First Trims

[sebocats]

I just finished my first real trim on one of my two horses today. I have to say I was nervous as hell, but I have been studying my anatomy, I have faithfully been studying Jaime Jackson and Pete Rameys books and videos, and I felt ready to go. :eek:

I would like to post a few pictures of my horse's feet here for some constructive critisism if I may, but I don't know how to do it.

Please don't pick me apart. I would love to have someone come out and trim and shoe for me, but I am 150-200 miles from the nearest farriers and they are all very busy and will not travel to me. I also live in ALaska, and the roads are treacherous right now, I would not dream of hauling my horses on these roads when I can barely keep my truck on them. In the summer, I trailer my horses to a farrier and it is an all-day event, and I am often stood up. I am learning on my own out of necessity, and as I mentioned in a previous post, there are no farrier schools in my state that I am aware of. Pete Ramey is giving a clinic here in July, and I have already paid my entrance with enthusiasm. I am also saving up to go out of state for a school. In the mean-time, I would be grateful for any advice. For starters - how do I share my pictures??

[caballus]

Hi Sebo! Two ways, actually 3, that you can share your photos. First, below the "reply" box in which one types, there's a button labeled, "Manage Attachments". You can attach your photos there is they're not too large. Or, you can post them to one of those freebie photo album sites and then post the link here OR if you have a website, post them to that and then post the link here.

Looking forward to seeing them!

:) -- Gwen

[sebocats]

Here is a hind from my Percheron/paint cross. I wish I had a good "before photo, but it turned out to blurry.

Before I started, he has a lot of breakage in the quarters in the areas where th horse shoe nails were. Those chuck just broke right off.

His hoofwall seems thin to me. -especially in the quarters.

In a front foot, he also had an extra bit of hoofwall material to the inside of the hoof - it looked like a marble - right at the outside quarter. When I trimmed the foot, it wasn;t sentsitive at all, but looked like it had at one time been filled with blood. Could this be from a nail getting him in the white line?
Part of the "growth" is still there. Pictures did not turn out of that either, I will try to take more today.

Otherwise, does this look like a good foot? Have I done alright with it?

Here are the photos of a hind. the others did not turn out.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sebocats/album?.dir=/7b72

Thanks for your help!

~Suz

[mwmyersdvm]

This does look like a good draft hind hoof. I would roll the flares more and roll the toe a lot more. You have to keep after flares and toes very vigorously on drafts to keep a good hoof going for you. They really aren't the best horses to learn on for a variety of reasons.
I would say you are doing quite well for your first go.

[sebocats]

Are drafts that much different? I realize the obvious difference of a much larger foot. My Belgian's hoof wall is so tough, I can't get nippers through it.

From what I am reading, it seems like if my draft has healthy feet, which he does, I should be able to keep him barefoot as well. But how do I keep him from developing feet that splay out? Is that what you meant by rolling the foot? Do I put something like the mustang roll all of the way around?

[caballus]

Hey Sebo ... here are a couple of photos of new trims on drafts and draftX's:

http://www.barefoottrim.com/TriggerRF5-6-05Solar.JPG
http://www.barefoottrim.com/HPIM1409.JPG
http://www.barefoottrim.com/HPIM1410.JPG

The first photo is a MFT/Belgian draft; the 2nd and 3rd are a Percheron (who was long overdue but is now cared for regularly.) Both are maintained on regular monthly basis but need little work as they are regularly used and self-maintain well.

Feel free to print out if you'd like. Both horses are 100% sound and in full work, 1 as pleasure trail horse the other competitive trail.

also, a couple of websites with good illustrations for trimming:

http://www.ironfreehorse.com
http://www.barefoothorse.com

The first link shows how to keep flares at bay by rasping from the top exclusively.

Oh, here's a rear hoof of full Belgian mare:
http://www.barefoottrim.com/physiology/gianth2.jpg

Good job for your trim. Keep it up! :

--Gwen

[caballus]

Here's another ... belgian.

http://www.barefoottrim.com/physiology/moretrim18.jpg

[Phil Armitage]

Sebocats, your trim looks great. I really like how you are being carefull on the sole and bars, looks strong and healthy. You could roll the toe a little but I would not get carried away with that, maybe just enough to remove any sharp edges. The quarters look normal, qaurters are alway thinner than the toe and heel. Nice job.

[Gary Hill]

Get a handle on your rasp. Gary

[caballus]

Was waiting for that one, Gary. This is an older photo and last time I posted I was chastised, too. Not me trimming. Never the less, I use a handle. Thanks.

:)

[sebocats]

Thanks for the help. I am so glad I am heading in the right direction.

As far as rasps go, I have a good quality rasp and handle, but I can't keep the handle on. Will apoxy help, or will I be wasting my time?

[Gary Hill]

Twist it on.

[sebocats]

I tried that - it won't stay. Maybe I need to eat more beef? ;)

[Rick Burten]

is this a drive-on or screw-on handle? If its a drive-on handle, then after you push the tang of the rasp into the hole in the handle, tap it down deeper with a hammer. If its a screw on handle, then forget the beef and eat more Wheaties.
Either way, there may be something in your technique that is causing the handle to loosen and then come off.

[mwmyersdvm]

There are some differing handles for some types of rasps. Make sure you have the correct one. Ran into that problem when I changed brands of rasp.

[Tom Stovall, CJF]

mwmyersdvm in gray

There are some differing handles for some types of rasps. Make sure you have the correct one. Ran into that problem when I changed brands of rasp.

Poor folks have poor ways.

Buy a golf ball. The status conscious prefer Titleists, but any brand will do.

Drill a 3/16" hole about half way through the ball.

Place the end of the tang of your rasp into the hole. With the golf ball now impaled on the tang, grasp the end opposite the tang with your hand, hold the rasp perpendicular to your anvil, then smack the golf ball smartly on your anvil face.

Orale vato!

You now have an economical, one-size-fits-all, extremely fashionable, handle for your rasp. :)

[supernova]

Thanks for the help. I am so glad I am heading in the right direction.

As far as rasps go, I have a good quality rasp and handle, but I can't keep the handle on. Will apoxy help, or will I be wasting my time?
Hi,
Well you certainly seem to be on the right track,
Dont get dissapointed if and when you do get some chipping, the feet will really start to harden up now the shoes are gone.
Hold the rasp with a gloved hand and bang that handle straight down on the ground once in a while, they dont last for ever and this generally works for me any way.
Keep up the good work.

[sebocats]

I got my husband to look at my rasp and handle for me - he said that the handle is somehow too big? This was interesting since I bought them together from star-ridge. I guess I'll give them a call and get the correct handle. I bet that helps :p .

I do have another quetion: I was trimming my second horse, and caught myself ina ******-for-me situation. I was wearing a loose sweatshirt under the premise that I thought I would be able to move around better. It kept getting in my way, and I had a mush harder time because of it. If the barn wasn't 2 miles from home, I would have changed on the spot.

Besides the rasp tang being covered with some sort of handle, and wearing gloves and chaps and making sure your clothing fits, are there any other safety basics that you catch new farriers/trimmers violating?

Also, I noticed my back is killing me - how do you guys stay in shape? I can't image doing this as a regular job, and yet, everytime I have seen a farrier, he/she gets down to it, gets the job done quickly, and never complains about pain. You guys are amazing! It took me an hour to get out of bed yesterday - and I even use a hoof stand!!

[caballus]

Hi Sebo ... wear comfortable clothes that fit you well. Anything that can get hung up on a hoof or shoe, don't wear it. This means jewelry, especially! But even dangly ties from hooded sweatshirts should be tied up or tucked away. Learned that one the hard way!

As for back issues ... I do yoga stretching every morning and that helps tremendously! I started this professionally at 50; am now working on 55 and can do up to 8 or 10 horses in a day without much issue IF I remember to do my stretching exercises in the morning and then a few quickies during the day. BUT, when I started out on more than just one horse I would get horrific back spasms and could only get through one horse in a day. I have old physical problems with my back from former injuries, too, so try to do all the safety things like lifting with my legs, etc.

[Mike Ferrara]

I too think stretching helps. I don't know if it prevents fatigue but it can sure help prevent injuries. I've had some guys tell me that doing sit ups or crunches helps.

I use an apron with elastic in the belt and that is a huge help.

It takes time to learn how to stand and build the right muscles and get limber in the right places. Like anything else, you have to work up the given work load.

I don't work in gloves. I dress in layers so I can easily remove or add clothes to stay comfortable. Even in cold weather I don't need much once I get going and warmed up.

[Tom Stovall, CJF]

sebocats in gray, deletia

Also, I noticed my back is killing me - how do you guys stay in shape? I can't image doing this as a regular job, and yet, everytime I have seen a farrier, he/she gets down to it, gets the job done quickly, and never complains about pain.

Succinctly put: Bend your knees, not your back! Make the horse, not yourself, comfortable. Keep the horse's foot as close to the ground and as directly under its shoulder or hip as possible. These aren't just platitudes: if you'll follow the advice contained in these old bromides, your body will thank you at the end of the day.