Alternative to an Apron ?

[Derin Foor]

Most of us wear a farrier apron day in and day out....I can't help but think there might be a better alternative like some type of enhanced chaps with knife pockets etc. that would offer the same protection with less weight hanging from our waists

is there such a product out there ?

what would be the disadvantage ?

Derin

[NHFarrier]

I took a pair of leather riding chaps and bought two leather needle nose plier holders from Tractor Supply. They were made to hang from a belt so I cut the top off and then used Chicago Screws to attach them to the chap legs. They chaps fit snuggly and have the durability of leather but are a lot lighter. I like that they fit a little tighter than normal aprons because I can make an escape a lot quicker if the horse decides he has better things to do than stand still.

[Gary_Miller]

I think you are missing the boat here, but it coould be me, shoeing chaps are Personal Protective Equipment not for having a place to hang you hoof knif though they do work well for that as well. I think they sould be as light as possable but should have heavy leather in the thigh and knee ares to protect you from the chance of taking a nail. They should also fit well but lose this also aids in the chance of not taking a nail inn your leg. Yes thsy also help protect your clothing but the main purpose is saftey. If you wear light weight tight fitting chaps you maybe protecting you clothes but you have eliminated the orginal pupose of safety.

I sure others may see it diffrent but safety is the main reason.

Gary

[Ronald Aalders]

Like Gary said safety is why we wear those things. So don't use an old one with holes in it where a horse can get its shoe stuck in. If they do you're likely to find out how strong those animals really are.....

Also comfort is a reason why I wear an apron. Ever try to clinch up a pulled shoe that you put back on with just your wranglers between your leg and the foot?


Ronald Aalders

[saint_equinas]

Protection is very important as well from the power tools that most trimmers use. If you have ever plunged an agressive cut dremel bit into you thigh while opening up the heels you will never forget to wear a thick leather apron again.


Saint Equinas
Faith Based Hoofcare
California, USA
"How would Jesus Shoe"

[Derin Foor]

interesting idea Amy,

I appreciate the replies but I think the rest of you missed what I was asking.....I fully understand the need for protection, etc and if you re-read my post you will see that I am looking for an alternative that offers the SAME protection as an apron (perhaps better)

I'll assume for now the answer is that such a product is not yet available

Derin

[Red Amor]

Mornin
young Amys idear with the pant leg type rideing chapps is a gooden
Ive been thinking about them for some time

there was a Farrier down home here that worked in them said it was the best
thing he'd ever done
they attatched to your trouser belt by a velcro loop , once pulled up your leg
you could use press studs
I likes the idear where he said you could leave them on all day as they were very light and comfortable and were comfortable in the car as well
might get a lill smelly after some time but that shouldnt worrie most of us ;)
I would add some extra thigh protection
the only problem Im facing is the placement of the scabbouts for my Mitchel loop knives
the leggins dont have the places to safely attatch knives and hoof picks that the traditional chapps do

[Bill Adams]

What a bunch of wussies,
I have a heavy swade apron I had made so it would reach to my ankels so I could work on the young and real old comfortably for them. No big deal, but on the other hand, I won't work on a hind foot without my foot stand.
The big apron looks realy cool too.
As to the new resident saint, if you realy care about what the Lord would do, you may want to start with not taking His Name in vain. Look it up.
Bill

[Gary_Miller]

Protection is very important as well from the power tools that most trimmers use. If you have ever plunged an agressive cut dremel bit into you thigh while opening up the heels you will never forget to wear a thick leather apron again.


Saint Equinas
Faith Based Hoofcare
California, USA
"How would Jesus Shoe"

Anyone who uses a dremel is a fool, and if they use it with a agressive cut bit they are just plan abusive and ******.

I personal don't think that our lord Jesus Christ would use a dremel on the hooves of one of his greatest creations.

I do think he would put shoes on to protect their feet.


Gary

[blueridgeshoes]

Gary,
I hate to tell you, but you probably just called nearly every farrier on this site a fool. I'll be the first to admit that I'm one, and the dremel worked great.

Jake

[Gary_Miller]

Gary,
I hate to tell you, but you probably just called nearly every farrier on this site a fool. I'll be the first to admit that I'm one, and the dremel worked great.

Jake


Ok well maybe I am fool or just nieve, remember I'm the beginner here. So enlighten me, and teach me.
When, what for and why would you use a dremel with an agressive bit to trim a hoof?

Gary

[Peggy Dolan]

I use a dremel to drain abcesses. It creates a small, managable opening. The drain tract is less invasive than even a specially created abcess hoof knife. I once used it to eradicate a wooden spinter that was driven into the sole, just inside the white line. I pared it out with no damage to the surrounding sole. I have seen several well skilled vets also use a dremel to achieve the same repair. The cordless is my favorite style, but the model 395 is the also good.

[Gary_Miller]

interesting idea Amy,

I appreciate the replies but I think the rest of you missed what I was asking.....I fully understand the need for protection, etc and if you re-read my post you will see that I am looking for an alternative that offers the SAME protection as an apron (perhaps better)

I'll assume for now the answer is that such a product is not yet available

Derin

Derin

I perfictly understood you post. My remarks was mostly pointed to Amy and anyone else who may wear light weight riding chaps. Though I may be a new Farrier I have a back ground in weilding and in Safety. And through the years I have learned that when people go for comfort or style they seem to forget safety.

So if you are going to wear light weight chaps you need to ensure that they are reinforced in the proper places with heavy leather patches, kevelar or steel would provide much more safety but would not be total practical. Their are aprons that are lighter than heavy leather I seen some where they was cloth around your waste and leather on you legs with knife pockets.

Maybe someday there will be something lighter with the same protection but I doubt it because what you gain with one you lose in the other.

I did like Amy's idea about fastening the plier holders to her apron for holding knives.

Gary

[Ronald Aalders]

Gary, for a guy that's trying to learn you come on pretty strong. Although you won't hear too many objections to you calling me a fool too.

But tell me how am I supposed to work on feet like these without a dremel?



Ronald Aalders

[J.H. shoeing]

Ronald

I had a case like the Queen photo. Did you have any trouble with the clip on the resected side causing any pressure or being hard to seat because it was so close to a sensitive area?

Jeff

I use a dremel to debride on the WLD resections also.

[Jaye Perry]

Ok well maybe I am fool or just nieve, remember I'm the beginner here. So enlighten me, and teach me.
When, what for and why would you use a dremel with an agressive bit to trim a hoof?
Gary


When? -when the situation calls for a dremel, after nippers, hoof knife and rubbing the rabbit's foot.

What for?- To debride in a fashion in which control and accurancy are necessary and after pulling a wishbone apart.

Why?- To debride without over curating the area with more agressive tools such as nippers and hoof knives.

Hell I trimm foundered feet with a 4 1/2 grinder and a 36 grit zirconian disc when the situation calls for it. Especially those *&$%#@^&%$$# elf footed ponies.

[Ronald Aalders]

Hi Jeff,

I forged this clip out a bit deeper so it came a little closer to the foot. It barely touched though and tell you the truth I would not pull it again on that side of the foot. Not that I worry too much about the foot being sensitive in cases like this. The wall of the foot, even after resections like this, is surprisingly tough. I even managed to burn the foot a little as you can tell by the brownish stains. This scared me a little and I would not recommend doing it, but the horse did not respond at all.



Ronald Aalders

[Bill Adams]

Gary,
Go buy a Dremmel and see how foolish you can become.
I like the cordless, and the other day I got a call to fix a horizontal clevis that blew out. As I left for the stable I remembered I had let the battery get low, so I pluged the charger into my inverter, got there with a full charge. I use it to sharpen my knives too.
Hey Ron,
Is the "Sophie" horse on a hart bar with both heels floated? How did it turn out?
Bill

[Gary_Miller]

Ok, Ok I take it back sounds like it gets used alot when doing theropedic type shoeing. I can see in that case where it would come in handy.

I didn't mean to come on so strong, but saint_equinas and other barefoot advicates are using them to remove sole when trimming.

Remember a few months ago when we were sent to a site where there was a vidio of the strusser trim that lady was using a dremel to trim away sole clear down in the comessors (bad spell). I don't think that is a good way to use a dremel.

See the Farriers helping Farriers - Discussing The Clinics, Strausser Clinic video thread.

Sorry, if I hurt any of your feelings didn't mean to.

Gary

[Red Amor]

my bloody oath Garry
you keep going like that an arseoverhead I go ;) thinkabout it ;)

Mate go get youself a dremmel , you wont use them all that offen straight up but will be glad you have one when you do

[Ronald Aalders]

Hi Bill,

No, just one heel floated with a heartbar as a frog support device. The picture was taken before I added pour in. I like to that on horses that are still competing. The heart bar is a little unforgiving. The pour in allows me to minimise pressure of the bar and have the pour in do the job. Just pour in is not enough on a # 1 QH foot like this one I found. It gets compressed too much to really be sure the heel stays floated even when the horse is putting all it has on that heel. Also you can minimise the 'float' of the heel. You don't have to take off too much allowing the hoofwall to stay more or less flush with the shoe minimising risk of pulling when stopping (a reiner this one). Just fit the heartbar with a pad, fill the little gap where you floated the heel with whatever and get the hoofpack in. Works like a charm.

It turned out great. As do most cracks after you evened out heels and floated heels a waited for the crack to grow out. I failed to make an after picture though.


Ronald Aalders

[Bill Adams]

Ron,
We think the same way on these, but I like to use the plastic frog suport, have you tried that? It's kind of incredible to watch a mangled foof heal like they do. I didn't think of feet like these while on the barefoot threads (not trying to start one here), but why would someone deny a horse this relief and speedy recovery while still compeating?
nice work,
Bill