Precision, patience, and craftsmanship; shoeing a horse demands them all. It’s the craft where the smallest choice can mean the difference between a horse excelling or struggling. For farrier Alex Mercer AWCF, this understanding began in 2001 in the British Army where he apprenticed with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery under Mark Watson FWCF and has grown into more than two decades of experience and a passion for dedicated hoofcare. Today, he continues to serve horses and riders with the same discipline, care, and commitment that shaped him from the very start.
“A shoeing always comes back to the same principle: build the right foundation, and everything else will follow.””
The importance of the right nail.
The availability of different types of high-quality nails is extremely important, Alex explains. It allows the farrier to respond precisely to the specific needs of each horse while ensuring durability and performance. Alex finds that freedom perfectly reflected in Liberty. “Over the past 18–24 months, one innovation has noticeably changed my day-to-day work: the Liberty Hybrid Secure HardTop nail. From the first shoeing cycle, I could see a difference in how long shoes were lasting, especially on hard-working hunting and hacking horses. In some cases, we’ve extended wear by as much as 20%, saving hooves from unnecessary stress and reducing the risk of over-shoeing—a significant benefit during the demanding winter hunting season.”
The nail has become an important part of his everyday work and the impact has been clear. The added longevity of the shoeing reduces stress on the hoof, prevents over-shoeing, and ensures horses can perform consistently throughout the season. After more than twenty years in the forge and under the horse, Alex his approach remains as committed as it was on his first day: build the right foundation, and everything else will follow. “With innovations like the Liberty Hybrid Secure HardTop nail, we can keep that approach now even stronger, longer-lasting, and more secure than ever before.”
Real-world results: case study
• Breed: Irish Sport Horse
• Age: 10 years
• Disciplines: Hunting, one-day events, endurance
This horse spends winters hunting twice a week and summers competing in one-day events and endurance rides. Traditionally, his shoes lasted just four weeks during the heavy wear of hunting season. Since switching to Liberty Hybrid HardTop nails, Alex has been able to extend that interval to six weeks without issue.
“The difference I found straight away was how the nail head locks into the fullering of the shoe. After using them about 2 to 3 shoeing periods on heavy wearing horses such as hunting horses I noticed that the shoe was appearing to have more life left in it and the shoeing interval could go further. The pros for the nails are obvious: the shoe lasts longer and it does provide the horses with more grip on various surfaces (not arena surfaces). I’ve also been asked if hardening the nail head makes them brittle, and I’ve found this is not the case.”
Some farrier favorites in the workshop of Thomas:
Liberty E Slim Copper nails - For horses with weaker horn. Their clean, tight fit helps reduce damage and protect fragile feet.
Kerckhaert Classic Horseshoe Range - For its consistency and performance, which complements the way he approaches foot preparation and shoeing.
The Game Changer in wear control
• durable shoeing – reduces the chance of loose/lost shoes
• prolonged wear of the horseshoe
• optimal tensile strength
• even nail surface ( = no additional pressure points)
• original steel hardness of the nail
• more grip
• reduced wear of the nail in the crease on sandy surfaces
Liberty HardTop Technology is the winner of the Farriery Innovation Award 2026. This award honours the innovators driving the next evolution in hoof care while celebrating bold ideas that are changing hoof care, shoeing techniques, and farrier tools. The award recognises the solutions that combine sustainability, smart engineering, and a lasting impact on the profession.
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