A copper-plated horseshoe nail designed to improve hoof health been released. The Kerckhaert Liberty Cu nail is coated with antimicrobial copper, which kills microbes such as bacteria and fungi. The coating helps prevent these from entering the foot when the farrier hammers in a nail. A spokesman from Strömsholm, Kerckhaert’s UK distributor, said farriers are starting to notice a “massive” improvement in the condition of some horses’ hooves after using the nails. Martin Kerckhaert, said that it took the company some time to find the right combination. “We started testing with nails made entirely out of copper, but these turned out to be too soft,” he said. He added that they had to find a balance between creating a coating that was not so thick it would impair the nail itself, nor so thin that it would rub off too quickly.
A copper-plated horseshoe nail designed to improve hoof health been released. The Kerckhaert Liberty Cu nail is coated with antimicrobial copper, which kills microbes such as bacteria and fungi. The coating helps prevent these from entering the foot when the farrier hammers in a nail. A spokesman from Strömsholm, Kerckhaert’s UK distributor, said farriers are starting to notice a “massive” improvement in the condition of some horses’ hooves after using the nails. Martin Kerckhaert, said that it took the company some time to find the right combination. “We started testing with nails made entirely out of copper, but these turned out to be too soft,” he said. He added that they had to find a balance between creating a coating that was not so thick it would impair the nail itself, nor so thin that it would rub off too quickly.