American Farriers Journal
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
Advertise Follow Us
Forging a Heart Bar has Never Been Easier
Hall Of Fame farrier Myron McLane shows how to apply a frog plate to a keg shoe
You need a heart-bar shoe, but you don’t have time to forge one. No problem, says International Horseshoeing Hall Of Famer Myron McLane. A heart bar doesn’t need to be hand forged to be effective. All you need is a keg shoe, a short piece of bar stock and a little elbow grease.
Before going to the fire, the Somerset, Mass., farrier begins with the trim.
“I watched this horse walk from the trailer,” McLane told attendees at the annual fall clinic at Centaur Forge in Burlington, Wis. “He was landing flat, so that’s the way I’m going to trim him. I’m not going to change anything. This horse has been turned out, and been barefoot a while, but he’s got a nice foot.”
When trimming the foot, he avoids touching the frog if at all possible.
Farrier Takeaways
- Dress the top of the frog after the plate is burned on to avoid recession.
- Using a pritchel when burning on a shoe allows you to see where the nail hole lines up on the foot.
- Set the frog plate closer to the frog on the first burn. It’s easier to tap it down than it is to bend it up.
“I don’t dress the top of the frog unless there’s something hanging off of it,” McLane…
Premium content is for our Digital-only and Premium subscribers. A Print-only subscription doesn't qualify. Please purchase/upgrade a subscription with the Digital product to get access to all American Farriers Journal content and archives online.
Top Articles
Current Issue
Plenty of Hoof-Care Growth in 50 Years
Celebrating 2 Decades of Extraordinary Hoof-Care Learning
Butler’s Insights Hold Strong
Current Issue
Special Report For Equine Veterinarians
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
Must Read Free Eguides
Download these helpful knowledge building tools
- Caring for Your Horse During a Pandemic
- CBD Products Have Promise for Farriers, but Buyer Beware
- Sharpening Knives with a Buffer
- Winter Hoof Care
Videos
Hoof Care on Parade
Greg Martin, CJF, of Boerne, Texas, takes the unique approach of marketing his hoof-care practice with a Christmas parade float in Boerne and Comfort, Texas. The award-winning float boasts a variety of surprising features.
Events
Michigan Horseshoers Association 55th Annual Clinic
Date: 01/02/25
Location: Lansing, MI
View Event
Top Directory Listings
Life Data Labs Inc
Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
Kawell USA
Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.
SmartPak
From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.