Hi All

i see some new hoof stands on the market
what is your view on the best ones

i have a steel one are the plastic ones better?
is there less noise with the plastic ones

A couple of weeks ago I bought the hoofjack and love it. It's plastic and real solid. It has interchangeable posts for taking the leg forward or back. On my shoeing box I added a 1 1/2" pvc pipe so changing the posts is quicker and handy. The video they send with the hoofjack is also helpful and gives a person other ideas of how to use it. I have found horses are more comfortable while using the hoofjack and it does not rattle.

Clare

I have the hoof stand/cradle made by NC. I like the stand as it all metal and solid when the foot is on it. I don't like the hoof cradle (even though I use it all the time) as its set at and angle.

I have use the hoof jack and really like the cradle, I will be purchasing one soon just for the cradle. I have used the hoof stand part and don't like it because the plastic base allows the stand to move around when clincing. I like a stand that is solid when clinching.


Gary

I use the NC like Gary. It is a great stand but very noisey. I have been using this particular one for 5 or 6 years. I definately like the stand part but the cradle needs a little improvement. It is angled way too much. It is functional and I use it everyday but it is not practical. I am looking into the Hoof Jack. The cradle looks like it would give more versatility. Even though the NC isn't exactly what I want it beats the homemade I used forever prior to getting it. I am not sure about the plastic ones Smitty, but my steel one has had several Belgian Drafts lean on it without any harm done.
Regards,

HoofJack: the base can be a bit wobbly on groomed floors and in the field, the supporting bars on the post are a bit awkward for old toed-in farriers, the overall design could be improved. but the unit is quiet not to heavy and pretty tough, tools stick to the strong magnets good enough.

lets just say were not getting any younger and the cradle attachment has given me a second wind. the strain relieved from the body is noticeable instantly. the longevity it has added to my career and health was well worth learning to use this tool

i dont know which shoeing accessories i would be more uspet over losing, the hoofstand/cradle or Filson tin cloth and Mackinaw garments

just about all the horses that I'm learning on are drafts. My mentor has 2 hoof jacks. When I'm shoeing for real, on my own, this will be the first thing i will buy.

I have used the Hoofjack since its inception. I love it. I also have ha 2000 pound drafts stand on it as I finish their feet/work them during the trim and it flexes a little but has never broken/kinked or anything otherwise. The problem you guys are going to have with them is that you are going to get tired of changing the tops out and then want to get an other. that is what happened to me.

TIP: Instead of buying more tops from Kevin use old 2.5"-3" firehose. The tops I recieved were of inconsistent quality. I use my chop saw with an aluminum cutting blade and cut it to length. Then I Use a hot Nail or pritchel to melt the holes That I marked. Be aware that there are two sections in the hose; they need to be seperated. But they both work well. ONe is a cover and the other had the rubber inner lining. They are cheap (free - 50' hose did not meet specs) and last a long time.

Tony

I use three hoof stands. A hoofjack with the cradle, an NC with my trimming tools, and an NC with my finishing tools. Some of the horses don't, for whatever reason(s) dont like the aluminum stands, so for those horses, I put the post attachment in my hoofjack. One of the things I like the best about the hoofjack is that since it is mostly eurathane/plastic, if a horse gets it flying around, it doesn't do the damage one of the others can.

Regardless of which one(s) I use, they are all like American Express--I don't leave home without them.

Same here! I know one farrier in this area that cared for his so much he left the cradle top on his flatbed... and drove off. He watched it leave his truck and just thought, "ahhh I do not use it that much anyways."

Man what a dunce!

Clarification: it was not me.

Tony

Do all of you find the horse takes awhile to get used to the cradle
and do you use it on the hinds only

smitty88 wrote: No, I use my cradle on most every horse and have not found many problems in the horse getting use to it right away. The times I have not used it is on young horses that are being trimed for the first time and don't stand still well. Usually by the second trim or third trim they stand good enough to use a cradle.
IMO I think horses like the stability of a cradle and feel more secure when it used.
A cradle is really good for leaning horses, they usually stop becuase they are leaning on themselves.
The cradle is also good for the old ones, horses with hind end problems, makes them more compfortable as you can hold the leg lower.

smitty88 wrote: Yes.
I've tried it on the fronts have found it just gets in the way.


Gary

I only use it on fronts when I'm working on drafters or when I'm using a pour in pad and need that 'third hand'.

now your making me think Rick if i get one
i can take a photo if there is no one around

to hold the foot up

I got a cradle with my NC and found that it was more of a pain than it was worth. I've been through two NC's now, and the cradle still looks like new.

Anyway, when I first saw the HoofJack, I thought it would be worthless. But a couple of months ago, another farrier put one in my truck and told me to try it for a week. I've got one account where I have a lot of drafts and draft crosses, so I thought, "What the heck, I'll give it a try."

After three weeks, he was screaming at me to return it, but I didn't want to give it up... ordered a new one to be delivered to him. I've got another one on the way now that I'll be using for a peg / footstand. I'm going to miss the quick height adjustment from the NC, but I won't miss the clanging & banging.

I use the cradle for about 80% of my hind trims, but I still don't nail on it. I occasionally use it on fronts on big horses, but the base is pretty large and tends to get in the way.

it sounds like hoofjack is the one to go for
might order one next week