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Making the Toe Cap Shoe
By Richard Hansen

The toecap shoe is this years mail in shoe with the specifications laid out in the blueprint. I have purposely not given out measurements, as I believe some things are best worked out for ones self in the pursuit of gaining experience.

This shoe is a relatively easy shoe to make using basic shoe making tools. Tools required are:- 6mm tongs (box tongs are also handy), head stamp and punch and a flat bottom fuller



To begin mark the steel slightly off centre allowing for more draw on the medial branch. Then mark steel from the centre mark for the toecap. In this instance I have marked 1 1/2" from each side of centre. (Picture 1)

Then draw branches either side of the toe cap to about 2/3rds the width of the steel and forge back to original thickness. (Picture 2) Remember to measure each branch to make certain they are even in length. Using the flat bottom fuller crease the base of the toecap stopping short of the edge. Creasing to the edge will cause the toe cap to split. (Pictures 3 & 4)



Turn the cap on the edge of the anvil and then work it to nearly 90 degrees with the hammer on the face of the anvil. It is important at this stage not to make the base of the cap too thin. (Pictures 5, 6, & 7)




Form the toe bend (Pictures 8 & 9) and set the toe quarters being careful not to let the shoe buckle too much. Then mark the toenail holes. (Picture 10)



Turn the branches as you normally would and punch the nail holes. I found the best way to pritchel the toe nails was to let the cap set on the anvil face. (Picture 11)



Heat the toe and form the toecap toe the desired angle to correspond to the horse's foot. (Picture 12)



Pictures 13, 14 and 15 show the completed shoe.

 

Good luck in making this shoe.