6061T6 aluminum will this work for shoes?

My supply house doesn't carry aluminum stock. I have a new client with a 1.60 jumper who has been convinced by the last farrier that his horse has to be shod in aluminum.

My plan is to eventually get the horse in steel at least behind but I don't like my options for hind shoes made of aluminum. Will 6061T6 work?

Speedy Metals has some reference material for common aluminum alloys . . .

6061- http://www.speedymetals.com/information/material5.html
2024- http://www.speedymetals.com/information/material4.html
7075- http://www.speedymetals.com/information/material7.html

They also sell tool steel aluminum and stainless in small quantities.
speedymetals.com

are you competent at forging ?

What Kerckhaert in aluminum would you recommend? Pro Farrier Supply which is the largest supply in Canada only has Eventer plus as their hind aluminum with sufficient mass. I would have to change the toe and heels enough to make using them counter productive.

Just saw the Kerck Aluminum Century Support hind, thanks now to find a retailer.

I haven't made an aluminum shoe in 4 years but when I did I found it actually a lot easier than steel. I would actually have been making my aluminum all along but the farrier supply doesn't carry it and I really am happy with the front shoe's offered in aluminum. Didn't figure I would be shoeing hind feet with them till now.

Thanks

'Round here, I don't see many Jumpers wearing aluminum. Hunters OTOH....

bloody hell Rick we have hunters knocking out 7/8 x 1/2 steel in 10 days

6061 is what I have been using for my Ali shoes. I bump the toes a bit and they seem to last well. I was supprised that even without putting nails or a wear plate in the toe, I was still able to get a reset out of most of them.

Yeah, but your hunters aren't 'hot house flowers' working on soft footing. Besides, aluminum on the front end of hunters has become the accepted(and as a result, often required) method of shoeing a hunter on this side of the pond. Its a case of 'monkey see, monkey do' . Someone's horse(s), wearing aluminum for some unspecified reason, start winning. Before you could say 'boo', every dilettante and trainer wants aluminum on their horse(s) too. That's OK with me 'cause I get a lot more money for aluminum than I do for steel.

any pics of your alis chip?

I hear ya Rick. I am going to mention to the owner that if they intend to sell having aluminum on the hind end of a jumper will be a red flag to most people even if there is no issue. It just isn't done. I will humor them the first cycle but start laying the groundwork. It's just odd.

This is the only one that I could find Smitty. This is my first ali bar shoe.

Nice goin Chip

That is very helpfull thanks!

An interesting update. I went and did the horse yesterday and the last farrier was telling the owner lies saying the horse was in aluminum for some reason... I found 4 shoes made of steel.

No pictures as I had an audience of vet/owner/trainer through the entire process asking me questions about the changes I was making. Trim was the only issue I saw. Was so relieved not to have to put aluminum hinds on a jumper.

Maybe it was unintentional and the result of the previous farrier having a case of CRS. That stands for . . . damn, I forgot what CRS stands for . . .

You aren't old enough to suffer from that ailment.

I'm embarrassed by how long it took me to figure out what CRS stands for. lol I guess that is a possibility either way it was a happy surprise to see steel.

whats the big problem if the horse needed aluminium