Fitting shoes for problem feet: make them or modify store bought?

Just worked on a draft horse with collapsed heels. Had to shape a shoe from scratch. It fit like a glove but took all morning. My neighbor farrier only stocks premade shoes. He bends them a bit and calls it good. Saves him tons of time on the road. I feel the handmade route gives better support. He says clients don't notice the difference. Who's right here? Do you craft your own for tough jobs or tweak what's available?

3 comments

3 Comments

maxt951mo ago

Ever ask the horse if it prefers handmade?

webb.ben1mo ago

You said it yourself, your neighbor's clients don't notice a difference. For a truly messed up foot, sure, make one. But most horses are fine with a good premade shoe bent to fit. Is the perfect custom job really worth losing half your day for every tough case? Seems like overkill unless the animal is in real trouble.

averymartin1mo ago

Exactly, losing half your day adds up fast. Say you have three tough cases in a week, that's a day and a half gone for shoes that might not even help the horse more than a well-fitted premade. Most of the time you're just dealing with a flat-footed quarter horse or a big draft that needs a bigger size, not some crazy medical puzzle. Spending all that extra time only makes sense if you're fixing a real problem, not just going for perfect.