When a well-clipped shoe is applied correctly, it sure looks sharp on a horse’s hoof. Some farriers will even go so far as to call them sexy. Proclivities aside, they serve an important function. “Clips are mainly used to improve the security of the shoe on the foot and relieve stress on the nails,” says Tucumcari, N.M., farrier Jim Keith. “They can be applied anywhere around the wall perimeter, but usually only in the anterior half due to their ability to constrict wall movement. They may be used to contain wall flares.”

ANYTIME THE SENSITIVE structures on the bottom of the horse’s foot are exposed, it is a good idea to protect them. There are various ways to protect the foot, including bandages and pads, however almost every farrier will encounter a time when the hospital plate is the ideal method.