Honestly~~how hard is it to learn to trim your horses hooves?

Question

I ask only because I live in a rural area and its next to impossible to get the farrier to my place. The last 2 times he was in my area, I wasn't & the only person that was around here is not real comfortable around horses. I'm annoyed because he waits until the night before to call me & let me know he's coming to the area, plus he isnt concerned about my horse getting cracks in his hooves!! They aren't high cracks at all, but it bothers me just the same. So even though I'm new to horses (less than a yr of ownership), I'm wondering how hard it is to learn to trim hooves? I know that they need to be done at a certain angle and a certain length.

Any real advice would be much appreciated.

Please & thank you!

Answer 1

I do all my own farrier work. I find light trimming remarkably easy mentally but can be back breaking.



The only time skill comes into play is changing angles or corrective trimming. Just light trimming is easy. You just have to be careful to leave the sole alone like PH1 said.. I trim for shoes so I do not roll the toe. But if you leave them barefoot you should.



A lot of people have farriers out only once or twice a year to keep the angles correct and give light trimmings themselves for the rest of the year. This is the path I suggest you take.



Get a horse shoeing book. That will help you learn tricks to save your back immensely.



As far as how fast you can learn...Light trimming can be picked up in the time it takes to trim 2 or 3 horses.



I do want to stress I am talking about light trimming not any type of corrective trimming or angle setting. That takes more time and skill. But that is not what it appears you need anyway.

Answer 2

It isn't hard to learn at all I have been doing mine for 15 years, since I was 14 - 15, for the same reason as you, the farrier gave me some basic tips and off I went, as long as you don't trim any further than the white line you will be fine, and don't trim the sole or frog without advice from a farrier, you need to trim the bars to the same level as the hooves, make sure you round the toes and bevel the edge of the hoof, I have never made a horse lame in 15 years. I would however never shoe a horse myself that is a whole different kettle of fish, you can puncture the sensitive part of the hoof and all sorts of things.



You will need a rasp, a set of nippers, a hoof knife, and a hoofpick.



The naked hoof is a good website to look at and there are others as well, you can order a dvd on how to do it on one of the webistes too, that is here in australia though, not sure about anywhere else.



As someone else said it is very hard on your back and legs, if you have a back problem or anything it may not be an option, if I do 2 horses at once it feels like i have been on a 3 hour horseride.



Feel free to email me privately if you wish for more info or some pictures of hooves on [e-mail]

Answer 3

Hmm, this is a hard situation. You certainly can't learn to trim properly and safely in 6 weeks, so even if you do learn, you'll have to do something in the meantime.

I am also in a rural area, and I solved this problem by making the arrangements for the next trim when the farrier came out. I mean, all horses get trimmed on a similar schedule, their feet grow at the same rate, so theoretically, he should be in your area at a predicable time for everyone. See if he won't agree to put your area in before the other areas. Talk to your vet about your horses hooves, how they look, if he knows the farrier and trusts him, and if he thinks you can handle doing a little rasping.



And remember, if you find it annoying he doesn't call til the night before, try calling him about a week before you think your horse needs trimming and see if his schedule isn't already set up, and maybe then he can tell you. Certainly if you pester him, he'll learn to give your more lead time just to get you off his back!

Answer 4

I have always trimmed my own horses. I learned from watching my dad, on our ranch, who learned from watching his dad. Dad would always point out a horse that was standing awkwardly or one whose hooves were grown long, etc...I watched and learned and was doing it myself when I was a teenager. Our horses always had good feet, no problems.



I would suggest getting a farrier that doesn't annoy you, and even trailering your horse to him if you have to. But get him to agree to teach you and watch as you do it and point out what you should or shouldn't do. It won't take very many trims for you to learn to get it right, and you can do it on your own. This is dependent on if your horse has good hooves and the cracks aren't a problem....your farrier should know and tell you if you'll be alright trimming him yourself.



Just a few tips that I always remember about trimming:



1. You can always take a little more off, but you can't ever put any back on....don't get over-eager with the nippers. Use the rasp more if you just need to take of a smidgen.



2. When holding the hoof, looking down at it, I usually begin at about the seven o'clock position, and start nipping just gradually, from the edge of the hoof, deeper. Then nip your way up around to twelve o'clock and on around to about four o'clock where you will taper off to the edge again. You need to take off about twice as much at the toe as you do at the heel. Horse's hooves wear naturally at the heel, and sometimes all you do to the heel part (between 4 o'clock and 7 o'clock) is take a little nip off of each corner. It depends on how they grow each time.



3. Try to keep your nippers level, and clip again exactly beside where you clipped last. If your nippers aren't level and even with the last clip, the hoof will be all jaggedy and rough and uneven. You will have to rasp a lot to even it up.



4. A good rasp is worth a lot....you can really make a hoof nice and smooth with a lot of rasping. I usually work in a semi-circle motion, to smooth the edges of the hoof as well as the underside of the hoof.



6. I bought my rasp and nippers at Tractor Supply Company, I believe. For about $80...and I've made much more than that back in what I've saved from hiring a farrier!



Good luck. I'm sure you can do it. It is really hard work, but just take it one hoof at a time. If you just do the fronts, you can come back and do the hind hooves the next day, no problem.

Answer 5

Here's a website to read and learn about it....



NOTICE THE DISCLAIMER!!!



This site tells you alot of information...that I think you are looking for...BUT...I highly encourage looking for a barefoot trimmer...not just a farrier. It's not hard to learn...but I cannot stress enought the importance of having a 'mentor.' Someone who will 'eyeball' what you are doing and help you along the way. You can read all you want...but there is nothing like having 'practical' experience. I do my own now...but still have the 'real trimmer' out one or two times a year. Double checks my work...and makes improvements or corrections where needed.

http://www.thenakedhoof.com.au/



Take the time to check all the links on the page under Barefoot Horse Information. Very informative. Don't forget the other ones too.



**EDIT...well, being no new questions can get through...I just wanted to add a couple of things...Adding to Daisy...



I have 2 pair of nippers...one set has 2 cutting edges, like you normally find everywhere. Then I found a set of nippers that have 1 cutting edge and and the other side is blunt. About a 1/8 inch blunt side. It's so I can place the blunt edge against the sole and hoof wall...and anything above it...gets cut off. It leaves just enough that it is never cut too short...and is easily filed off to smooth it. I love them. If this site doesn't come up with new questions...I'll see if I can add a photo of them later.



And everyone is RIGHT about it being hard on your back and muscles. ONLY for my own horses...I can actually sit down and put their feet in my lap. I would never do this with someone else's....I'm just comfortable with mine. But I am ALWAYS aware that I may need to get out of the way...QUICK. It saves on my back. A scooty chair or stool with wheels works good. My real trimmer uses one.



picture of my nippers...http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2db9bh4&s=3



close up of different heads...http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=ng4opl&s=3

Answer 6

I had the exact same problem as you do. No one wants to come out for just one horse. There doesn't seem to be the same ethics re: farrier work as there is with veterinary services.



I ended up finding a natural hoof trimmer who is reliable. All of the "traditional" farriers were rough, rude, and undependable.



My new guy is teaching me how to do a natural trim. I know there are books and DVDs available.



The main thing is leaving the sole alone, and rounding the toe. My pony's hooves have never been better.



See if you can't find a natural trimmer who would be willing to teach you for a fee if they couldn't take you on as a regular client.



Best of luck. I know it is infuriating and frustrating.

Answer 7

Actually, it takes as much knowledge to trim a horse correctly.than it does to shoe one. You will learn with a few more years of horse ownership that farriers are an independent breed, yes, that's what I said...they CAN be because they do a BACKBREAKING job and live a lifetime to acquire the knowledge to do the job right. Count yourself lucky that your's will call you in advance, so that you can have your horse caught, haltered and the ice tea or water ready when he arrives....they are special, the farriers, treat them that way...and don't think that you are going to EVER learn what they know, just trimming your horse's feet, you won't...but, on the other hand, you can RUIN your horse if you don't know what you are doing.

Answer 8

Bugger the farriers, you try yourself. Read books, observe if you can, get some one to teach you or do night school. Mayby you can do all the horses in your area. I think your onto something here. By the way I love my farrier, i finally found one that is realiable, sweet, punctual and a horse massage therapist as well.! Only took me 10 yrs to find.!

Answer 9

It isnt hard but some horses need differnt angles. If he comes an gets them trimed correctly you can keep them rounded off with a rasp. I did that with my one gelding b.c his feet grew so fast.



Id get some help from somone who knows more about it or ask your farrier to show you next time he comes. But i would still have him come out once in awhile to make sure their hooves are okay.

Answer 10

i have no problems trimming my horses hooves. im 16 my mom trimmed her horses hooves in HS. and i farrier stopped coming because my horse get a Canadian winter coat even though he (for the last five years OR MORE) has been in central Texas!



i just cut the outside hoof wall and rasp it down flush all the way across but my horse is a very patient older horse- so idk if it helps! :) good luck!

Answer 11

It depends on your horse. If you want to learn to trim, get a master farrier to let you ride along in his truck for a while and learn from him. No hoof, no horse- you could do it yourself by guessing and measuring angles for months and then do one little thing wrong and lame your horse. The consequences of a bad trim are bad enough it's worth taking a lot of time to learn.



Secondly, if you have any back or pelvis problems, avoid learning to trim unless you absolutely have to. It is very hard on the body.

Answer 12

get another farrier. It is a good idea to learn how to trim your horses hooves. I would hav a professional teach you...you will learn with practice in no time!

Answer 13

It is really hard because if you trim too short then your horse will be lame for at leat 2 weeks. Also, you could give your horse an absess. If you take classes and buy the right euipment then you could do it I bet. Just LEARN first, do not try first.

Answer 14

I'd like to do that too !

I think there's a 2 day course for it but I don't know the details I'm afraid.

Getting a farrier to teach you seems like a good idea ( and would probably be cheaper than taking the course)

Answer 15

See if you can find a farrier who will let you apprentice with him during your days off. You'll learn. Keep Motrin on hand for the evenings/days.

Answer 16

You can learn anything you want to learn if you have the patience, strength & the nerve. You must also be willing to sacrifice the time, effort, energy & pay the expense for the education that is required. The school is about a year...it's not a quicky class. How badly do you want this?

Answer 17

http://class.universalclass.com/chash/h/o/r/horseshoeing.htm?d=nc&surl=http%3A%2F%2Fclass%2Euniversalclass%2Ecom%2Fsecure%2F269%2F11773%2Findex%2Ehtm%3F



Try this online school it's reasonably priced and will teach you the basics of what you will want and need to know! I took the class stricktly for infomational purposes I still use a farrier but at least now I can talk to him intelligently and understand his terminknowlegy If you want to do your own horses go for it! Please be careful.



Good Luck

Answer 18

No it is not that hard. Black Bunny gave you a great link. I do mine sometimes. I think you should have someone show you how. Learn & read everything you can, Good luck!!

Answer 19

I've learned on my own, plus getting a few old timers to give me a few pionters

Answer 20

Practice!! Ask your farrier!

Answer 21

Well if your new to horses you really need to give yourself a nice reality check. If your not completely comfortable around the horses this is not going to be the right thing to get into. Its takes skill to do it i've been working with horses and training for about 11 years and am now just going to school for a year program. If you have proper care for the feet they shouldn't crack think about going to school for it not just learning off someone it will pay in the long run.

Answer 22

If you can't find someone or take classes to teach you correctly don't do it yourself.

Answer 23

Harder.