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Hope's Horseshoeing

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United States
Abilene, KS
Hope's Horseshoeing

Certified professional Farrier. 2015 Graduate of Oklahoma Horseshoeing School.

05/29/2024

I know this is a battle every summer, but here are a couple of friendly reminders to keep our equine friends happy and healthy!
Vaccinations: I personally like to see horses vaccinated every spring. Mosquitos can host life threatening diseases, and the stomping of flies can lead to lacerations or accidental injury which is possible exposure for tetanus. One simple vaccine can go a long way!
Fly spray: As a farrier I can not stress this enough. It’s extremely frustrating to try and trim or shoe a horse that can’t stand still because the flies are biting them. I know fly spray doesn’t get rid of them all but it does help! There are also some other great products out there such as fly wraps that can help keep your animals comfortable while in the pasture.

05/22/2024

These beauties were my project on Tuesday🩷

Such a fun challenge as these ladies are definitely the biggest kids on my books, but they are an excellent representation of how horses should behave for the farrier.

Drafts are where my story begins. As a little one following my grandpa Shackleton to the barn so I could hang out with the big horses. Belgians were my first exposure to horses and I guess they got me hooked. So drafts definitely hold a special place for me.

05/04/2024

With rain finally here, and heat soon to follow I have been seeing plenty of Thrush already. Here a few things you need to know about Thrush.

Thrush is a bacterial infection that resides in the bottom of the horses foot. Usually found in the valleys beside the frog and trapped in any creases and crevices where mud, dirt, manure and such get packed as the horse walks. It can be seen as a black grungy substance and has its own special smell.

Most cases of Thrush are nothing to freak out about, but should be treated as the infection can spread to the white line and sensitive tissue of the horses foot. This can even cause the horse discomfort.

For the treatment of Thrush I recommend the product below! It’s easy to apply, works fast, and you don’t have to use much if paired with proper hoof care. There are other options out there so if you have questions ask me, your personal farrier, or your veterinarian for suggestions.

The BEST thing to do when it comes to Thrush is avoid it!
Three tips to do that are:

1. Pick out your horses feet! Daily if you can. I know we all get busy, but especially if your horse is in a dirty paddock It is extremely important to pick out their feet regularly.
2. Maintain a proper trimming/shoeing schedule. One of the reasons mud and debris gets caught and stuck in your horses feet is because they have overgrowth that prevents their body from being able to use its natural self cleaning hoof. Horses are designed to (in simple terms) basically clean out their own hooves with their steps; if there is a lot of overgrowth their feet can not do this and makes a great place for thrush to grow.
3. Keep tidy living quarters for your horse. I know we can’t control the weather, but we can control where our horses are at. If it’s really muddy in one paddock, move them to a different one or a dry stall. Keeping manure cleaned up and disposed of is also important to keep bacteria out of our horses feet.

I hope this helps!

05/01/2024

“April Showers bring May flowers!”

You know what else it brings???

Green grass, mud, and reschedules!

If your horses need done, please let me know sooner than later. This is busy season, and more often than not I can not accommodate the last minute trims and shoes. I will do my very best, but giving me as much notice as possible ensures that I can get your animals ready for all their spring shenanigans 🙂

I hope everyone is having a great spring so far and if you need anything for your equine friends give me a shout!

09/26/2023

***Anyone who owns large animals***
Most days I can say that I love my job! I have days where I have a horse step on my toe, or gets cranky with me. Leaves me with a bruise or scratch. But days like today I hate my job. This is the kind of break that goes directly to your heart💔
I want to be able to fix them all. I want to be able to say that I can reverse age, arthritis or a dropped P3. I want to say that if I just have a little more time or a little more money I can save your beloved 1000 pound baby. But I can’t…. I am not God. And it can be so incredibly frustrating, especially if we know it’s something that could have been prevented. We lay awake at night wondering if we tried something different if we could see improvement; we call every knowledgeable person we know, we find every article, dig out every old textbook we have searching for something else to try. Willing to spend our own funds for any last-ditch effort that could possibly make a difference. And yet… we still can’t save them.

One thing I want to say to large animal owners is, KNOW YOUR PET! This might seem like a stupid thing to say. “Of course I know my equine friend, they are mine”. Do you notice if your horse stops eating? Do you notice if they stop drinking? Do you know the vitamins and minerals that they need and are they getting them in their diet? Do you know your animals normal gait so well that even if they are slightly off you can tell? Can you differentiate between a happy winny and a distressed winny? Know these things!!!! Even a couple hours can make all the difference in lengthening the life of your pet, or preventing irreversible issues. Don’t wait to call a professional📞!!! Call them! Call your Vet, call your farrier. Call someone who you trust to be educated and help you make a good decision. When it comes to the well-being of your animal, I can honestly say I probably want them to be healthy even more than you do. Not because it’s my job, but because it’s my passion. Animals need someone to be their voice even when no one wants to hear it. I am willing to be that voice even if you don’t want to hear it. I will do everything I can, I will consult with your vet, I will get second oppinions, and if there is nothing else to be done; I will be right there choking back tears because I have to to be strong knowing that this is the best thing for the animal to finally gallop across that rainbow bridge🌈.
So PLEASE!!! Know your horse!! Do your research! Get in touch with professionals that can help you care and maintain them properly. It might sound expensive, but trust me, it’s WAY cheaper than trying to save one from neglect. Don’t board your animal somewhere you don’t trust, buy feed from reputable dealers, check your hay before purchase. I think y’all get the picture at this point, so I’ll quit rambling on.

Let’s keep our equine friends happy and healthy🐴 for as long as we are blessed with their presence! Thankful everyday I get to look at this beauty!!!

08/03/2023

I am at CKFF this week! If anyone needs anything feel free to call or leave me a message but I am not making any farm calls this week.

07/15/2023

Upcoming show??? We all know this happens😂

07/11/2023

🥳 Good News! It's and our favorite week to celebrate what makes those in our profession so outstanding!

To the AFA, Farriers Week is no ordinary week. It's a time to reflect on the dedicated and passionate men and women in our profession.

Whether you are just starting out, in school, working as an apprentice, studying for certification, newly certified, or a veteran, we respect you and we honor you for what you do for equine welfare, horse owners, and the industry as a whole. 🙌

✅ Long days
✅ Long nights
✅ Sacrifice
✅ Determination
✅ Commitment
✅ Passion

We see it. And we're proud of you.

07/06/2023

Been busy but had to post about the great improvement this trim gave this pony. Consistency is key🔑

06/20/2023

I am back from my vacation!!
Bear with me as I get my schedule caught up but don’t hesitate to give me a call if you need something.
I will do my best to get everything done!

06/12/2023

Let’s not wait until we have to trim this much on the first run🫣
Best schedule to keep your horses on is every 6-8 weeks ESPECIALLY if you want a pretty finish. Maybe your horses don’t need done that often (and that’s ok) but if this is the result when you wait longer, you have waited WAY TOO LONG!

06/08/2023

She’s making a face at her new kicks😂
Somewhat of an experiment for a recent lameness issue. Just trying to keep her more comfortable while on stall rest

05/26/2023

Remember to keep that fly spray on hand!!
It can make all the difference in your horses behavior when you need them to stand tied (or for the farrier😏)

05/01/2023

Friendly Reminder!!!
With the warmer temperatures and show season coming please get your horses scheduled sooner than later! Busy time is coming for all of us and last minute appointments will be much harder to accommodate!

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Abilene, KS

Telephone

7153084272

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Videos

This pony’s feet were is really bad shape because of a neglect situation. Even though now it is getting the utmost of care, she may never have normal feet again. Have your pony’s trimmed regularly to prevent this!!! #ponysarehorsestoo