Mominis
Well-Known Member
The farrier was just here yesterday to give Shake his 'trim.' Every time he comes to the farm I get more and more irritated with paying $40 a shot for a rasp job. It's not that he's not a good farrier, but all he has to do to maintain Shake's good feet (and I'm thankful he has such good feet) is rasp him, which I have done every 2-3 weeks, though it may go a touch longer now in the fall and winter as his hoof growth slows down.
I think only once in 6 months has the farrier had to use the nippers and that was with me being exceptionally picky with his length right before Nationals. Despite the many, many times I've discussed it with my farrier, I still don't like the angles he has Shake at. I guess I'm terribly picky, but I also guess I'm the one paying the bill. I figure it's my right to be picky.
I have had horses for over 30 years now and I've had the priviledge of working with some outstanding farriers in that time. I have always held my own horses, watched the farrier work asked a lot of questions, and done a lot of research on shoeing. I have had to learn to pull a shoe, fix a bad clinch, and other basic stuff like that both for Pony Club as well as on an as-needed basis for horses I've had over the years.
I have done my homework and I'm giving really serious thought to ordering the tools and starting to do my own trimming. Which brings me to a few things I'd like to ask you guys that do your own trims at home: Have you done your own on a regular basis? If so, what things did you find that you were most unsure of? What things surprised you by being more difficult than you thought? If your horse got the same trim that you give him but you had paid someone else to do it, would you be as happy with the work? What resources did you use to learn to do it yourself? Do you have any book titles (my poor old copy of Maximum Hoofpower is alomst worn out...lol) or websites that you can share with me while I make the decision about doing my own?
I sure appreciate your input!
I think only once in 6 months has the farrier had to use the nippers and that was with me being exceptionally picky with his length right before Nationals. Despite the many, many times I've discussed it with my farrier, I still don't like the angles he has Shake at. I guess I'm terribly picky, but I also guess I'm the one paying the bill. I figure it's my right to be picky.
I have had horses for over 30 years now and I've had the priviledge of working with some outstanding farriers in that time. I have always held my own horses, watched the farrier work asked a lot of questions, and done a lot of research on shoeing. I have had to learn to pull a shoe, fix a bad clinch, and other basic stuff like that both for Pony Club as well as on an as-needed basis for horses I've had over the years.
I have done my homework and I'm giving really serious thought to ordering the tools and starting to do my own trimming. Which brings me to a few things I'd like to ask you guys that do your own trims at home: Have you done your own on a regular basis? If so, what things did you find that you were most unsure of? What things surprised you by being more difficult than you thought? If your horse got the same trim that you give him but you had paid someone else to do it, would you be as happy with the work? What resources did you use to learn to do it yourself? Do you have any book titles (my poor old copy of Maximum Hoofpower is alomst worn out...lol) or websites that you can share with me while I make the decision about doing my own?
I sure appreciate your input!
Last edited by a moderator: