I used to think hot shoeing was overrated until I saw the difference on a wet horse last Tuesday

My mentor in Kentucky told me a properly hot fit shoe will contract and grip the hoof wall tighter as it cools, which makes zero sense until you feel a loose cold shoe vs a hot one after a rainy day. Has anyone else noticed fewer lost shoes since switching to hot fitting?

3 comments

3 Comments

oliver_ward141mo ago

Yeah, wet horses pop cold shoes like clockwork.

bethcarr1mo ago

Honestly, is there anything more frustrating than a shoe that pops off halfway through a ride? I switched to hot fitting a couple years back and it's night and day. The cool grip is real, especially after a wet trail ride. My farrier says it's like a shrink wrap effect for the hoof. Lost way fewer shoes since, and that's a fact.

holly_williams1mo ago

Holy cow, you guys are making me rethink everything. I always thought hot shoeing was just for dramatic effect, but hearing someone like @bethcarr swear by it for wet weather work is wild. That shrink wrap effect sounds like science fiction but I guess it makes sense if the metal contracts. I've had more than a few shoes come off during a rainy ride and it's a total buzzkill. Maybe my farrier has been holding out on me with his cold shoeing routine. This thread is honestly blowing my mind a little.

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