I would prob. just shorten the plastic mold or wait until you get another deer to do it the correct way. Alao where did you pick up the hoof kit at? I made a set 2 years ago, all that I did was bend the hoofs and tied with string to the correct bend. Let them sit for 4 months to dry up and become totally stiff. Then I cut a very nice piece of oak and did some designs on it with a router, I then drilled the back of the hoofs (bone) and put a insert in it and then flipped the wood over and put a screw in it to secure the hoof to the wood. But with all the work I went through I would rather purchase a kit and do it that way....