Old timer told me to use a lighter hammer for front shoes and it's saved my shoulder after 3 weeks

He said I was overworking myself with a 4 pounder on every hoof, but I tried his 3 pound suggestion on my last two horses and now I'm not wincing by lunchtime, has anyone else made that switch and noticed a difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

jamie79427d ago

Yeah the lighter hammer thing makes sense but you're talking about shoes not hooves, right? A 3 pound hammer on shoes is standard for most guys I know, the 4 pounder is more for big draft work or driving nails into harder ground.

the_robin27d ago

Started borrowing my uncle's old 3 pounder back when I was learning and never felt the need to switch. My buddy @jamie794 has been trying to get me to go up to a 4 pounder for years but I just don't see the point unless you're working on something really stubborn. Handled a big Percheron once that needed the extra weight but that's rare for me. Most of the time a lighter touch keeps the nail from bending and the horse from flinching. Been shoeing for about fifteen years now and if it ain't broke I'm not fixing it.