Horseshoes

[MEB Boy]

As per another post, I also have a few questions about horseshoes that I hope some of you can answer. What do the numbers mean or stand for? What is the basic classification system used for horseshoes?

I did a Google search on horseshoes, and just found endless sites or articles about horseshoes but I never saw any info on the classification or numbers system.

I have one small, old rusty horseshoe that about 5 inches or so. I got it from a thrift shop in an old rural town. It doesn't have any number on it though. I have tried about 3-4 times to bend it and the last time I got one arm bent about 15 degrees or so, but I can't budge it anymore.

I've seen some of the videos of some of you all twisting horseshoes 180 degrees or so....very, very impressive.

thanks,

MEB Boy

[MikeP]

Quicky overview....

Horseshoes go from 000 to 00 to 0 to 1 to 2 to 3 to....up to 8 i think. These are their sizes. 000 being the smallest U and 8 being the largest U. An 8 would also be thicker than a 000 in general. They are also different designations such as LITE which means less material for a given size, typically there is a groove or channel that runs through the center of the shoe in a LITE and not so in a regular. There is also a HEEL or similar type designation that means there are knobs on the heel of the shoe, I suppose for better traction. These would be a major pain (literally) when bending. So as a rundown, in general, a 0 is smaller than a 1 and a 1 LITE would have a groove in it (and thus a little less steel) than a 1. So, a 4 would be much harder to bend (in general now, everything varies, just like nails) than say a 00 LITE. But, the smaller shoe maybe harder to get ahold of, just like a 60d VS a 16D nail - much thicker harder steel but the 16D is so small it is hard to bend too. I think that is all true Please correct or add to if need be. Good luck bending shoes, they can be tough and I think form has alot to do with it. 1 thing I know for sure, used shoes are much easier than new - they wear down right where you want to bend em.

[MEB Boy]

Thanks,

I gave up trying to learn the classification systam after looking through about 50 Horseshoe sites from Google.

thanks,

MEB Boy

[AP]

I just posted a pic of a bent shoe, 0 lite I think. It was a little worn but still pretty hard to bend. The shoes do vary a lot and I've bent a few that were harder than that one (though I wasn't able to mangle them as much). I'm looking for some new (unworn) shoes to buy that I could maybe work up with if anyone has a link.

If you've got it 15 degrees don't stop there man. I find that if I can bend the things any more than just a flex, than I can finish em off... Takes a lot of sweat though.

[MEB Boy]

AP,

Sorry for the late response. I was out of town this week.

That's a cool picture of a mangled horseshoe. I'm not even anywhere close to that yet. The 15 degree bend took me about 1 minute or so....but I was exhasuted, and my wrists and hands were fryed and the shoe never again even budged anymore. I may try again sometime in the next couple weeks. I've been hitting the block weights the last few weeks, so I may have a go again soon.

thanks for the reply AP,

MEB Boy

[AP]

"I'm not even anywhere close to that yet."

Horseshoes vary so much, I wouldn't be able to tell you if you could do it or not. I was able to mangle it so much because it was a fairly easy shoe, I've gotten harder ones that only "S" and others that I still can't seem to get started. It's just the luck of the draw, your shoe just might be a beast.

[Slackbladder]

Leonardo Da Vinci could straighten a horseshoe. Genius? Strong hands? Well I never!

[Sybersnott]

Leonardo Da Vinci could straighten a horseshoe.

If he could straighten a horseshoe, WHO bent it in the first place?