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Discussion on Amateur Farrier Hour
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006 - 8:28 pm:
So to all of you out there who trim your own horses, I share some bits of humor from my day as a swap for some pearls of advice...
Today I had a babysitter for the morning - a miracle in itself. I had been salivating over my new "Hoofjack" that arrived two weeks ago, and by golly, today was the only time I was going to have to trim all five horses and justify the $$$ purchase. I have been studying the natural trim for three months or so, and doing one or two of my horses each time they were due. My very supportive farrier would still have to come behind me, but I had been working up to this day. Previously I have been trimming them using the edges of a mounting block, so you can imagine how excited I was to get started with a real hoofstand.
We've recently had a lot of rain, so the the first set of hooves were nice and soft. I had started my studies in a DrOught, so thus I promptly rasped off my glove and some skin. Blood is not a necessary lubricant for this job, but I spread some around. My good friend's spirited Arab apparently doesn't trust the smell of blood, so he piaffed in the crossties during his manicure. Two down, three to go, and my back was twinging just a bit.
My young Connemara, who is a clown anyway, thought the new hoofstand was a stunt prop and kept trying to stand up on it when her back feet were up. Any hints here? I eventually went back to using my leg with her. More thigh bruises to explain to husband's family when wearing shorts at family gatherings...
This was now the most feet I had ever done at one sitting, and I was thinking you could go BLIND looking at the balance angles. I would look away from a foot for a few minutes, or move to a new spot on the concrete, and I would see more I had to do. Does anyone mark the middle of the foot or measure down from the coronet at points around the foot before starting, just for reference? I was looking for a paint pen ....
Fourth, and now the decidedly final horse for today. Apparently you don't save the youngest horse for last! Another problem using the hoofstand on the rear feet. Hoof keeps slipping off under the belly when I am rasping the lateral wall. Do I keep a knee on the side of it? I thought I had watched EVERYTHING my farrier was doing, but apparently not! Babysitter now runs out of things to do with two children under four, so they sneak quietly up on my three yo Trakehner while I am under her abdomen, and that is the end of the amateur farrier's slow twitch musculature for the day.
Now on my second glass of white merlot(what my father used to call the "nectar of the undergrad"), I'm pushing through the pain and looking forward to hearing some other experiences. I do find trimming to be very satisfying and mentally stimulating, and I can thank Horseadvice for the start I have made.
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006 - 9:47 pm:
Ha ha, Stacy! Thanks for the laugh. haven't tried trimming as extensively as you did today, but I agree, it is a lot harder than it looks.
I am still on the "every couple of days run a rasp around it" phase(ever since Dr. O said "Owww!" after seeing my recent attempts!).
I no longer invest in manicures...have spread a little rasping blood around, too.
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006 - 9:48 pm:
A pat on the back for you, and your attempts today!! My husband & I trimmed our horses a few times and decided we'd pay the farrier thank you very much!!
Only advice I have is save the easiest horse for last, and have the glass of merlot before you start the first horse!!
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Member:
Djws
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006 - 10:42 pm:
You go girl! My hat is off to you! Personally, I think anyone that has the gumption to do what you did, deserves a gold medal! I thought I was progressing by just picking my horse's feet everyday (I was scared to do his rear feet for months)! Anyway, we're past all that nonsense now, and YOU'RE way past us! Enjoyed your humor, too! Keep up the good work! I admire your grit!
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006 - 11:19 pm:
Great story, Stacy. I haven't used a hoof stand, although I've seen a couple of women farriers use them, and I've been tempted to get one . . . but maybe we have to train the horses to use them, huh? Maybe I'll just stick with the old-fashioned way. Besides leaving lots of knuckle-flesh on my rasps over the years, I've recently had to trim a couple of my geldings differently because they came to me with hock injuries . . . and I find that I have to rest their feet really low on the toe of my boot or I have to go down on one knee and prop a hind foot on the other knee . . . and, gosh, darn! It's hard to rasp without tearing my boots and putting slices in my jeans. Thankfully, my husband just pulled out an old farrier's apron that he used as a pattern when he made one for a friend . . . so I'm gonna use that now.
I don't mark the measurements for balance on the hooves, but have thought of doing so. Just seems to take too long . . . and usually the hooves come out looking pretty good and the horses move off okay, but it would be interesting to see if marking the hooves makes a difference in the finished product.
Enjoy your merlot. Naproxin Sodium is great for the aches. I imagine you'll be really sore for the next couple of days. Take it easy.
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 7:52 am:
My back is ACHING just thinking about all of that trimming, Stacy. I hope you have a hot tub...sounds like you're going to need a few long hot soakings over the next couple of days!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 7:52 am:
Erika, you are letting those walls at the quarters and heel grow out aren't you? At last look they did not need a rasp run around them for a long time. Sounds like all the ingredients for a successful conclusion to a trim are already covered above, naproxen and wine.
DrO
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 8:46 am:
Yes, Dr. O, don't worry.  I have three horses, so plenty of other feet to practice rasping myself raw!
By the way, Cleo's foot crack really does seem to be growing out without any more upward cracking. I am just keeping the toe flare in check and waiting for the pro trimmer to come in about a week. (Will post on my own thread the progress and photos soon.)
Thanks for checking on me!
Erika
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Member:
Jivete
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 8:59 am:
Stacy I have to brace the hoof in many different ways to keep it from sliding off the hoof stand sometimes. Some of them are quite acrobatic and I'm sure I look like quite the doof but it gets the job done.
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Member:
Christel
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 9:30 am:
Stacy, good for you, enjoyed the story.
A couple of months ago I got 'hot to trot' to start doing my horses hoofs, bought Rameys book and the tools to do it- they sit untouched-lol- my farrier did use my knife once. I just cant bring myself to do it. I do stay rather busy in the summer, hopefully will pursue this fall and winter. My farrier will guide me through it too, all I will have to do is ask.
My farrier bought the hoof jack a few months ago and loves it.
Angie have to agree w/ you, the merlot would probably be better before you start- surely would get rid of those gitters and nervous hands and make one a little more uninhibited. Only 1 drink tho, 2 might make you tooo gungho.
This post could be the start of something. Stacy next time you might include before, during and after pics- could make a very interesting discussion.
Thanks for starting this and WAY TO GO!!
Chris
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Member:
Banthony
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 10:09 am:
Loved your story Stacy, it gave me a good laugh and reminded me of my few attempts.
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Member:
Corinne
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 10:56 am:
Stacy,
Good for you! And yes as a sports medicine student I have often looked at farriers wondering what is sore and what is out of line and what might hurt for the next few years. I don't know how they do what they do always hunched over.....but I appreciate them! Keep us updated on your progress.
Take care,
Corinne
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Member:
Amara
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 12:41 pm:
may i suggest if you have a pony you do him first... my little guy stands barely 4ft tall with very short legs... while he's easy to do as far as behavior, it sure is tough on back!.. if i do him last i have a hard time lasting till the end, even tho i can get all 4 ft done in about 20-30 min...
if you can train your horses to the hoof stand it sure is a thigh saver...esp. when the horse stands 17+ hands and weighs 2000 lbs!
hot baths, long showers, a good back rub, all are vital
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Member:
Cpacer
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 3:27 pm:
Stacy, you must feel a great sense of accomplishment. You are all much braver than I! I'd be too afraid of doing it wrong, but certainly considered it after realizing 5 minutes of filing is $30--guess it's less than any mani-pedi though. I'll just drink the wine and toast my farrier for now.
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Member:
Tuckern
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 5:36 pm:
Hi Stacy,
I particularly liked the part about at first propping the horse's foot up on the mounting block, because I do the exact same thing still (haven't had the money to purchase a stand yet, but am close to having it saved up), and was hoping I wasn't the only one in the world that did that. LOL
I have been trimming my own horse's feet since May of this year, and now wouldn't have it any other way. It is definitely exhausting work, though.
Kudos to you for being able to do four horses in one go, that's awesome. I can usually only get one horse done, and sometimes just two feet one day, the other two the next, because I have to hold the foot in one hand and rasp with the other, I cannot do the foot between the legs thing. I guess that's just one more reason to get that hoof stand ordered, huh!
Nicole
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 7:23 pm:
Okay, got my last horse done today. I found out she is the easiest of all of them. She is 17.2, and beautifully mannered due to our long show career and her stint as a three-time broodmare. She doesn't move at all while being trimmed, so happily no humor or injury with her! I measured her toe length after I was finished, and found 1/8 inch difference, so I was kind of proud and rasped them even.
Nicole, the foot stand has made all the difference. Before I was working at exactly that same pace you describe. It helped my learning curve to concentrate the work I think. Also, my back is a little sore today, but not enough that I couldn't do the final mare.
Is there a way to tell what height to set the stand for each different horse? Do you judge it by the knee perhaps? Should it be set pretty low for the back feet, or is it just a matter of what a younger horse can do with their joints as opposed to a geriatric one?
Chris thanks for the support. I'd love to post the photos in the HUMOR section if I was more computer savvy!
Melissa thanks for the hint. I think I can set them in a sensible order now, starting with the 14.2 pony, as that will warm me up and she is as low as I have to go.
cp, I started this whole venture because my main riding horse couldn't seem to keep his four expensive shoes on, and I was really frustrated that on the one day I had childcare and it wasn't raining, he would have a shoe off. With four trims, a set of front shoes, and his full set, I used to pay just shy of $300 every six weeks. It does feel good to make a change.
Thanks to all of you guys for your comments, Stacy
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Member:
Dtranch
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 7:00 am:
Stacey
I used to trim and shoe all my own horses and my wife used to say I looked like I just finished a very rough football game when I got done. Sweat, blood, mud, and of course, a bit of horse crap as we all know every horse has to do his duty when you trim the rear feet. I made my own hoof jack with an old disc for bottom and a trailer ball hitch for the top. If you are going to trim, get a hoof jack. It is a must.
I however, traded my tools for a young amish man who can finish 6 horses to my one, and doesn't cuss nearly as much as I. Don't have to buy him drinks either. Occasionally have to tell him to get out from in front of the fan while I am watching and sipping on my own however.
I admire you for wanting to do it. It is a tough, tough job. If you have a "good" farrier, tip him well.
DT
If you want a good laugh, try and imagine what the horse is thinking ..... hmmmm
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 8:21 am:
We have a couple of old discs here, and tons of old metal that we're pulling up from around the place . . . If we were to make a hoof jack, what is a prescribed height? I think the newer hoof jacks are adjustable, aren't they? My horses presently range in size from 12.2h to 17h, but the little guy is quick to do and has great little feet, so I wouldn't need it for him.
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Member:
Dtranch
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 8:58 am:
Holly ....
Weld about a 12" section of 2" pipe to the disc .. then have another 12" section of 1 1/2" pipe with the ball welded to the top. Slide the 1 1/2" pipe inside the 2" pipe. Drill some holes through both pipes about 3" apart and you can then use a small hitch pin to secure at desired height. I also bolted a magnet to the bottom pipe which would hold rasp. A little heavy, but it works.
DT
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 9:08 am:
Neat, thanks. When I hear "weld," I think "permanent, unmoveable." I didn't even think that it could be adjustable . . . duh . . .
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 9:32 am:
Wow, Dennis! That is great! Thanks for the directions. Now we can add "pipe fitter" to our resumes--right under "farrier".
I want one of those. I wonder if an umbrella stand might work for the disk at the bottom? And do you think a ball can just sit inside the top pipe so the whole thing is able to be taken apart (for what, I don't know )?
Then I don't have to learn to weld.
What do you think?
Erika
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Member:
Dtranch
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 10:36 am:
You know a true horse person has to be a "jack of all trades". I prefer mine kept together cause you have to move it around a lot ... you can just grab the ball and slide it over. Don't think your horse would want to wait for you to reassemble for each foot. But, you probably could put a coupling or weld a nut on the end to screw the hitch in. Don't think you would want to just sit inside cause if it is not secure, it will fall apart when the horse moves around.
Just like a woman to try and improve on a perfectly good contraption. sounds like we need to figure a way to add a cooler .. huh
DT
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Member:
Mzollars
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 10:51 am:
This is the best discussion I've witnessed yet! You are making me want to go try this "be my own farrier" thing out! Especially with all this drinking ivolved! LOL I can see it now! "look at that poor horse and her crooked feet"!!
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 11:31 am:
I had a feeling I might get some grief for tinkering with your design .
You're right about the reassembling, but since I am still on the one-or-two-feet at a time schedule it will give me more time for cocktails while I am reassembling. When the time comes that I can no longer put it together, I'll know that means I shouldn't touch the feet either!
Thanks again for the great idea!
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 5:26 pm:
Just curious here, how much do you all spend for a rasp? and where do you get it? I like to rasp the feet down now and then to extend time between handing out ca$h to my wonderful farrier.
My tools need all need replacing now.
Thanks.
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Member:
Sswiley
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 6:50 pm:
I get my rasps and nippers at my local feed and hay store. The prices are all over the map, I guess there is a big difference in quality . . . . ?
I also use an old washing machine agitator for my hoof stand, it hasn't broken yet. I am sure it will eventually but hey . . . . its free and requires no assembly.
What I want next is one of those hoof cradles that changes out to be a hoof stand.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 7:16 pm:
https://www.horseshoes.com/supplies/product/mfanspls.htm
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Member:
Juliem
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 10:14 pm:
If you can't "create" a hoof stand, the Hoofjack is a wonderful tool. A farrier in my area, whom I know, patented and markets it, so almost every farrier around here uses one. Many use two so they don't have to change the cradle, which holds the hoof as you would when it's between your knees, to the stand, which has a hard rubber end which substitutes for the mounting block or your thigh! But, they are so easy to switch an amateur certainly only needs one! If you go to their website, you can order a DVD at no charge which shows you how to use it and get the most out of it. At any rate, if you are doing your own trimming, a Hoofjack pays for itself in four trims at local prices here. I'm only trimming my four between regular visits, which does stretch the number of weeks between visits, but I love my Hoofjack. And if you have to schedule extra visits to the chiropractor or massuse, not to mention the extra medicinal wine, it will pay for itself even faster! Cheers...clink! Julie
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 12:45 am:
Just a quick funny of the "amateur farrier" flavor...
Tonight I realized I had left my farrier tools, more specifically my blade(rasp) in the back of the truck and it was raining. Yes, for some reason I like to call it a blade - I think I am a reborn medieval swordswoman or something. Having learned the hard way that rusty tools only belong hanging on the walls of a trendy restaurant, and having just broken in a fresh blade, I rushed out to get them and rehab them in the kitchen. I'm pretty sure, no, really sure this is not what my husband signed up for in the way of things he wanted to see his wife doing at the sink, but I've had some surprises from him over the years as well! When I remembered we had neither motor oil or WD-40 in the spice rack, I covered the blade with OLIVE OIL and a dishrag that had always wanted to be a barn towel anyway. I don't know what could or might now happen to my beloved weapon of choice but I'll let you know how it turns out.... Stacy
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Member:
corinne
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Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 4:07 am:
Stacy...I think that's very imaginative..let us know how it turns out. I had a new and sqweaky (sp?) bit that DrOve me nuts when Demetrius moved it with his mouth so I needed to oil it with an oil that I felt safe putting in his mouth...a few dribbles of corn oil while I was cleaning my tack left on over night (twice) and no more sqweaking!
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 7:53 am:
Stacy,
How is the do it yourself going? I've always skimmed over these posts, 'cept for the humor, but now I am trying to do 4 horses myself. Got Jaime Jackson's book, and Pete Ramey. Scared I will hurt some body but trying to be brave. My wonderful farrier has moved out of state, and I figure it's a good time to get serious about this.
Anyone remember posts here with others experiences, pictures?
My first attempt, a few weeks back, was with my 17 year old Arab mare. Hooves like steel, she grows the fastest too. So I set out with my new rasp, new knife, and old nippers. The old nippers was a mistake, didn't do much for me.
It would have made for great pictures, me sitting every which way on a bale of hay, her foot on the bale, on my leg, on my knee. Could rasp with her foot on the hay, but the hay got in the way. Sitting on the bale was comfy, but not safe, hmmmm.....My coveralls got some new holes in them, rasped my gloves a few times too.
Bless her heart, it took over an hour, but she had shorter hooves all the way around when I was done, and no soundness issues have cropped up. I told hubby he needed to give her a big hug for being such an angel for me!!!
I will be starting my own post soon I am sure, with questions as I get into this. Should invest a good bottle of wine it sounds like!
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Member:
tuckern
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Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 12:41 pm:
Angie,
I have been trimming my own horse's feet for about 8 months, and have a picture journal of each trim, should you want to see them.
I know exactly what you mean about experimenting with different positions with/on a bale of hay. :o) I did the exact same thing. Thank goodness for our super-patient horse participants, eh. I experimented on my mare to figure out what I needed to do to get the job done, before I started on my young gelding.
Also, there is a great forum out there that has several do-it-yourselfers that have been trimming for a while that offer great advice on trims. I post pictures of my horse's feet there occasionally to get advice on how to proceed. The address to the forum is:
https://www.gossiping.net/phpBB2/?mforum=barefoottrim
Happy hoof trimming!
Nicole
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 5:32 pm:
Thank you so much for the link...looks really interesting. I am still muddeling my way through the books, and just cautiously rasping a little on each horse.
Yes, I'd love to see any pictures you have. My email is in my profile.
Have the new farrier coming in 4 weeks, but I think he is just a "regular" guy, not into the "mustang, natural, barefoot" trim. But he will have advice I am sure, and be able to point out anything I am may be doing wrong. Hopefully not too much to point out!!
Thanks again, aye!!!
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 11:50 pm:
Hi Angie, to answer your question, I love doing my own work and am now doing 8 horses every 4-5 weeks. When New Years came and I looked back on the year, I listed becoming my own farrier as a significant achievement and a source of real personal satisfaction. I have recouped the money invested in the Hoofjack(love it) and the inversion table(needed it). Fortunately my Dad makes really great red wine!
I give the most credit to this site, and to ironfreehorse.com. First I downloaded their PDF file called 5 steps to trimming and studied it whenever I had the chance. More recently I have changed my technique to "Trim from the top", also a free download and can do a good trim in 20 minutes. I no longer use nippers at all and invested in a single loop hoof knife. I could not have built the endurance to develop any skill if I had not gotten a hoof stand, so that is my best advice. Enjoy the journey, and the Merlot... Stacy
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 8:46 am:
Stacy,
Thank You!! BTW, the site is ironfreehoof.com. I am now printing the 5 steps to trimming...great pictures. Now I am wondering why I paid for books on the subject when in a few minutes I will have 15 pages of knowledge for free.
I don't have the inversion table, but my brother has one. I get dizzy on that, lol! I do have a massage chair though, and that feels great after doing any horse related work, grin.
Hubby says he will make me a hoof stand, but my guess is 6 months from now I'll be buying the hoofjack because he won't have it built yet.
Thanks much!
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 8:57 am:
Angie thanks for posting the correct site address. It was late for me last night, and I haven't actually typed it in for a while, cause I keep the downloads on desktop. Interesting and inspiring women aren't they? In the newer trimming technique section, she shows how the load-bearing walls are defined when she walks the horses on an old green tennis court both before and after a trim. I now do that on concrete and check the feet. I find that useful too. Her other helpful hint was to close your eyes to feel the hoof wall to see if you've taken all the flare out. Also, I seal the mustang roll with Tuff Stuff, might not last for more then a few days, but I like the finished look it gives me. Happy rasping! Stacy
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New Member:
benbern
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 10:59 am:
I too started trimming our horses. We had two older horses in shoes and two younger that never had shoes. Now all are barefoot. I laugh as I read the posts because, yep, thats me too. I found that I would send my heart racing, maybe due to the upper body exertion or maybe the stress of wanting to not make a mistake. I would have to stop and settle down. My farrier has been kind enough to check my work even though it means loosing a customer, but he has more work than he can get to anyway. I think good farriers go to heaven where they can stand up straight again and regain their hearing.
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 11:21 am:
Speaking of hearing, this is weird and I am wondering if anyone else can relate to it.
When I would walk my horses for the farrier, I could "hear" when one foot was off. Because I was leading the horse to and fro for him to watch how the feet were landing, I wasn't watching. Everytime I heard some beat sounding "off" he would say "bring 'em back, and touch up one hoof. He said he didn't hear anything but he relied on sight, which throws me for a loop, especially with the horse with the striped feet! I would hear one beat louder than the rest mostly.
Now, if only I could hear that well and be that good when I am riding....(kids always said I had rabbit ears, course I thought it was dogs that could hear so darn good, lol!)
The other thing is that I could pick out the off beat more with the mare with the hardest feet, and the one with flat feet. Of course maybe the others came out right the first time.
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 24, 2007 - 6:59 pm:
Stacy,
Where is "trim from the top" found?
Thanks
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 25, 2007 - 8:58 am:
Hi Angie, try www.ironfreehoof.com/top.htm
I'm not sure how I got there the first time but I just found and tested the connection using google's advanced search with "trimming from the top" as the "exact phrase" request. I bookmarked that one, and love it as a reference. Stacy
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Friday, Jan 26, 2007 - 7:22 am:
Thanks Stacy, didn't realise it was on the ironfreehoof site, thought it was something all together different.
Funny, I used to think that you never, ever rasped off the outside, or top of the hoof and used to worry when my farrier did it. Very interesting, great pictures.
Now, if it would only warm up a little so I could stand being in the barn to put these ideas into practice! Good thing their hooves don't grow as fast in the winter.
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New Member:
lcaul200
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007 - 8:59 pm:
Hi everyone! I am new to the site and talked onthe phone with Stacy the other night. I am an author currently working on a book about farriers. One Cahpater is going to focus on owners who do their own trimming. If any of you would like to join Stacy in contributing your stories I would love to hear from y ou. You can respond to this post, e-mail me personally, or e-mail me your phone numbers and I can call and interview you over the phone. Any stories of success, humor, problems etc. would be welcome. I can honestly say that from reading the above posts that I admire each and every one of you! Going out on your own is not only takes guts, but determination and hard work. Kudo's to each of you! Hope to hear from you soon. Lynne Caulkett
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Monday, Jan 14, 2008 - 12:23 am:
Okay I'm here tonight to give all you other amateur farriers a giggle...
Turns out that as you gain more confidence with a hoof knife and sometimes cut towards yourself you shouldn't be mouth-breathing. Neither do I recommend carrying on conversation with your three yo about any topic lest you get what I did - a nice meaty piece of frog in the MOUTH!!! YUCK! GROSS!! I'm still not over it...
On another topic, do any of you clean your tools in between horses? I do 6 at my farm and 2 at a friend's place. I wonder if I could be sharing fungus or bacteria, but I have never seen a professional sanitize tools at all. Any thoughts?
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Member:
paul303
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Posted on Monday, Jan 14, 2008 - 2:25 am:
Holy shamoly Stacy! Do I ever agree with you. As a retired Dental Hygienist, I have an inner need to sterilize my hoof tools. I have this inner need to plunge tools that have encountered thrush in boiling water. AFTER I scrub and clense them in Hibiclens. Call me anal, but I have to believe that you can pass junk from hoof to hoof on dirty instruments.
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Monday, Jan 14, 2008 - 7:36 am:
I'm not an amateur farrier, Stacy, but still appreciate the giggle! Unfortunately, I've have similar experiences cleaning hooves and instead of picking away from me, have picked towards me and as a result have had some sort of nasty stuff fly up into my eyes...always hated to think what it really might be...
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Monday, Jan 14, 2008 - 9:42 am:
The dogs love that stuff, Stacy; can't be all that bad!  Like Fran, I've gotten junk in my eye from cleaning. Being around horses must just give you a strong immune system...at least against thrush.
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Monday, Jan 14, 2008 - 10:30 am:
Stacy, I have three dogs that LOVE hoof chips plain or nasty.. They sit right beside the farrier when he is cleaning up a hoof the chips fly and the dogs find them in mid air.. Its a hoot to watch.. * they keep their mouths open waiting..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
leilani
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Posted on Monday, Jan 14, 2008 - 2:16 pm:
Splashed Keratex in my eye last week. DrOpped everything and the ran to the nearest water trough to dunk head. Fortunately contact did not come out.
I agree Sara, with all the stuff we are around and in...
Leilani
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Member:
gailkin
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 17, 2008 - 8:44 pm:
It's great to see so many people keeping their horses barefoot and doing their own trimming. I think we all have a permanent scar on our left thumbs from rasping a little too vigorously. I have lots of great stories and Lynne Caulkett wanted to talk or hear from people, but you need to put your email in your post. We don't have access to your address otherwise. My email is gailking@pacbell.net if you get this email and want to contact me. My latest story this week is I was riding with a barefoot friend and her friend (in pads and shoes) about two months ago. After the ride her friend asked about barefoot even though she is a long time die hard shoe person and all her riding friends are also. After long discussion and several more hours on the phone over a few weeks, she got the courage to try barefoot on her 15 year old Morgan who has always been in shoes front and back. My friend who is a prof. barefoot trimmer now came out on Xmas eve to pull the shoes. The mare's back was so sore she dived down when touched. She seemed tender for a few days. A week later we fitted her for boots. The next week she called me with a "Thank you, thank you..." She had turned her mare out in her acre pasture as she does every day for the nine years she has owned her. In that time she only walks a little and has trotter out there a few times. She is an only horse. Well two weeks after her trim she was running and racing and bucking and rearing and skidding in the mud for about half an hour. Her owner had never seen her even canter in the pasture before. Yesterday, we took her on her first trail ride (3 weeks after shoes pulled) and booted her front hooves. She walked out swinging and long strided. Her owner just kept saying, I just can't believe it--how differently she moves. After trotting, she kept a comfortable pace and was much smoother than usual. She also had a habit of keeping her head level instead of slightly up, but barefoot she now had her head up and was noticing the scenery. It was a great two hour ride and her owner said I never would have believed the difference it could make. Her mare has also started rolling in her sawdust, something she did not do before. Her back is not sore at all even after the ride. I included this short video on a different post, but I think it is so cute and shows just how happy horses are to have their bare feet trimmed. This video was shot of my trimmer friend doing these two geldings for the first time. It is on www.youtube.com/watch?v+QMZqB5QiyfU
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Member:
gailkin
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 17, 2008 - 8:47 pm:
I put the wrong website up--it is so hard to get all the letters right!! It is www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMZqB5qiyfU Hope this is right and keep up the good work everyone.
Gail
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 7, 2010 - 11:10 pm:
Wow, it has been almost two years since I updated this thread! How the time does fly! I wanted to share that Santa got me a left-handed hoof knife for Christmas. I would advise any of you that are waiting to make that investment to go ahead - long overdue for me. Also, it will apparently take some time to reach the same skill level with the non-dominant hand so smart choice that I had some tough gloves on! Still mouth breathing late in the effort however, so got a piece of bar in my mouth instead of frog! YUCK AGAIN!!! I sweet-talked my husband into sharpening all my knives while teaching my 7yo this manly activity
Also am having him cut 6 inches off one of my rasps to customize it for the finer work - will let you know how that works out...
Happy New Year and here's to Healthy Hooves!
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 9, 2010 - 5:44 pm:
Stacy, you are a great writer, I just reread the whole thread, laughed so hard tears came to my eyes.
I have a left hand knife also, never thought of using it with my left hand. I use one knife to do one side of the hoof and the other knife to do the other side.
I, too, have experienced frog in the mouth, ye-uuucck!
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Member:
kpaint
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 - 6:21 am:
Congratulations Stacy on 3+ yrs of doing your own! Are all of them barefoot?
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 - 8:21 am:
Lori, my amateur adventures will be all the more comedic if I am using this new knife the wrong way!! I never thought about doing it your way, will try that out immediately. Perhaps some of you viewing a real farrier regularly will fill us in.
Yes Vicki, they are all barefoot. My big gelding, the one in my profile, used to have four very expensive shoes recommended by a dressage trainer. I had okayed them reflexively, cause he was at her barn during the last part of my pregnancy, but when he came home I thought it through and that started it all. I only do my 6 horses(three are now over 20yrs old) and have saved over $3000 in the three years, including the equipment investments.
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 - 10:27 am:
Stacy,
I just reread this whole discussion, and enjoyed it tremendously. I never thought when reading your first post that within months I would be thrown into doing my 4 horses myself. I am coming up on 3 years also, and I don't even think about the $$$$ savings because I am so happy at how healthy my horses hoofs are, how well they move, and feeling so proud I taught myself how to do this!
Without too much blood shed! I don't even cuss any more, or need a drink of anything other than water after trimming.
It's a great feeling isn't it!!
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 - 10:48 am:
Yes, Angie, that's what stuck out the most to me when I reread this thread--you are now our resident hoof guru, so I got a laugh out of reading your, "What's this? " and "How do you..."
You've come a long way, baby!
Stacy, thanks for resurrecting this thread, too. Lots to be learned by reading it over again. I have learned more than I realized by reading everyones' experiences.
Erika
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 - 11:23 am:
I have come a long way, but I don't feel like a hoof guru at all. There is always more to learn.
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 - 9:02 am:
Yes Angie, it is a great feeling to learn a new skill even as I approach saddlebag status! I feel kind of artistic when I am doing the finishing rasping, and have wondered if I might like to try my hand at sculpting someday(not hooves!). But where does that leave us on the issue of the left-handed hoof knife? Use in left hand for the right hooves, or use in right hand for appropriate side of hoof?
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 - 9:45 am:
Stacy,
I use the same knife, and don't switch hands. I know I'd do a better job if I did switch hands and/or knifes, but for now I am not switching. I do see that on all hoofs, the bars look different on the right and left side! Sometimes I do the right bar, pulling the knife back, then do the left bar, facing the back of the horse, and pull the knife forward towards the toe. I know that is "wrong" yet I am careful. And only do that on a horse with LOTs of bar...mainly Gem
I have 2 knifes, one is thin, the other is thicker width wise. I have a sharp edge on both sides of the thinner one, took it to the grinding wheel initially. The wide one I sometimes use on the hoof wall instead of the rasp, but mostly use my 2 sided knife.
I'll be 50 this year, does that qualify me for saddle bag status?! Where does the time go??
At least this year I can spend more time riding being I finally can do all 4 horses in a couple of hours or less. A far cry from when I spent hours on each one!
What I struggle with is keeping the curved tip sharp on both.
My hoof guru said she used to practice using her knife on squash!
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 - 11:11 am:
Stacy, I don't know that there should be a right or wtong hand to use the knife in.
The hand that works better with the knife is the hand you should use.
Angie, what an encouragement. Due to more time at the desk doing bookwork and babysiting my grandson, I have gone a bit backward in how long it takes me to trim all my horses.
But, as you improved so can I. Thank you.
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Member:
stek
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 - 11:23 am:
Angie I have the same problem - keeping the curved tip sharp on my hoof knife.
Can anyone offer any tips?
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 - 4:16 pm:
Shannon,
My husband uses a round file to sharpen his chainsaw, I use the same round file to sharpen the tip of my knife.
You can buy them at most hardware stores, they come in various sizes.
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Member:
stek
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 - 4:46 pm:
Ahh of course! I've seen one of those in our chain saw case. Hubby won't miss it (for a while anyway) Perfect .. thanks for the tip Lori!
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