Posted 2005-07-19 7:17 PM (#28282) Subject: learning to trim hoofs
Member
Posts: 40 Location: Sullivan NY
ok not sure if this is a weird question but I would like to learn to trim my horses feet, just for my own horses, I mean eventually I would like to be able to put a shoe on in an emergency, but I would like to be able to maintain my horses feet that don't wear shoes, so the main question would be does anybody know where I would start to learn, good books, videos, clinics I am in upstate NY but near pennsylvania and New jersey borders if anybody knows a weekend clinic, thanks for the info
Posted 2005-07-19 7:41 PM (#28284 - in reply to #28282) Subject: RE: learning to trim hoofs
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 565 Location: Michigan
See if your farrier would show you. Some will, some won't. It's not a bad idea to learn at least how to file and trim out the rough edges. Check online for schools in your area. Just remember there is alot more to just taking a hoof knife and file and trimming away.
Posted 2005-07-19 8:07 PM (#28286 - in reply to #28282) Subject: RE: learning to trim hoofs
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
You have any Amish? They can teach you how to trim quite well. Try around to see if you can hire a farrier to teach you on your horses over a length o ftime you'll get it and you'll have someone to call if you need advice.
Posted 2005-07-20 7:30 AM (#28294 - in reply to #28282) Subject: RE: learning to trim hoofs
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
The best way to trim is to apprentise under a GOOD farrier or go to school. THere is much more to trimming and shoeing than most people think. Get a foot out of balance and you affect the whole leg and body. Trim the wrong spot and you could have blood gushing in your hands. I wouldn't trust the Amish either. I live in Amish country and they like to reset their horses, oh say every 6 months or so, whether they "need it or not".
Posted 2005-07-20 8:36 AM (#28298 - in reply to #28282) Subject: RE: learning to trim hoofs
Member
Posts: 40 Location: Sullivan NY
I don't want to be a professional or anything basically be able to amintain the horses feet during theier reugulars and I am sure this has happened to alot to everyone but there had been so many times that I am about to go to an event and when I get the horse ready there is a shoe missing, so I would eventually be able to do shoes just in case of this. I know there is a lot to this and plan on taking this seriously.
Posted 2005-07-20 12:25 PM (#28305 - in reply to #28298) Subject: RE: learning to trim hoofs
Veteran
Posts: 167 Location: Monroe, WA
Well, while you can't learn to do farrier work out of a book per se, I can highly recommend one book to learn a lot of WHY a horses' hooves should be treated in certain ways.
THE COMPLETE HORSEHOEING GUIDERobert F. Wiseman, University of Oklahoma Press Norman, OK:
This may be out of print - my own copy is over 20 years old. It's a valuable reference, and very useful when you want to understand why a shoer is doing such and such - or why you should NOT let him do it in some cases! It's a good read, informative, and all the information is still quite current - they haven't changed horses much in the last thousand years or so :>)
The best way to learn trimming is to watch someone who is willing to teach you - and then let you try it out, with supervision and advice. Be aware that a decent set of nippers is well over a hundred bucks - and the cheap ones will make your life miserable. Ditto hoof knives. Double ditto rasps.
Long ago, I kept a farm full of broodmares, youngstock and several stallions all in good trim and ready to be shown to lookers/prospective buyers. I could not do that any longer. It's HARD work, even if the horse is good to shoe. You can get HURT, and that's a fact. You can also cripple a horse easily, so be darn careful.
Posted 2005-07-22 4:51 PM (#28461 - in reply to #28305) Subject: RE: learning to trim hoofs
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 524 Location: Lone Oak, Tx
I've been trimming my horses feet for about 2 yrs now. My farrier helped me out first showing me tips and such but I found 2 web sites that are a wealth of infomation. Look over these sites, they have been an emense help for me in understanding the horses foot. My horses will never have a shoe on again, unless absolutely necessary. http://www.barefoothorse.com/ http://www.ironfreehoof.com/
Posted 2005-08-28 9:16 AM (#29677 - in reply to #28282) Subject: RE: learning to trim hoofs
Member
Posts: 11
There are plenty of farrier schools around. Most have 2 offers, one for those who want to shoe horses as a business which typically lasts about 2 months, and another class that takes about 4 weeks for those who only want to care for their own horses.
Posted 2005-09-19 7:17 PM (#30641 - in reply to #28282) Subject: RE: learning to trim hoofs
Member
Posts: 20
Location: Michigan
Some great suggestions and some web sites I'll probably look at too. On a side note, we have a "set" of shoes for our horses, ones that came off in fall and still have plenty of life left. The farrier pounded them flat for us. Mark them so you know what horse, what hoof they came off. That way, when one of the horses does loose a shoe, you will have one handy that WILL fit.
Posted 2005-09-20 7:19 AM (#30657 - in reply to #30641) Subject: RE: learning to trim hoofs
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
Depending on how old that shoe is, it may not fit. Horses feet can change shape depending on conditions like, did he lose a shoe and break up his foot, has he been way overdue for a shoeing, etc.
Posted 2005-09-20 10:43 PM (#30709 - in reply to #28282) Subject: RE: learning to trim hoofs
Elite Veteran
Posts: 644 Location: Odenville, Alabama
My farrier showed me how to trim hooves. It took me about 4 days to trim a pony. It was HARD!! My back hurt, my fingers were sore, I must have sweat off 5lbs (that was the ONLY good thing about it!). I'll pay to have it done, thank you very much
It is hard work and I have tons of respect for farriers backs now after doing this for the last few years, but I'll never put shoes on our horses again.
learning to trim hoofs
