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I just trimmed my 1000th hoof and realized I hate the 'hot fit only' rule
It took me 8 years to hit that number, and every time I cold fit a shoe perfectly, it proves that rule is more about tradition than good work. Anyone else get great results without the forge for certain jobs?
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beth1477mo ago
Look, I get what @terryscott is saying about the mold and the seal, but that assumes a perfect, clean hoof every time. On a lot of pasture kept horses I see, the hoof wall is just too crumbly to get a true seal from a hot shoe anyway. The heat can sometimes weaken that wall more. A cold fit on a properly prepped foot isn't a guess, it's a different skill. You're reading the hoof plane and the wear patterns, not just relying on the burn. For a basic maintenance shoeing, if the foot is balanced and the shoe sits right without heat, you're done. The rule should be about the result, not the tool you used to get there.
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julia_carter617mo ago
Totally agree, that rule feels like gatekeeping sometimes. I've seen horses stand perfectly fine for years with a well-done cold fit on a normal foot. It's like some farriers think if there's no smoke, it's not real shoeing. Sure, you need the forge for a big correction or a special bar shoe, but for a basic reset on a sound horse? A good rasp and clinch block does the job.
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terryscott7mo ago
but you're missing the point of the forge... it's not about smoke for show. A hot fit molds the shoe to the exact foot, not just the bottom. it seals the hoof wall and lets you check for pressure points you can't feel with a cold shoe. calling it gatekeeping just lets people cut corners... a cold fit on a fresh trim is a guess compared to a proper seat made with heat.
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jake7476mo ago
That bit about the crumbly hoof wall is spot on. My buddy's old trail horse has feet like that and his cold-fit shoes last way longer than when they tried to burn them on.
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