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  Discussion on I did a trim!!! hoof stand help
Author Message
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Oct 28, 2007 - 12:13 pm:

Hi examining Hanks hooves after farrier was here I thought his hoof wall looked a little long at the heels and also a little uneven. I bought a pair of nippers and a rasp a month or so ago and after contemplating for a day or 2 decided to try my hand at trimming.

Hank kept looking at me as if I were nuts while rasping, but held still like a saint. Rasping didn't seem to make me happy with his hooves so out came the nippers.

leg between my knee...praying to God I wouldn't lame this horse again I nipped off the hoof wall that was bothering me....ran the rasp over to even it out and thought he$$ that was easy. Hank was still wondering what the heck I was doing.

Finally both fronts looked better I thought. Took the lead rope in hand and said another prayer before asking Hank to walk on the lime stone paddock. He had been landing on the inside of his front rt. and rolling to the outside, which is why I examined his hoof to begin with.

When he walked off he landed level!!! and not sore at all. This could be addictive I think. BUT what do you guys use for a hoof stand? or do you use you knees?

I think I am going to try to keep Hanks hooves in better shape in between farrier trims. I don't think I am up for full trims, but this is a start
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Sunday, Oct 28, 2007 - 5:49 pm:

This trimming stuff, it's scary huh? I am still learning, loosing sleep every time I think somethings wrong, blaming my trimming. Heck, I'd probably blame myself if one of my horses had a broken leg...musta been my trimming, right?!

You'll do fine, be careful, just a little at a time and one day you'll be confident. (that's what I tell myself anyhow)

If this works, here's my "free, home made hoof stand." Was taking photos today of my trimming attempts, sorry it's not just a picture of the hoof stand, 2 camera batteries and both need charging right now! Anyhow, I love it for resting the hoof on, can sit on it too. A little tricky bringing the hoof forward, but it does work. I've been debating putting a door knob on one corner of it for a hoof rest in the forward position, but that might be painful when I sit on it!Hoof stand
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Oct 28, 2007 - 6:51 pm:

Angie is that a wood block? we have all kinds of them around and did consider it, but how is it to rasp on something that wide?
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Sunday, Oct 28, 2007 - 7:52 pm:

Diane,

It's 15" of a 6" x 6" post left over from building the barn. My husband attached the 1' square base to it, another scrap piece. (I wish the base was bigger, but it's pretty heavy as is) I use it like in the picture for rasping the bottom, just takes some trail and error to get the foot situated right. A little tougher when rasping from the top; then I try to put the hoof on a corner. Sometimes I do hit wood with the rasp but not as a rule.

My horses all like it, they pretty much just rest their foot on it. I don't even straddle their leg; I just hold the foot with one hand and rasp with the other. Or brace my knee against the foot to stop sideways movement. I don't use nippers at all, if I did I'd have to still put the foot between my knees most likely. I'd like to keep my knees safe, and after Tango tromped on my toes, I really want to keep them safe!

I have only seen one stand out there that I like, I had a farrier one time that used it. It's really light weight, and it has a cradle part, then the "peg" part pops up. So not having to interchange parts like with the "Hoof Jack" thing it what I like about it. I think rather than putting out $100.00 or so though, I'll make do with my home made stand.

My husband says someone is making me one like the above mentioned, but I haven't seen it!
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