Okay I gotta admit I was wrong about hot shoeing in winter

I always thought hot shoeing below freezing was pointless because the shoe would just cool off too fast to seat right. Read a study from the UK farrier association saying it actually helps the shoe grip better on frozen ground. Has anyone else tried it and seen a difference in how long the shoes hold?

2 comments

2 Comments

marymorgan1mo ago

Your mileage may vary on that study, but I've hot shod plenty of horses in sub-zero temps and I see a real difference in how the shoe seats and stays. The heat helps the shoe form to the foot better even if it cools fast, and I've had fewer pulled shoes in deep snow compared to cold shoeing. Hard pass on saying it's pointless, just different results depending on your conditions.

wilson.emma1mo ago

Agree with most of that but just a small correction - hot shoeing isn't really about the shoe forming to the foot better in the moment. It's more about the heat expanding the metal so when it cools it shrinks tight onto the hoof wall, giving that snug fit that helps with holding better in snow and ice.