum, which really slows everything down. You see it most in horses that are already a bit lazy or built downhill. Switching to aluminum is basically taking weights off their ankles. Makes you wonder how many "just a heavy mover" types are actually wearing the wrong shoes.

joelsanchez2mo ago

My old farrier said aluminum shoes can save like a pound per foot, @julia843.

derek9391mo ago

Man, this hits close to home. I once had a farrier tell me my horse moves like a freight train in steel shoes, and switching to aluminum was like giving her a whole new set of legs. Of course, I also tripped over my own two feet walking from the barn to the truck right after that conversation, so maybe I'm not the best judge of motion efficiency! But seriously, it makes you wonder how many horses get labeled as lazy when really they're just working twice as hard to pick up those heavy feet.