Now I'm not asking "would you ever nail on this plastic shoe you'd never heard of to every horse you do from now on?" I'm more wondering if you're open to investigating new products if they have promising preliminary evidence. As far as my experience goes, a LOT of farriers are "nail on steel keg/handmade shoes of various styles with regular steel nails, and everything else is worthless crap" and a lot of the same ones will dump a case onto a vet or another farrier instead of taking on a challenge because they never considered using say a glue on rubber shoe or whatever. I bet when vettec was starting everyone thought it was hippie fad crap that was useless, but now I don't know of anyone that thinks it (or similar products) have no use. I like to keep myself open to the idea of nearly anything as long as it makes sense (or if they can show me how it makes sense if I don't get it), has good evidence of working, and if I can see a live demo or maybe a video of this new product doing what it claims to. Yes, of course 95% of horses will still be handmade/keg nailed on same as always, but unless you shoe 2 horses a week, you're going to see something that can't be solved by standard shoes now and then. What do you think? Do you like your ways and refer a case you can't solve to a vet or a farrier you admit knows how to, are you open to new things, or something else? I know there's a poll but please elaborate down below if you have time.
When I first started out I carried around a trailer full of supplies that I thought that I may need. I now tend to rely more on forge and hoof work rather than products. But I think you should always try to do what's best for the horse and use whatever necessary to accomplish that goal.
HorseHrs, just wondering, is there a reason for your post/quirie for pure information ,because you have a product to promote or some other reason? Thanks ray Steele
I have been gone for a while but checking in tonight. For the record I hate vet tech products, rubber and plastic shoes as well. I'm open to aluminum. A majority of problems are fixed or caused in the trim. Let's make a rounder wheel.
I believe there is a time and place for different vettec products and such, but I also think a person can go overboard a bit as well. I also believe in the KISS method. When I was working as a mechanic I had an old guy tell me to always look for the small simple things to solve a problem - I believe the same goes for the shoeing game.
I'm asking because most farriers I've met stick to their small arsenal of products and to me that seems extremely limiting, whether or not they're successful with it.
I sure would not agree with you , I d suggest you go to a supply store and look around, certianly there are the "meat and potatoes" of nails and steel shoes, but the glues ,acrylics, plastic shoes , two ply pads,wooden clogs, redesigned clenchers, hoof packings etc abound. Some make it, some do not, ( edited and added few hours later) In reference to your "small arsenal" idea, I would think it foolish to change protocols if what is being done is working(successful) by the same advice , I would think it foolish to keep doing the same thing if it is not working. I don t know many practicing farriers who continue to do the same useless action over and over producing a lack of success that keep working! I m not sure of your time line of observation but I ve seen alot of product come in some 40 plus years, some of very new to the industry and some of it repackaged, a fair amt. just did not do the job but I bet I can name 20 or more within 20 minutes of thought that have been introduced in my time frame that one might say made a major impact on the industry, because they ,the products work for the user, that said some of these products get used by alot of farriers, Ray
