Watching an old timer use a file instead showed me how much smoother it gets. Now I always keep one in my kit.
My client's draft horse had persistent hoof cracks that standard steel shoes didn't help. Most farriers in my area insist steel is mandatory for strength, but I found aluminum shoes eased the load and stopped the cracking. What's your take on using lighter materials for draft breeds?
Now I check each nail's path before driving it in.