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Switched to flat shoeing for my trail horses 3 months ago
I used to always put keg shoes on everything that came through my shop, thinking they needed the extra grab. Then I had a client in Billings ask me to try flat shoeing her gelding after he kept tripping on rocky trails. I watched her horse move way better over a rough patch of ground and it totally changed how I think about traction. Now I'm flat shoeing most of my trail horses unless they really need the bite. Anyone else made the switch away from kegs for certain horses?
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robertcarr4mo ago
Is it really that serious of a switch though? I mean, I've seen plenty of horses go just fine in keg shoes on rocky trails for years without tripping. Flat shoeing might help one horse that's clumsy, but I wonder if folks are jumping on a trend without thinking through what their horse actually needs. My own farrier has been at it for thirty years and he still puts kegs on most trail horses unless they're on pavement or super slick rock. Maybe it works for some, but I'd be careful calling it a total change in thinking.
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bennett.harper4mo ago
My friend Sarah had a big QH that was a total rock star on flat ground but turned into a hot mess on anything technical. She had him in quality kegs with trailers for years thinking it was just how he moved. Then she switched to flat shoeing on a whim after her farrier retired and a new guy suggested it. First ride on a rocky ridge that horse didn't stumble once, like a different animal completely. She called me freaking out about it lol. I'm not saying it's for everyone but it made a believer out of her real quick.
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