When we used to pull logs with our belgians we had some similar cleated shoes. They were more of a flat cleat than those. Yours look like they'd wear more evenly.
Well they are not good on paved roads. Pretty rough on gravel roads too. We had to check them for wear quite a bit, as I said ours were more like bars or cleats. They could catch. I'd think the round points would be better, in that they wouldn't tend to skate sideways. The ones we used were good on the slippery stuff though. I just remember having to change them more than the summer treads.
By the way I enjoyed the telling of your Elk hunt. Iv'e taken a few with a rifle, and look forward to a bow hunt in the next couple years.
Problems with the horses? Made my hips hurt to ride them.
Axtell
Thanks for the reply, when the people that sent me the pictures and the little spikes so I could make my own told me about them I wasnt sure that I wanted to put that much pressure on 4 points of the shoe. I guess that they would sink into the ground to the point that the shoe would make contact and the spikes would make a less slip point of traction. Did your Belgians ( VERY NICE ANIMALS BY THE WAY) Have ANY problems with them?
BIG
Big,
Just showed the pics to the wife, we have had horses and helped others that pull horses in competitions so have spent time hanging with farriers.
We are afraid that the snow is going to pack in around the buttons and the rest of the shoe. Then the mule is going to be sliding. A dry snow may be alright but a wet snow will screw you.
The preferred method up here is bars, they don't hold the snow and ice so bad.
Not saying we are right, but might want a few more opinions from people more qualified than me before proceeding.
I hesitated to say anything, but would feel worse if I didn't. I realize there are great differences in what is needed in different parts of the country and mules may have different needs then horses so we could very easily be wrong. It would not be the first time... .
Just ask a few more questions before adding the off-road package to the gang.
Mike.![]()