Who has done it? I’ve got all the equip, have tacked on shoes. Farrier isn’t balancing correctly. I have two currently in shoes and I trim my others myself. Been trimming about 12 years, so I get the angles and importance of balance. Please, walk me off the ledge before I start shoeing my own???
I’ve been shoeing my own for 30 years. Since you know to do a balanced trim and tack on lost shoes already then start shoeing your horses.
Very impressive!! How did you learn? I was kinda being sarcastic. 
I haven’t set a shoe in years. Driving nails is my biggest concern and the physical demands on my old injuries. Do you have any pointers or suggestions practicing, perfecting the art, driving nails?
Maybe I’ve seen too much in my life but I would never shoe my own without a farrier school education or at the very least a two-year internship under a farrier whom I respected deeply
Based on photos and complaints from people on this site about farrier created hoof issues, even those with farrier school education and apprenticeship or even shoeing as their sole business can’t always see when hoof is level, balanced, toes too long, heels same length, heel supported, shoe big enough, flare is present and needs removing. Practice/education doesn’t always make perfect (or sound horses). Skill, awareness, talent, ability to see does. But I hear what you are saying.
Wouldn’t even think of trying to do it. First would have to either go to farrier school or apprentice for over a year with a master farrier. Then would still be worried that a hot nail could be a bad scene. Would rather pay $$$ to get someone who goes to seminars each year to keep up with the latest, and who apprenticed under one of the 2 best farriers in this area. (Like doing your own surgery: It looks easier than it is!:lol:)
Oh yeah, there are lots of lousy farriers around here who lame horses all the time. Which is why word of mouth and personal observation when said farriers shoe or trim horses belonging to other people and lame the horses is something everyone should do before hiring a farrier. Boarding barns even make serious mistakes. But a lot of boarding barns know which farriers are good and which aren’t, as lesson horses must be sound to earn $. (Saw one of them just last week who told untrained teen that he didn’t use many nails because he didn’t want to put too many holes in the hoof, and said that the horse might be sore after the shoeing!)
Sure, go ahead and put shoes on your own horse! How hard can nailing shoes on be?? And OF COURSE you know how to balance a hoof, do everything needed to get your perfect trim! Just put the shoeing instruction book on the bottom of the bucket so you can check things as you go along. (Sarcasm)
Have you ever had any of your fresh work evaluated by a Professional Farrier?
I will be looking forward to your posts on “How to fix his hooves? What should I do?” Yeah, I already read your post on cow hocks and shook my head. Lots of words, but doesn’t sound like you are really knowledgable. Book smart, not enough time under a horse with a pro standing beside you watching what you are doing to the hoof. Old body injuries? Probably going to be difficult to get into good body position so you ARE making level hooves, not suffering from ‘right or left-handed horseshoer’s problem’ in the work.
Unless you get professional training, school time, apprentice to better develop your eye and knowledge of horse, this idea probably won’t go well for the horses.
We are a Farrier family, three of us are or have been professional Farriers, earning a living doing the work. We ALL went to Farrier School, put in the time and work (years) to be very well trained. But heck, it can’t be THAT hard to nail shoes on a horse, go right ahead. Maybe U-tube will show you!
[QUOTE=Sansena;8254479]
Maybe I’ve seen too much in my life but I would never shoe my own without a farrier school education or at the very least a two-year internship under a farrier whom I respected deeply[/QUOTE]
I had a horse shod long term by Mike Wildenstein when Mike was at Cornell. The man ruined me for the vast majority of other farriers out there. And even though I know a lot and am persnickety, I’d never dream of thinking that I could execute a trim/shoeing job that would meet my own standards.
But if you can do that… and/or the shoers in your area are really that bad, try it!
I will say that one think I learned watching Mike and scores of farrier students come through is program is that it takes more constant practice (particularly with the forging work) and fitness than you think. YMMV, but I wouldn’t try to make my body become a weekend farrier. I suppose it all depends on how many horses you are hoping to shoe.
