I am considering learning how to trim so that I can do my Belgian gelding’s feet myself. I am having the worst time finding farriers who can communicate and show up when they are scheduled (or at least let me know they need to reschedule). My Belgian is 25 and has arthritis. He isn’t super difficult but isn’t a dead-head… he requires a little patience to find the right position that is comfortable for him.
I have a fantastic farrier for my Dutch Harness gelding, but he is booked full. I am considering asking if I can spend time with him learning how to do a basic trim, but I realize that will slow his job down.
Are there any resources you can recommend- books, seminars, courses, etc, that I can learn the basics so that if I do approach my farrier to shadow him I at least have a grasp on the basic info?
The classic textbook used at quality farrier schools is Doug Butler’s book “Principles of Horseshoeing”. It is very easy reading, and, of course, covers correct trimming principles as well as shoeing. Lots of pictures. And practice makes (well, perhaps not perfect), but at least adequate (and often better than what gets offered by people who claim professional status and charge $$$$$$ for their work).
It is advantageous to have a GOOD farrier check and critique your work regularly. It is hard to get enough actual practice with only one horse to improve your skills, because doing the job often simply improves your skills and fitness faster.
Buy decent tools to use on your horse. Going cheap will make your job MUCH HARDER. Your Farrier might sell you a used pair of good nippers, still usable but not good enough for volume work. Also other tools like a hoof knife and rasp.
You want sharp rasps, saves you work. If you have to lean into it to cut, it is time for a new one. With a draft, you will want a full size rasp with screw on handle for the tang, so you don’t get poked by the point. Full sized to span the entire hoof each stroke, prevent high and low spots caused by uneven rasping. You want both ends of the rasp in use at each stroke, not just the center teeth. Save Edge, Heller Legends, are excellent rasps and priced accordingly. They are very sharp, save you effort in rasping smooth. Avoid Diamond tools sold at TSC, they don’t hold a sharp edge very long. Trying to trim with dull tools is beyond frustrating.
Thanks everyone for the info. @NancyM I actually ordered that book last night along with another book. I definitely plan to discuss with my current farrier (well, the one I use for my one horse). I’m at a barn with ~80 horses, so he is there at least once or twice a week trimming several. I am hoping he would be willing to let me watch and explain his technique, but of course I don’t want to slow him down because I know time is money.
@goodhors Thanks for the brand recommendations. I definitely don’t want to make the job more difficult than it already is by having cheap, dull tools.
I see ELPO has a short course on the basics of trimming in Colorado. I’m looking at going to that in April to get some supervised, hands-on experience. Any thoughts on if that course is worthwhile or would I be wasting my time and money?
The good part to trimming your own horses is that you can just do a bit at the time and touch-ups inbetween as needed.
The bad part is that you really need to have a good eye for what is needed and why.
Some people do, some just never quite get that right and they should not be trimming, or have horses that are more difficult, not your average trim keeps them nicely balanced.
Trimming is not hard, get tools, watch videos and hopefully your farrier will help guide you.
Most farriers are so very busy, they will gladly work with you, maybe come only every few months to be sure you are on track, at least at first.
Find one of those farriers and be sure to thank profusely for the help and just get to it.
Many trimmers and farriers will do consults because they like to share what they know and/or because it’s easy money for them. So watch some videos first and then get out there and start taking some hoof off. When you think you’ve got it right, or when you get to where you’re not sure, then find a farrier or trimmer who will stop by and take a look.
Trimming can be hard work but it’s not rocket science, so don’t be intimidated about getting out there and getting started.
If he comes to the stable several times a week he can’t somehow work your gelding in?? I would worry that with arthritis that you would really need to know what you are doing to keep the horse balanced and comfortable.
Not saying you can’t do it right, but I trimmed my mule for a year when I had a farrier he didn’t like and it actually went fine. It was a lot harder than it looked.
Using a hoof cradle, there are several models out there, sure helps the horse and trimmer.
Here is a video how to stand and help the horse balance and so the trimmer also while using one:
I started putting pulled shoes back on my own horses a couple of years ago. I’ve always sworn that I would NEVER trim, because there’s so much potential to have things go wrong…especially over a longer period of time/multiple trims. And I have a terrible habit of thinking that if a little’s good, a lot is better (which is, of course, almost never the case!).
But here I am now trimming all of my barefoot horses and ponies. I just couldn’t keep paying my farrier to do something that was so quick and easy to do, and was always a pain for him to do after shoeing the others. So I trim them and then when he’s here I pull them out and let him evaluate. Also, sometimes I’ll wait until he’s here shoeing, and trim at the same time so that he can take a look as soon as I’m done with a foot to give me pointers.
I’ve found that every farrier I’ve talked to has been SUPER SUPER helpful and willing to point things out to me. I’ve also had a couple who have given me tools they have duplicates of or don’t use often that are helpful for taking off/putting on shoes. And also rasps that are still useable but nearing end of life. But for trimming I bought myself a brand new rasp and brand new nippers. I buy everything at www.well-shod.com, and I often run it by my farrier before I order something (like my stall jack/mini-anvil).
So, I found a farrier willing to come see my two this afternoon. I was a little skeptical at first just because it seemed too good to be true that he was able to come out with pretty much no notice. It turns out he mostly does this as a side job now; it’s not his main source of income or main focus. He was VERY pleasant to talk with and was incredibly kind to both of my boys. He trained under Paul Goodness, a well respected farrier here in NOVA who works (or worked, not sure if he is still there) out of Morvan Park.
Will, the Belgian, did great. The vet gave me detomidine this time around since the ace I was previously using just was not enough. This farrier did have a hoof cradle as mentioned above- I’ve never seen one like that- but it helped a lot for him to be able to rest his hoof there. The previous farrier had a kong on his stand (one of those rubber dog toys) and the horses were always slipping off of it. I made sure to pay in cash and gave a $30 tip (about 33% of the total bill). Next time I’ll have drinks available for him just in case. The guy was older and I asked him point blank “is he too much of a pain or two hard on your back for you to continue trimming him?” - he was happy to schedule us for our next visit.
Overall I feel a bit less stressed now. I still plan on learning what I can do that I have myself as a back-up in case this guy retires or falls off the grid. He seemed like he was more than willing to talk me through things as well when I get to that point, as I mentioned I was to the point of just learning how to trim them myself.
My farrier had someone trying to learn a little and brought him to my barn once (with my permission, and I knew who the guy was already). It was so much harder than I expected. Watching an expert farrier use a rasp makes it look easy, but the newbie guy had a hard time just keeping the rasp under control. It took him forever and it wasn’t a very good job (my farrier helped/fixed a lot for him).
I would worry that without sufficient practice on multiple horses it would never be natural or easy to trim your own. And, therefore, if you could find a decent farrier, it would be worth the extra money.
A good farrier is priceless.
Even better that he can help you learn more how to, so you can some day help your horse’s feet right along.
They have some of those hoof craddles that operate hydraulically, a little level on the side will raise and lower them.
That is great as you can make minimal adjustments in height while the horse is on the stand, as you and the horse need.
Those have a steel cradle.
The plastic and metal cradles are ok at times, but they can restrict your access in spots so you have to change how you position them to reach everything.
Here is one of those, work best for hind feet, very comfortable for horses:
I like the minimalist swing cradle better, but if I had to work on horse feet all day, not sure those would take that much use and last, like the steel ones will.
Here is the sling one:
I use the cradle for most working on the hoof, work at times as before cradles.
For work with the leg forward, the direct knob stand is best.
Then rather than change the top of the hoof stand back and forth, is better to have both types there, saves time from changing cradle tops.
I would say it is what you get used to which will work best for you in which tools or cradle you prefer.
Edited to add, I found it, the hydraulic hoof jack stand:
That is what our current farrier uses.
It can adjust as each horse and task requires, right on the spot.
Works similar to a standard bottle jack for vehicles and shops.
Ditto Pete Ramey… his Under the Horse video series is awesome. You can also join his group on Facebook called Hoof Rehab Help. His website is also full of great information.
I’m on the journey to learn to trim my own as well… Good luck!
Sometimes we get lucky. My current farrier lives close to me and usually he comes within a 1-3 days when I call for a trim. Not something I am used to as I used to call 3 weeks before I needed my previous farrier and getting him here within the right time was nearly impossible ( he lived near me too) .
If your horses are good to the farrier I find getting them out to trim is easier
