I have a cheap feedstore rasp I’ve been using to keep my guy’s feet in shape for his boots. I don’t do much with his right foot unless he’s chipped it, but the left one is a bit snug to begin with so I work it just a little each week as necessary. It’s been muddy and rainy here too plus I just had a baby so I haven’t done anything with his feet in two weeks. We’ll see how well his left boot fits when I am able to get out there again…
For what its worth, and I know everyone is different, I am a female in my 60s and I can hold the angle grinder in one hand. It is the first power tool I have ever used and I have never had an accidental slip on a hoof or my breeches. YMMV I use a 60 grit flap disk. I chose this grinder as it was the lightest weight (3.1lb) with the strongest motor: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ULQVCU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Good luck with whatever you choose. Your horses will appreciate having feet that are consistently in balance throughout the entire trim cycle. Your trimmer will thank you, too, as it makes their job much easier. Which reminds me, talk to your trimmer before you start as to what they would like to see you do in between visits. Good luck and have fun!
I’ve been facing this question, too. I use Renegade boots sized to a fresh trim, and by week 4 or 5 of the trim, maresy’s feet are just a touch too big for them. However, by that time, she is usually comfortable on our regular gravel trails barefoot. I was given an old rasp by a trimmer friend, and got the blessing of my farrier to use it. But I’m not sure I am able to get a significant amount of length off. I may need some more lessons in using it, or I may need a newer, sharper, rasp.
I had the rasp since the summer, but only really tried using it at the end of last year. I was a little nervous I would mess her feet up. So while I haven’t yet figured out how to do this totally successfully, once I started trying I realized that it isn’t that complex, and if you have a good basic trim, you should be able to top it up a bit on your own.
Just use your rasp. Get a handle for it if you don’t have one. A good rasp will cost $50+ new but a cheap or old one will skip and stutter across the hoof. Wear gloves. Place the hoof up on your knee and just freshen up the bevel around the edge from the quarters to the toe. A hoof jack will save your back and your pants.
