Took an old farrier's advice about hoof angle and it paid off

Old guy named Buck at the stockyard told me to quit guessing and use a protractor on every trim. First time I did it, a horse that was always short-strided moved like a different animal. Any other tips from the old timers that turned out to be gold?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_kevin1mo ago

Guy named Red at the auction barn told me to always check the water first before checking a horse's feet. Said a dry trough means a horse that's been standing too long and you'll get fooled on their gait. Never steered me wrong since.

willow2441mo ago

You ever notice how the old guys never waste words? They just say something once and you figure out later they were right. Buck sounds like that. I had a farrier tell me to look at the horse's feet after a rain, not when they're dry. Said you see the true shape of the hoof when it's wet. He was spot on. The water check thing too - makes total sense. A horse that's been standing still for a while in dry weather is gonna move different than one that's been worked.