Posted by Denise McLain on September 16, 2003 at 07:32:13:
In Reply to: Re: ANNE, ONE HOUR to do a trim? posted by Patty Stiller on September 15, 2003 at 22:08:02:
:
: If the barefoot trimmers would just learn how to use top quality nippers accurately and carefully, they could cut the trim time down to fifteen minutes and STILL do the detailed job they want. Nippers get the long wall and excess dead hunks of frog and such off and out of the way quickly so the sharp knife can so the more delicate work.
: If you ever watch a british farrier pare teensy thin slivers off with a toeing knife and hammer, you can appreciate what some practice a good tool can do.
: I can shave a fraction of an inch off the foot in a lot of areas with my nippers ,with careful use.
: It takes forever to trim hoofwall with just a knife and rasp as the Strasser trimmers are taught. When some of them have been shown how to use nippers ,the reaction has often been "WOW that is a lot easier".
: And some day a trimmer is gong to get killed using one of those mechanics stools. In my opinion everyone who works under a horse needs to learn how to use their legs and body in a good farrier position instead, for safety sake.
: if hte trimemr is in a good position and learns how to properly use their legs, the horse will not be at all uncomfortable,will feel stable and therefore cooperate, though the trimmer probably will be uncomfortable. You cannot possibly get out of the way of a spooked the horse if sitting. Trimmers, please have some concern for your own safety and do not sit. It only takes ONE little incident to kill you and it is usually not from the horse you would expect to do it either.
: Patty
Hi Ptty,
I know some Strasser trimmers (myself included) who use nippers, half round nippers, Chicago Cut-out tools, dremmels and rotozips, rasps and knives. I think the extra time is usually spent on the smallest of details. Strasser trimmers are paying particular attention to evenness and straightness of bars, flatness on top of the bars, bringing the heel/bar up to a point by shaping it with the knife, and removing all lumps and bumps out of the sole. (Strasser trimmers might call it obssessed with the details, Gene calls it being anal). I've seen at the Natural balance clinc and at KC LaPierre's clinic the differences in the trims and can attest that the Strasser trim is much more detailed than those. Rasping down heels to have a flat surface is much easier and less time consuming than shaping the heels/bars with the knife. Nipping off wall at the toe is much quicker than using a rasp (KC doesn't teach nippering wall at the toe either-he insists on using the rasp). Leaving exfoliating sole rather than removing all of it is a time saver too.
As far as being hurt by a horse by using a stool (I don't use one) what about the farrier who's hurt his/her back permanently by constantly bending over and contorting his/her body? I've also seen farriers using a typical farrier stance who have been hurt by being flung across the room by a spooked horse. Accidents can and do happen regardless of how the horses leg is being held. Heck, even lifting the leg can sometimes be dangerous.
Denise