hoof trimming

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How many of you would/do your own minis?

  • Yes

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • yes, but no longer, problems developed

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    0

promise

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How many of you have done your own mini's hooves, and if so, have you had issues with it?

I was also wondering how many of you would not touch the thought of doing it yourself?

Over the years, even when we owned large horses, we would have a ferrier lined up, they would get swamped with clients from there local area, and boom , no more ferrier. We even give our ferrier a 20% tip, on top of his not so cheap prices.

Well, we said a tearful farewell to our last full size horse a little while ago (had to be put down) and decided to stick with just minis. I have noticed that our ferrier , who has most experience with big horses, doesn't seem to get the angle or shape that nice on the minis. I know he always says you have to watch out you don't get too close on the minis, they have delicate feet, I alwayas assumed he knew best.

With this being said, I am toying with the idea of doing it myself.

Please let me know what you think, and if anyone is very enthusiastic about doing it themselves, is there any good books or videos on it?

THANK YOU!!!!

Promise
 
Always done them- my farrier taught me, he said, in self defence!! He even gave me a set of tools to get started with. I agree- I have had to do hooves apparently done by a remedial farrier- I cannot see any evidence to back this up and have the horse in question 3/4 straight after three trims. If you get a good one, though, hang on- lock them in the cellar- give them big gifts at Christmas for they are worth their weight in gold. Bad ones are less than useless, lazy ones (which is most usual) are a waste of time!!
 
I voted yes, but do not do them all.

A horse that has foundered, he is done by someone else who knows much more.
 
I live in the middle of nowhere and a farrier is hard to come by, so I do my own horses big and small. I try to get a farrier in a couple times of year to get everyone done up right, but it isn't always possible.
 
I trim all of ours & do a good job of it. I started trimming because I got tired of the certified farriers making a mess of everyone's feet...no point in paying out good money to get the horses trimmed, & then have to go out & fix them all up myself. I trim them all, even the couple that have been foundered. The last time a farrier trimmed a foundered Morgan that we had, he made a terrible mess--wasn't a good thing at all.
 
I have noticed that our ferrier , who has most experience with big horses, doesn't seem to get the angle or shape that nice on the minis.

That's the understatment of the hour.

I just paid $140.00 to have my horses feet all crooked yet again. And this was another new guy, an Amish man that I was told did excellent work. sigh......

I would LOVE to do my own if I possibly could but the law of gravity dictates to me that once bent over assuming the position, I'd be flat on my face.
 
Nope, never. For one I am not physically well enought and for two I would not want to make any mistakes with the soundness of foot ot leg. I will joyfully pay my farrier whatever she needs.
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My husband and I are both farriers and I do my own. I have taught a lot of people to do their own horses. In my area the farrier suppliers and the vets both send clients to me. As for certified farriers, the certification program does nothing for the horse. If I shod a clients horse according to certification the shoes wouldn't make out to the field!!!! I feel [and quite a few others] feel the AFA certification program is a joke. I do a lot of theraputec and corrective work. It's funny you should mention correcting other farriers mistakes because thats why I became a farrier. When I had big horses and the farrier did a halter horse, my friend would make me fix it before the show. I will not go for may farrier certification until the program is changed to help the horse. I also have a degree in Applied Science, Lg Animal. The minis are great and I have learned a lot from them. They are easy to do and you do them the SAME as the larger breeds. Linda B
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I do all 14 of my guys including babies and problem feet. At $20 a head I can afford to buy the equipment. I do have a good farrier that still trimms and puts shoes on my big guys so if I have questions he is happy to help me out.

outlaw
 
Well, I'm sleeping with our farrier! LOL, but I'm married to him, so it works out well!
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There's no telling how much money he's saved us by shoeing and trimming all of our own.
 
I DO MY OWN, ALWAYS HAVE AND GUESS I ALWAYS WILL.

CLARA
 
I was doing my own until I hurt my back. Can't stay bent over that long any more
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Asking a farrier that is willing to share information is a good way to get started in learning about trimming horses hooves.. I was learning how to trim hooves before I even got my first mini, with the guidence of an experienced farrier. My incentive was that my husband would never have tolerated the "25.00 a trim"-per horse, "farrier costs" that my new hobby would cost me evey 6 to 8 weeks, and I knew that by "my learning how" would make it all possible. So an incentive is important to get started. Once you have a "reason to learn", it is all a matter of subjecting yourself to the learning technique that you have chosen. After doing your research, have an experienced farrier- walk you thru the first few trimmings, the first few times to make sure you are going about it right, and to encourage you as well. (even if you have to pay) You can allways have them come by every so many trims to make sure you are still on target.. The last time I trimmed a mini it took me about 30 to 45 minutes, which included dishing out the hoof, trimming the excess hoof wall, cleaning up the frog, rasping off, and finishing or rounding off the hooves. I was a sweaty mess when I got done but I am thankful I have learned this, as it has made my little venture with these horses possible to continue, and enjoy.
 
I do them myself as I find farriers do not take enought off - they seem to scared.

For my show horses I do them & then get the farrier to touch them up (just to make sure the angles are right) - he still charges $20 a horse though
 
I do my own, I've got it down pat. The only thing is he tries to help too>LOL. takes off with the tools in mouth and it's tag time! I'm a tall one (6'4") so I get him up on his little platform and behaves most of time with out it turning into a game. LOL.
 
I had to find a new farrier last spring as the farrier I had been using moved from here in WV to CA. I've been using a farrier who exclusively does the barefoot trim technique. I have been really happy with her. My horses' hooves are better then they've ever been. With the prior farrier, I was always ending up with a few who had split/cracked hooves and/or hoof wall separation. Haven't had any of that since using the new farrier. She's on time, charges about $15.00 per mini and is friendly and knowledgeble. She really seems to enjoy doing the minis. I love her and hope she stays around a long time!!
 
Larry used to do our broodmares until our numbers increased and his back started bothering him.

I voted "no" because we now have a young man coming in every Saturday to work away at the herd a few at a time.

We do, however, still wrasp our foals' hooves during their first couple of months.

MA
 
I do not do mine yet, but I hope to learn so I can do them in-between farrier visits. I will still have all done by a farrier several times a year. I will not do my show horses though.

jennifer
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