The Base Plate Shows High Wear – Is That Normal?

Generally, our Goodsmith base plate can be used for 2–3 shoeing periods. However, how long a plate actually lasts depends strongly on several factors and can therefore vary considerably from horse to horse.

How long does a base plate last?

• Typical: approx. 2–3 shoeing periods
• There are very heavy horses that can use our base plates for up to 12 months.
• At the same time, it can happen that even light horses on normal ground wear down the base plate relatively quickly due to their individual movement pattern.

What does wear depend on?

The most important factors influencing wear are:

• Ground: Rough, hard, or very demanding ground (e.g. lots of gravel, asphalt, sharp-edged paths) significantly increases wear.
• Horse's weight: Heavier horses generally exert more pressure on the plates, which can increase wear.
• Movement pattern:
  Horses with a particular movement pattern (e.g. strong pushing, dragging, a lot of rotation in the movement) wear down the material more – regardless of body weight.
• Use: Frequent, long, or intense activity (e.g. endurance rides, eventing, sport use, daily riding on demanding ground) leads to faster wear.
• Hoof trimming: Appropriate hoof trimming and well-fitted base plates support even loading and can have a positive effect on wear.

What can I do if the wear is very high?

If you feel that the base plate on your horse is wearing down unusually fast, in many cases you can specifically reduce the wear.

A proven measure is using spikes:

• Spikes can be screwed into the plate
• The spikes:
  • increase grip,
  • absorb part of the direct wear,
  • and can significantly reduce wear on the base plate.

Especially for horses with a noticeable movement pattern or on predominantly rough ground, using spikes is often worthwhile to extend the lifespan of the base plates.

If you are unsure whether the wear on your horse is still within a normal range, or whether spikes would be suitable, feel free to contact our customer service with pictures and information about housing/use.