Farriers agree on the definition of top dressing as the practice of rasping the top side of the hoof to remove any flares or other distortions before shaping the shoe and putting it on. Not all agree, though, that it’s the right thing to do.

AFA Rocks In Reno The American Farrier’s Association (AFA) held its 47th annual convention, “Rocking In Reno,” in Reno, Nev., the “Biggest Little City In The World.”

Whether you’re forging a horseshoe from bar stock or modifying a factory-made shoe, the nail holes you punch are critical. The holes help determine whether the nails hold until the next shoeing and, when necessary, avoid flaws in a less-than-perfect hoof.

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.”