Each year thousands of horse owners spend hundreds of pounds investing in their horse’s hooves – after all, no foot no horse. But could a different type of horseshoe nail be the answer to healthy feet?
Copper coated
This is what a company called Kerckhaert claims, stating their horseshoe nail will help keep feet “strong, sound and healthy”.
The Liberty Cu differs from ordinary nails in that is copper coated. Copper has antimicrobial properties, and this is said to prevent bacteria from entering the hoof walls through the nail holes.
“The Liberty Cu Nail is the only nail of its kind and its antibacterial properties are already proving to be extremely beneficial,” said Carl Bettison, managing director at Stromsholm Ltd, which is selling the nail in the UK.
“Combined with good farriery, this is a huge step forward in improving the health of equine hooves.”
Healthy and strong
Nigel Brown AWCF has used the new nails on Monty, a horse with white feet who is prone to flaking and brittleness. The farrier said he noticed a “marked decrease in black marking in both the walls and whiteline within the first six week period”.
Claire Barnes who owns Monty agrees there has been a marked improvement.
“Monty’s hooves look healthier and are certainly stronger than they were before. I would not go back to regular nails now,” she said.
Could copper nails be the answer to improving horse’s feet? Time will surely tell.