It's About The Horse

PasoBaby_CarolU · Site Admin Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 9038

That's a good point Chris...you'll never outlast a big horse, that's why I thought a hoof jack might help her.

Something else that might help is I make my horses hold their own feet up. I started this because my horses are small and they would get hurt by the farrier hoisting their back leg up so high. Most farriers react to the horse pulling by lifting the foot even higher and holding it there!

I experimented with them and found that if I let them find the position that was comfortable for them to hold it themselves, I actually have both hands free to work on the foot. Much easier on my back too. I have my farrier do this and have no more problems with my little mares fussing with him.
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Carol Nudell
Corazon de Oro Paso Finos

"The path to your horse's heart lies through your own."

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thelmanelle · Member Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 3253

I have been looking at hoof jack and wondered if anyone else had a opinion about it? It looks well made and easy to use and comfortable for the draft. It does not hold the rasps ,etc. due to the width of the base. Plus, some don't like it's width, but I am thinking for drafts just have the stand to make it easier and help with handing the rasp, etc.

Not cheap, but neither are the stocks and I want to keep my farrier!

One gentleman tells me his farrier has a special stand that the drafts like and he would take a picture of it for me. He says the entire hoof rests on it. I keep wondering if it is the hoof jack.
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cokey · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:49 am Post subject:

I'd love a hoof jack

And they do hold rasps - they've got a big round magnet on them.
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Clarissa · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:54 am Post subject:

A tip I was given which does seem to work on the hind legs is as follows:-
Run hand down hamstring (back of rump) to the hock & squeeze point of hock a la PNH to lift leg.

As horse lifts leg it will be tight so gently massage (by running your hand down the muscle slightly on the inside of the back of the leg) back & inside of hamstring with other hand whilst trying to hold loosely the pastern or whatever part of the hoof or lower leg you can hold, maybe just the cannon bone. Allow your hand to go with the horse’s foot. So if the horse draws it’s foot forward gently allow that without letting go then as your stroking of the hamstring relaxes the leg it will drop a bit & can be brought back to you & you can draw it out behind the horse a bit. Never force it further back or higher than the horse is willing to give or the horse will tighten again & draw the leg forward or kick your hand away.

The thing I learned many years ago is to never lift the leg more than the horse feels comfortable with. It seems to me that young horses or foals get almost tipped off their feet by over zealous handlers wrenching the leg way up in the air like they are about to shoe it. I still have to work really low on Cassie who flatly refuses to have her back leg raised higher than her hock. As I lift her back leg she draws it forward tightly then does an auto-response backward kick then releases the leg to me. I have never been able to work her through that or make it any better. Actually that is a huge improvement on her previous habit of wrenching it away & running away.

That behavior just seemed to start out of the blue. I imprinted her & during her first 6days of life I taught her the 7games until I could do them with just a string around her neck like Pat did with his foals running through the obstacle course. I also taught her to pick up all feet which she did in a very kindly fashion. Then she was left to get on with life for a while but as a 2yo she decided she didn’t want to give her feet anymore & this habit emerged. She is not the type of horse to be trained out or into of something. I can show her by doing the thing with other horses & she watches intently, then when she is ready she will make the change & demonstrate her newfound knowledge to me. So far she hasn’t made the change regarding her back feet although she is perfect with her front feet.

So each horse is different & various things work for different horses. Force never works.
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becdubie · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:10 pm Post subject:

I have the h oof jack and love it. they have a pony size that I'm thinking of getting...even on it's lowest setting, it seems too high for Rusty in the back. He is a big horse 16 Hands but quite stiff with his hind legs...he clicks when he walks

Thanks for all the tips...I'll start working on Ollie over the next few weeks so that when he is ready for a trim it won't be such a PIA.

Carol...reading your post obout click treat....I realize I do use clicker training, but like you, I use "Good Boy" as my click. Rusty and Bubba respond well to treat training...but they are both introverted. Ollie....now Ollie just wants more treats......so his treat will have to be a scratch or someting I guess.
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There is more than one right way!

Gillies_mom · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject:

I trim a shire horse, who can be awkward at times. For him, he's been extremely happy with the hoof jack cradle for trimming the hinds, but for some reason won't keep his front hoof on it. So we use the jack at the rear and normal holding up front. He'll put his front upwards onto the jack for finishing, but not the rears! He's a riddle wrapped up in an enigma, but once I learnt his trimming rules, we got along fine, at his size I'm not arguing. All his previous farriers, gave up on him as they were trying to fight him instead of finding what worked.
Couldn't have managed without the hoof jack, I'm small, female and not too strong.
Someone who learnt to trim with my instructor had a set of stocks, they got trashed when a horse which was normally OK freaked out one day.

thelmanelle · Member Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 3253

All this is great information. Thank you!

One more question on the hoof jack, the draft horse size is what I'd be looking at as a possibility. I will still waterseal and build the stocks.

Maybe, practice some can we walk through this or not? Then, just decide whether they are usable or maybe the best bet for the farrier is the hoof jack.

Dolly extends both fronts, so she is probably the hardest with her front hooves.

Thanks for such great advice and tips.
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A Good Apple Pie. II Corinthians 4:16-18

thelmanelle · Member Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 3253