The Castle Rock MARE-TERNITY WARD
Message Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Chanda on July 03, 2016, 11:02:39 PM
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Anyone else trim their own minis?
I've had to trim them myself the last 4 years, since the last decent farrier left. Previously, I had done a bit of supervised trimming and such, but until I was without a farrier I hadn't done it exclusively. Did a lot of watching over the previous 20 years, a few trims here and there with the saddle horses; but have found around here that most of the farriers can't trim a mini to save their soul; they leave them unbalanced and wonky and charged $40/head to do it, I can do that good of job for free. [After the last good farrier left, I did try a couple other farriers, and they were fine with the saddle horses, but what a crap job they did on the minis.] I know I still have more to learn, and have a couple horses with minor issues, but we are getting there.
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I had a great farrier for a long time, who then moved away. He was a godsend when I had 45 of them here, and it took him 2-3 days to get every one done. But he left every one in perfect condition, and even did the babies each time he came, so they would get used to it.
When I sold off most of my stock because of the "crash", he moved away, and I couldn't find anyone who would even come for just a few horses, and the two that did were horrid. So, yes, I trimmed my own, but, honestly, never enjoyed doing it. Couldn't understand how anyone would make it their full time job! The heat was horrid to work in here in Florida, and I found my hands were not strong enough to do more than 2 a day and do a good job. But, eventually, I got good results. But trimming never became my forte, or very enjoyable.
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I've always done my saddle horses myself( i agree never enjoyed it!) I tried to do sugars when I got her and she FREAKED. I called in the farrier and it even took him like an hour to get it done. Said that he doesn't think she'd ever been trimmed abd that hers were just warn good. I've been working really hard with her hooves so she gets more comfortable with it. Let's me do all the rasp work now without panicking so hopefully I can do hers myself one day too. But OH MY does that hurt my back more than the saddle horses haha even working with syrup with haltering and leading I'm like oh man the bending right over because they're tiny haha
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It definitely takes finesse to do their hooves. Pretty much impossible to put their leg between yours, so you have to hold it and nip one handed. Glad I only have one tiny, 2 medium and the rest tall mini.
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I wish I still had the pics of the "stand" that the folks built when they leased our stallion. They could sit on a high stool type seat and comfortably trim the little horses.
The only way to describe it is like a goat milking "stanchion". It had a ramp on the back, then they closed a gate to keep horse from backing back down. Then could cross tie them in it or straight tie - there was a gate in front of them as well. There had to have been a ramp on the front as well - but I don't remember it... Our stallion, at 45" tall, was the largest one they used it for - most of their shetlands were in the 38 - 40" range in height.
It was built out of 4x4s & 2x4s.
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That sounds like a great thing. I think I should have tried to build something like that years ago. Don't know why I never thought of it.
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I tried building a stand, but as it was all wood, the rails in a safe place for the horses got in the way of trimming the hooves, plus I think I built it too tall. I use it for storage now; I stack shavings bags on it, garbage gets put on it (tall enough to keep the dogs out), feed the cats on it (tall enough to keep skunks away). The ramp I had built has been torn apart and the lumber repurposed. I'll see if I can find a picture. Closest I could find was a front corner with Jasper tied to it, worked great to tie to on the ground for other stuff.
Trimmed two horses today. Got Topper done, his hooves are easy in that they are normal and have a great shape, he's not easy as he's a bit nervous about it (better for me than he was for the farrier). Got Bonny done, we've been battling white line or seedy toe or something of that nature for a couple years; just when I think we have it licked it moves to a new hoof, but I think we are finally about there and almost looking normal again.
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Id love to do my own, cause its quite expensive and i generally have to book well in advance.
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Id love to do my own, cause its quite expensive and i generally have to book well in advance.
I do it out of necessity. I can find someone to do the saddle horses, thank goodness, cause I can't get through their hooves; but I can't find anyone that can trim minis decently, they leave them cock-eyed and unbalanced... I can do that for free (I'm better than that).
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Ive only one large horse, but only two farriers i trust and unfortunately noon else at my livery yard uses them because they go for the cheapr one, who has cripppled many a horse (including the ones on the yard....but money always talks)
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Ive only one large horse, but only two farriers i trust and unfortunately noon else at my livery yard uses them because they go for the cheapr one, who has cripppled many a horse (including the ones on the yard....but money always talks)
Unfortunately, that is often the case. In one regard, I'm lucky I live so far out, those cheap ass horseshoers don't like to drive this far for their meager fees. [The guy I do have trim the saddle horses is decent, but as they are just pasture puffs, it's not as imperative they be perfect.]
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Whew! Trimmed the saddle horses yesterday, I'm broke at the moment, so did it myself, and they are pretty chipped up, so not a whole lot to trim right now (I just trimmed up the flares, so not a pretty job, but an effective job).
Trimmed Dolly today, she's getting worse about her hooves, if that's possible, she's always been a stinker, but it's getting worse. I think before her next due date, I'll get a tube of Dormosedan Gel and give that a try and see if it helps her behave better. Took me nearly 2 hours to trim her because she was being such a stinker; usually I can do a horse in about half an hour. She basically throws a temper tantrum, and they are getting worse. She does have one bad foot, one heel rolls under, I'm trying to get it under control and back to normal, but it's about impossible when she acts like such a sh... Will talk to both vets and see which one is more willing to prescribe without seeing her first; both have seen her previously, so probably the one that saw her this year for vaccination will be more likely. Stink pot.
Three more to trim in the next week or so, that need frequent trims; and three that need their normal cycle trims.
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When my son cant do my ponies I do them myself. My son isnt a farrier but was trained by the best one I ever had, sadly he is gone now. I am by no means an expert but I feel they are better than some of the farriers around.
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When my son cant do my ponies I do them myself. My son isnt a farrier but was trained by the best one I ever had, sadly he is gone now. I am by no means an expert but I feel they are better than some of the farriers around.
I've been doing my own for the last 4 years, the last competent farrier moved away, and while I can find someone to do the saddle horses decently, I haven't been able to find someone that can do a decent job on the minis, they've left them crooked, unbalanced, high heeled, long toed, etc, well, I can do better than that and it doesn't cost me $40. I do have someone do my saddle horses, cause I have a hard time getting then nippers through their tough hooves. It might take me longer to make corrections when needed, but at least I don't leave them worse off than when I started.
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When I lost my best ever farrier, about a year before I sold most of my horses because of the "crash", I was trying to do my own, but sadly couldn't do more than a couple at a time. I could never do the job of my farrier, and tried to get a couple to come do mine, but they were worse that I was at doing them. Very sad. Balancing a mini is not like doing the quarter horses around here, and could never get anyone to do a really good job.
Great farriers are sooooo hard to come by. KUDOS to those that do their own -- I discovered I was really too old to do all that "hand" work, and with a couple their hooves were so hard, I had to enlist one of my sons to help -- and he was NO pleasure to work with. Hated the horses and hated being asked to help with them. LOL
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I have thought about trying to do my own as it costs me a small fortune come farrier day. My two Tbs are trimmed every 4 weeks and the minis are done every second visit.
I would be too worried Id trim them back to far and would lead to problems, so I would rather let the expert do mine. I live very much in "Suburbia" so getting my farrier here is not problem and there isn't a shortage a farriers around.
If I lived far out , Im sure Id be inclined to do my own, id charge myself a lot less , thats for sure :)
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I have thought about trying to do my own as it costs me a small fortune come farrier day. My two Tbs are trimmed every 4 weeks and the minis are done every second visit.
I would be too worried Id trim them back to far and would lead to problems, so I would rather let the expert do mine. I live very much in "Suburbia" so getting my farrier here is not problem and there isn't a shortage a farriers around.
If I lived far out , Im sure Id be inclined to do my own, id charge myself a lot less , thats for sure :)
If I could find a farrier that would come out here, that could trim his way out of a paper bag, I'd be happy to pay. And, pay I did with that last good farrier that left 4 years ago. He came every 4 weeks (one mare needed 4 week trims, the rest were good on 8), did a minimum of 4 horses (charged for 4 regardless, but as I have plenty, it's easy to rotate 4 through the cycle). He also did a little chiropractic work (very good at it) and dental (not so good, at least not on the minis, only ever did one and he still needed to see the dentist in a few months time).
I learned a lot while that good farrier was here, plus about 20 years of watching before that with occasional trims myself due to circumstance; but I didn't start trimming on a regular basis til after he left and I had no choice.
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When I lost my best ever farrier, about a year before I sold most of my horses because of the "crash", I was trying to do my own, but sadly couldn't do more than a couple at a time. I could never do the job of my farrier, and tried to get a couple to come do mine, but they were worse that I was at doing them. Very sad. Balancing a mini is not like doing the quarter horses around here, and could never get anyone to do a really good job.
I typically only do 1-3 per day, depending on which horses and the schedule, more than that and I'm shot. My only other choice is to not have them, so I suck it up and trim myself. 30 years with horses, 20 watching before I ever trimmed my own, trims here and there when scheduling wasn't working; and doing it myself for the minis the last 4 years.
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I usually work on one a day... Precious hooves are out of whack so those need the most attention. legacy is next!
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Four done today.
Did Showy this morning, her hooves are a wreck, but I think I might be getting them back towards normal.
Did Che`, Baybe and Tilly this afternoon; all were quite well behaved.
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I wish I had nippers that were easier to hold. I have the most trouble maneuvering the long handles.
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I know this is about trimming hooves, and Frank Lupton, who is quite recognized for his work with AMHA, the breeding and showing of miniature for many decades, and his work as a farrier, wrote a fabulous article on trimming miniatures. I was sneaking around and noticed this on the old website, but it is an open article to the public, so thought I would post it here for everyone. It is "right on" as far as balancing a miniature for good movement.
https://www.americanfarriers.com/articles/879-trimming-minis-is-no-small-deal
I can't post, but I have managed to find a way to "see"
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So glad you posted this article. I am currently working the high heel issue down on Precious. I've only had one farrier here drop the heels on minis.
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The article was posted on a couple of the mini groups on FB, too.
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I wish I had nippers that were easier to hold. I have the most trouble maneuvering the long handles.
I have a set of 10" nippers that I'm not sure where I got them, they aren't nail nippers like some use, but actual shorter hoof nippers; these work well for my normal minis and I don't have too much trouble with the handles.
And, I have a pair of 12" Diamond nippers, F-12 is on them if I remember correctly; these are a bit more awkward to hold/use, but work better for the saddle horses when I do them, and the minis with problem hooves.
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Finally had good enough weather to catch up the last of my December trims, so the geldings and Spotty got trims today. Spotty was quite good for how little he's been handled.
Will get to Baybe, Che` and Tilly tomorrow, they are 10 days over due. And, then a couple girls the day after that. Then, I'll be caught up except for the saddle horses; which I may have to do myself if the farrier doesn't return my call.
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Here's praying he returns your call, it's so cold, and those hooves are so hard compared to the little ones -- although I did have a couple here that I could barely nip through.
Just for your comfort, I'm hoping he returns your call and gets out there to do it for you.
~~Diane
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Here's praying he returns your call, it's so cold, and those hooves are so hard compared to the little ones -- although I did have a couple here that I could barely nip through.
Just for your comfort, I'm hoping he returns your call and gets out there to do it for you.
~~Diane
That would definitely be easier, although, he's only a part-time farrier, so by the time he's done with one horse he's really huffing and puffing (his real job is with the railroad).
Got Baybe, Tilly and Che` trimmed today. Can't really call Che`s a trim, and he just needed some rasping. He has the cutest little hooves.
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Your description of Che made me smile!
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Your description of Che made me smile!
He is my smallest and everything about him is just so cute. He's 31" tall, around 175# and looks like a horse in miniature to me, nothing "pony" like about him. [People always say there is a difference between pony build and horse build.]
First picture is my favorite of him, second is next to our cattle working tub (shows how small he is).
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I agree chanda , i also have a mini , my smallest 28" and he is very much "horse " to look at rather than pony characteristics.
Che is lovely , I really hope Baybe is carrying a foal from him :)
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I agree chanda , i also have a mini , my smallest 28" and he is very much "horse " to look at rather than pony characteristics.
Che is lovely , I really hope Baybe is carrying a foal from him :)
Thank you.
I hope so too. If Baybe comes up open from when I thought he covered her, I can still hand breed her this summer as planned, and hope for next year.
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Chanda - how many acres do you run? Do you own or lease? Just curious!
Che` is such a good looking little guy.
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Chanda - how many acres do you run? Do you own or lease? Just curious!
Che` is such a good looking little guy.
We run cattle, so there are plenty acres for the cows, but I have access to only around 2 acres for the minis, as the rest is fenced for cattle (barbed wire) and too far from the corrals for me to be comfortable using it for the minis with the coyotes around. I have let the geldings out in the bull's winter pasture during the summer when the bulls are on summer pasture with the cows, but it's like 20 acres so hard to get the minis back in from, so I prefer to keep them closer in smaller temporary pastures.
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I think I've finally gotten on top of Bonny's seedy toe or white line disease (which ever it is). I've chased it around all four hooves, some getting it worse than others. Just a couple small spots left to grow out. Finally.
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That's awesome and congratulations. I've seen some serious changes in all hooves with the wonky weather this past several years (maybe 5 yrs in total, just seems like the abnormal is becoming normal). The ones' we've had continuously since 2009 have been most noticeable.
Having an issue now with the "newest" mare (who is currently the 2nd oldest on our property). She is actually shedding her soles and w/ the sand packing into her hooves (normally considered a good thing w/ everyone else, but it literally mounds up like a tennis ball is strapped to the bottom of her hoof) she keeps going lame. Even our farrier is at a loss as to why it won't knock out on it's own - seems worse in the left fore than the right. When this sore, she doesn't move around as much as she should, which doesn't help. She has not had a bounding pulse or heat in hooves or in pasterns. We are also thinking she may be starting (or continuing?) changes that may be due to Cushings or other age related metabolic changes. We shall see. Will be having her tested, may be sooner rather than later.
Have seen a lot of changes on this new property & now, 2 months after all the wet, rainy weather with Hurricane Matthew we are seeing some more. Will be trimming the hooves on the boys in 2 weeks - they had a wetter pasture than some of the others as water flowed thru it...