Oxen shoes

[Rod]

I took the “boys” out for a walk today and had three slips by one or more of them on the ice or the frozen snow/grass. I had my ice rubbers on which made it easy to walk where they were having problems. I thought of shoes and wondered how many ox folks up north do shoe their teams?

[Kevin Cunningham]

there was a post on the facebook book page, that was just brought up on the forum, that I thought was interesting. Instead of traditional metal shoes they used a strong glue to adhere a piece of wood or rubber to the hoof. It got me thinking that we shouldn’t be so caught in the old ways to explore new materials or technologies. I can imagine some kind of “rubber boot” that could give the extra footing needed in certain conditions but wasn’t so hard to remove for the 99% of the time you don’t need shoes.

[CharlyBonifaz]

been working with rubber and plastik soles/shoes and glue (various): not satisfied with the results yet
either rubber/plastic is worn down too fast – especially when walking on blacktop – or glue(s) won’t keep; back to smithing…
not quite given up yet, since if there is a new product on the market I will usually give it a try (during summertime)

[oxman]

Take a course making shoes and shoeing and shoe your own and many others while your at it. I have made many, many sets and will continue to make many sets, and soon will be expanding my sales, both in product line and training seminars, though I am getting a bit tired of seemingly being North America’s only continous shoe maker and shoer of oxen. I want to make shoes, but cut back on the hundreds and hundreds of oxen I shoe. I implore you all to shoe your own. I will help if I can. Please, don’t make oxen walk without shoes when they’re needed.

Carmen

[Andy Carson]

I do all my work on dirt or sod and am intending not to shoe at all. Will it be obvious when and if I need to shoe? What are the signs to look for?

[oxman]

Hello, Andy. Yes, indeed it will be obvious when your oxen will need shoes. If you are working on sod only and your team is light, and you work less than say 20 hours a week, and you don’t pull much weight, you should be ok without shoes. However, if you are serious about working your oxen, especially over all terrain, including ice, they will need shoes. Seriously working oxen not having shoes will sore their feet within 3 weeks to the point of pain causing limping and discomfort. Check their feet, examine soles, and be watchful of the ever telling tendancy of preferring to walk on soft ground instead of gravel. Shod oxen don’t care, and they walk prouder. Also, watch for slipping and sliding; if they do that, shoe them. Last thing you want is an ox falling on his teeth!

Carmen

[herefords]

Carmen,

When are these seminars going to be going on? I am very interested in seeing how to shoes oxen. I have two pair of steers and want to learn this trade.

Albert

[oxman]

Hi, Albert. You are welcome to come watch me shoe oxen any day I’m working at the Museum. We usually shoe one pair a day. Come spend some time with us.

Carmen

[mathuranatha]

I used to make strap on shoes for my bullocks 15 or 20 years ago , i am pretty sure there was a thread on this site [or a similar site]a few years ago with pictures etc . they used to work quite well . strap them on every morning take them off at night . We were working them on the road every day so shoes were absolutely essential . most we had on the road was 5 oxen at one time , a pair pulling a big cart and them 3 smaller single-bullock carts with shafts . So that was 20 shoes to strap on every morning . They were made from steel in the end with nylon webbing loops and a leather strap . As they would wear down I would just weld fresh bars across the bottom . Still dreaming and planing to get out on the road again , its been a decade . good luck , have fun —mat —

[herefords]

mat,

do you have any pics of these on or seperate?

[CharlyBonifaz]

@herefords 35087 wrote:

mat,

do you have any pics of these on or seperate?

mat’s oxen shoes (I’ve kept the link all the while):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9445121@N05/4439975260/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9445121@N05/4439978882/in/photostream/

[Droverone]

So how exactly does this attach?

[oxman]

It would be interesting to see these strap on shoes.

[CharlyBonifaz]

from what I understood, there is a ribbon/leather running through the loops around the fetlock (?), that is tied

[mathuranatha]

@herefords 35087 wrote:

mat,

do you have any pics of these on or seperate?

yep i found some old pics on my flicker ,
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4439982424_51b2cbfafc_s.jpg ,
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4439978882_c2ccb56b81_s.jpg , http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4439975260_ef3f856cc8_s.jpg

only of the shoes though , not fitted . A 25mm [1 inch] wide well oiled leather strap with buckle goes through the 3 nylon webbing loops and does up snug but not too tight – then it wont rub . might rub if working in the rain all day .

[Author]

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