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Discussion on How long should it take to shoe a horse?
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Member:
quatro
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2007 - 2:15 pm:
This might seem like a silly question, but I am wondering what the average time is to say, trim all 4 and re-set just front shoes?
I am trying out a new farrier on my other 2 horses, in hopes that I can have him work on Levi, my problem horse (see numerous posts on WLD, Founder etc.).
The guy seemed to be very particular, and the horses walked off just fine. They seemed balanced to my untrained eye. My horses are reasonably well behaved. They may lean and shift a bit, but I would not call them difficult.
My other farrier gets in and out of there pretty quick, but then that is why we have the problems with Levi, and also he leaves way too much toe on everyone.
Just curious what normal is.
thanks
suz
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2007 - 2:53 pm:
Gosh, Suz,
I don't know if there is a good answer to your question. It depends on the farrier's level of expertise, the horse's feet (balance, moisture content, other problems), whether it is hot or cold shoeing, whether the horse needs specially designed shoes or epoxy or pads. Some farriers just have a gift, others may be totally obsessive about the finished look and want a shine on the edge of the shoe or absolutely no variations in the edge of the hoof.
I would think that about 40-60 minutes would be a reasonable time in which to get a balanced trim and shoes on the front, checking for balance at the gaits. An experienced farrier with excellent tools and a good eye working with a well-behaved horse with no hoof problems, can be done in 1/2 hour.
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2007 - 2:59 pm:
I'm a bit biased since I've had so many issues with farriers, but I think the longer they take the better. I've had shoes done in 45 minutes and I've had farriers that took about an hour for four shoes, if it's the first time the farrier has seen the horse, usually 2 hours. 
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Member:
juliem
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2007 - 3:46 pm:
Well, like so many things with horses, "it all depends!" I had an excellent farrier who was very skilled with shaping and forging shoes. He was such a perfectionist that it took him two and a half hours for a set of shoes! But they were perfect, the hoof was balanced perfectly, every clinch was perfect, etc. Each nail had to be perfect or it came out and was done over. No rasping the hoof to fit the shoe for him either. The hoof was first trimmed to perfection and then he'd forge the shoe--even when using premade, or natural balance shoes. I had to take my horses off the cross ties and walk them around for a minute or two a few times as it was such a long process. But he liked to see them move several times as he worked anyway. Now I have an equally excellent farrier, but he can put on a set of shoes in about an hour and can do a trim in twenty minutes or less, but my horses feet are trimmed between farrier visits by me as I can't abide flares or long toes, so they don't require much but a final check and balance from him. Personally, I think four shoes in less than an hour might be a less than thorough job.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2007 - 3:46 pm:
It took my farrier about a hour and 15 mins. to trim Hank, reset his shoes and add equithane. The boy stands like a rock tho and I think that makes a big difference. The squirmy leaning type seem to take much longer.
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Member:
quatro
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2007 - 7:52 pm:
Thanks for the response guys
This new guy took about 2 hours to trim and re-set 2 horses (just fronts) + put Levi's front shoe back on, after he bent it and messed it all up! So That should be good. He charged $125.00 for all three horses. He was a quiet guy from Tennessee, they look pretty good to me. He offered to ride up with me to South Dakota to visit with the vet and the Farrier that has been doing Levi, if I want him to take him on. That impressed me.
My best horse, Cody, who usually stands quite, was terrified of his green giant rolling cart of tools. Poor Cody, he was quivering and would not stand still. I am sure the guy thought I was crazy when I said I kept the best behaved for last.
Rick gets done quick, but he just trims them off, and sets on the shoes, extending their feet into clownville.
I will try him out in hopes he sticks around.
thanks
suz
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