"Clips, Not Cleats"

I sometimes get asked why I use those "cleats on them shoes."  I have to explain, "They are not cleats. They are called clips."  A clip is a modification to a horseshoe that protrudes upwards from the outer rim of the shoe.

Clips have many uses, and I use them for many different reasons. You can purchase pre-clipped shoes or forge the clips on the shoe yourself. I prefer to forge my own clips so that I can place them on the shoe where I feel they are needed and most beneficial.

Clips are used to:

• Stabilize the shoe, not allowing the shoe to rotate or twist during the shoeing cycle
• Stabilize the shoe when hoof is missing
• Stabilize the shoe on horses with a weak or thin hoof wall
• Take the sheering pressure off of the nails, allowing me to use fewer and often smaller nails
• Hold a foot together if there are flares on the foot
• Prevent further damage caused by coffin bone fractures with the use of continuous clips
• Support and help stabilize cracks in the hoof

Clips obviously have many uses.  Feel free to ask my why I decided to use them on your horse.