Eric, Why did you decide on that type of shoe for forging instead of maybe a square toed or maybe extended heals?
Ummmm maybe because HE CAN? . . . and it is a really cool lookin' shoe . . . and we need something to to inspire us once in a while . . . That shoe made my day. Thanks, Eric!
After shoeing him numerous times the first day and watching him go, I could see what I needed to do to get him to stop forging. The onion heel and French Hind each had the mechanics I wanted so that's what I made. Eric Russell
It seems like when I get one like this horse (forging/falling down), I hear the parents saying they spent more money than they should have but the trainer said this horse is going to really help their daughter. The parents think they heard "get to the Olympics"......
This year in Michigan, the onion heel with rocker toe is the shoe de jour and all barshoes are bad; I think I heard the onion heel even cures warts. Well, I have one to do today with neck, back and navicular issues; guess what the prescription is? Address the breakover and a rocker toe onion heel shoe, alum or steel my choice, rim pad or not, wedge or not, pour in or not and the horse does not react to hoof testers anywhere on either front hoof. Ought to be at least entertaining this afternoon, Thanks for the inspiration Eric. I think I'll try 5/16" x 1"; kind of a young horse & not real big. I'll let ya'll know...
According to the owner the horse jogged out much better and no forging(didn't bother to tell me it was having that issue too) I didn't see the horse when it was really bad but it appeared pretty relaxed and forward ; so it goes in the win column 13 1/2" x 5/16" x 1"
I wish Eric would have mentioned how "wonky" this shoe gets when you're cutting off the inside. Pretty scary. LOL. Always fun to have an audience when you're building a shoe for the first time. well the Vet amended the Rx and wanted a wedge built in, so half way through, I had to start over and bump 3/4" into each heel. Otherwise not half bad fun to make and a big plus when you take it to the horse and it fits like it was made for it.
Is that about what you wanted in the heels? If so you can forge the front half of the shoe in the straight, turn the toe, hockey stick the heels and forge the material back into itself until you get your heel shape. Eric Russell
Hi-Lo horse from today RF: there is a 3/16" rim pad/shim amended to the shoe LF: His left hip is not as bad as it looks in the photo. He cocked his hoof just as I snapped the photo and I didn't realize it until I saw the photo when I got home.
