Draft & Work Horses
Draft horse farriery is physically demanding, technically specialized, and underrepresented in mainstream farrier education. The horses are massive, the shoes are heavy, and the consequences of poor balance are significant on animals that may weigh 1,600–2,200 lbs.
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The Draft Shoe — Size, Weight, and Materials
Draft horseshoes can weigh 1.5–3 lbs each — 6–12 lbs of steel per horse per cycle. The shoes are made from heavier bar stock than light horse shoes, with larger nail holes to accept larger-diameter nails that can hold against the enormous weight the horses carry. Calks — permanent forged projections at the heels and sometimes the toe — provide traction on the slippery surfaces draft horses traditionally worked: cobblestone streets, wet barn floors, ice, muddy fields. Modern show drafts may carry highly polished shoes with toe clips for presentation; working farm drafts carry functional traction shoes built for the actual footing they work on.
- Shoe weight: 1.5–3 lbs per shoe (vs. 0.3–0.5 lbs for light horse)
- Bar stock: Heavier section than light horse shoes — typically 1×½ inch or larger
- Nails: Larger diameter — size 7–9 vs. size 4–5 for light horses
- Traction: Calks standard — toe and heel projections for working surfaces
- Calking style: Forge-welded calks for permanence vs. removable studs (unusual in drafts)
Feathering and Pastern Health
The heavy feathering (long hair) on the lower legs of Clydesdale, Shire, and Gypsy Vanner breeds traps moisture and debris against the skin, making these breeds highly susceptible to scratches (mud fever) — a bacterial and fungal skin infection of the pasterns. The farrier is the person who sees the lower leg most closely and most regularly, making farrier observation of pastern skin condition critical. Clipping the feathers for easier cleaning and monitoring is recommended for horses in wet environments, though show owners often resist this for cosmetic reasons. The farrier should note any thickening, crustiness, or inflammation at the pastern and flag it to the owner — early scratches is far easier to treat than an established infection.
- Scratches risk: Feathered breeds are disproportionately susceptible — moisture trapping is the cause
- Farrier role: Closest regular observer of lower leg — flag skin changes to owner
- Prevention: Clip feathers in wet seasons, dry legs thoroughly after wet conditions
- CPL: Chronic Progressive Lymphedema — long-term lymphatic condition common in draft breeds, exacerbated by repeated scratches
- Hoof cleaning: Draft hooves accumulate more debris under the feathers — daily picking essential
Show Draft vs. Working Draft Shoeing
Show drafts and working drafts have different shoeing objectives. Show drafts are shod for presentation and enhanced action — toe clips, polished steel, and sometimes weighted shoes or pads that increase knee and hock action for the halter ring or hitch class. The shoes are part of the presentation and must be cosmetically flawless. Working farm and forest drafts are shod for durability and traction — borium on heel calks, heavy bar stock, maximum nail count for security. Horses working in logging may carry special caulked shoes designed for steep, muddy forest terrain. The distinction matters: a farrier asked to shoe a Clydesdale should first establish whether the horse goes to the county fair or goes to work in the field.
- Show shoeing: Polished, toe-clipped, sometimes weighted for action enhancement
- Work shoeing: Borium calks, maximum durability, practical traction
- Logging: Specialty caulked shoes for steep muddy terrain — specialized equipment
- Weight consideration: Weighted shoes increase action but add joint stress — welfare consideration for non-show horses
- Farrier tools: Draft farriery requires physically larger tools — standard equipment is undersized