Two things make me just about certain that they aren't hoof nippers. The first is the size. The smallest hoof nippers I have seen are 12 inches long overall. These seem a good deal shorter. The second thing is the angle of the grind on the "cutters." It looks about 30 degrees to me, and that would make cutting, especially with the length of the tool, rather difficult and in efficient. I believe these are "pincers" designed to pull nails. Farriers use them, carpenters use them, and they are in cobbler's tool kits as well.