what features do you like to see in a readymade concave shoe ? my biggest gripe is the nailholes , they have no/minimal pitch , and half dont fit nails properly
Yep, and the fact that there is too big a jump between certain sizes... a 5 is way too small and a 6 is way to big etc...
I like good heels on a shoe my favourite are kerkhaert classic concave. Plus well pitched nailholes and strong clips. The shape is not too important as that is easy to adjust
what nails you using Mark ? i find all nailholes in kerks are crap , i like mustad shoes , they have the best nailholes IMO , heels could be better but i think they are an excellent everyday shoe
I use liberty slims. I don't think any machine made is perfect, forgot to say I use Vulcan blenkinsops if im using side clips in front
I think the classic fronts toe is to tight and im not paying that money to reshape the shoe also I think the heels are crap
correct, and every manufacture makes the same size shoe a little differently; and you have to keep changing nails per shoe size and different types of shoes; making very difficult to get the same fit and the nails are made slightly different between manufactures as well ~~~~as in a handforge shoe properly made for the individual horse and the nail to fit the pitch of the hoof wall and punched for the shoe required. this is what Smitty complains about in my shoeing on the nail heads not fitting properly on the shoe I am using. I do agree with him.
What I like in a machine made: Appropriate section for the size of shoe Nail holes pitched properly, no freakin' dags so I don't have to freakin' back pritchel them Nail holes placed appropriately, so I can evenly space them... I hate clenches at odd distances from each other on a hoof. Decent heels with a nicely angled check... why is that so hard FFS. No stupid stud hole pads like Vulcans have... I'll punch the freakin' stud hole where I want them thanks very bloody much! Nice triangular clips, a size that match the shoe. Already boxed and safed. Don't have to sell my first born male child to buy a stock of them... reasonable price. That's not too much to ask is it?
The best keg shoe is the least expensive on the shelf. What I do is to hit them when they're hot and get the shape I want and then put the nails through the holes provided, hitting them in such a way as to cause them to come out the side of the hoof where I want them.
that would be Diamonds plain compromise pattern {in an American sizing} and with a SB5 Capewells. good for trail horses and QH's, Appaloosas, and other lighter American breeds~~~nothing wrong with that ~~ except will not work on the WB's, larger draft crosses, cobs, and specialty shoes for the different disciplines in the hunter/jumper when you need aluminum or a heavier wider shoe.
I forgot about Diamonds. They really are crap, but quite usable. I got two hundred pounds of Diamonds, Triumph style, and rim shoes for free a couple years ago. They were very poor quality but I loved nailing every one at that price. I actually don't use any standard section shoes. Delta wide kegs and Triumph fronts. The larger shoes I make myself.
i dont understand the point of buying baggies then having to convert them , clip them rehole them and work on the heels to make fit , quicker making them as i see it
i use cottams plates , softer than all the others and dont hurt my hands at the stalljack , last just as long ime and half the price of kerks
I used a few cottams in NZ Chris. As well as their Equishoes. Not bad at all. Wish I could get the equishoes here in Oz, I'd use them.
