Gentle Hoof

30/08/2024

No more bugs 😎

01/08/2024

I’m off Aug 2nd to Aug 12th. Some much needed time off. Not available Aug 17/18th for out of town celebration of life 🩷

17/07/2024

Still got some hay for sale. $10 a bale picked out of the field. By Blackie.

11/07/2024

Why farriers and dogs do not mix.....

I love all the creatures I get to meet at work. But when I'm under a horse, your dogs are not welcome.

Having dogs underfoot is a safety issue for farriers.

Dogs can spook a horse, get stepped on, get your farrier kicked, and are generally a nuisance while you're working. Some horses don't like dogs and will accidentally injure you trying to get a dog out of their space.

I've had dogs trip me, attack my dog, fight with each other under the horse for trimmings, scratch up my brand new car paint, p*e on my tools, scare the horse I'm working on, and make an appt take double the time because I'm shooing them from my work space or rescuing them from potentially getting hurt.

The worst part is when owners laugh, ignore their dogs behavior, or tell me how to keep their dogs away. That's not my job. They're your dogs, you handle them. Even worse is when the owner says, "oh it's good for them, if they get kicked, then they'll learn." I'm here to do my job, not train your dogs or risk my or the horse's safety.

Are there exceptions? 100%. I have clients with well behaved dogs that are welcome to join us. My dog is often with me at work in the cooler months. But she's not allowed to be a problem and if she is, she goes back in the car.

Other reasons to put your dog away:
1. Glue, DIM, some thrush treatments, and other farrier materials are toxic to dogs.
2. Some wall clippings could still have nail parts in them.
3. Hoof wall bits have sharp edges and can puncture your dogs intestines - I've confirmed this with vets.
4. Some horses are less tolerant than others and could kill your dog.
5. Because your farrier deserves a safe workspace.

PS just in case it's not clear, I LOVE dogs, I love petting them and giving them treats, and I love meeting your new puppies!! Just not while I'm actively trimming. Some of my favorite dogs (don't tell Quinn) are clients! COUGH COUGH Freya Bijou and Lou 💗

08/07/2024

The field is cut! Will be baling shortly.
Pick up out of the field for a great price!
Timothy with approximately 30% alfalfa. Located a few minutes south of Blackie.
Estimate 600 bales maybe more.

29/06/2024

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a farrier? Or maybe just how many times your farrier was p**ped on that morning before shaking your hand? Maybe you have thought to yourself “what’s that smell?” or “what is that green thing stuck to his ear?” or even “The dogs sure love them, I wonder what hoof trimmings taste like?” If 12 years of standing at the anvil have taught me anything it’s that the answer to such mysteries (at least the ones that can be answered in a few words) are: a lot of p**p; also p**p; and salted p**p…

As for what it’s like to be a farrier, let me try to explain. This job is not for the faint of heart or the mentally stable. You can’t be sane (or hope to stay that way long) if you wish to work with equestrians. You have to be insane to participate or work in a full-contact sport that lays under the line where rugby meets motor-cross and your only bit of protection is a hat made of the same material as a disposable coffee cup. Seriously, aside from crash test dummy, what other sport or job exists where someone can suffer massive blunt force trauma and is expected to get right back up and repeat whatever activity just about killed them a moment ago? “Horse or hospital!” is an expression I have heard more than once both as a horse rider and as a farrier (moving target) apprentice.

The ability to withstand impact aside, this is a job that requires the same attention to detail as an artist, the skill and steady hand of a surgeon, the patience of a saint, and the endurance/pain tolerance of a Navy Seal. For those who have never seen a farrier practice their trade and wants to walk in their shoes, try to imagine you are working in a stiflingly hot building, bent over and holding a 2×4 between your knees. On one end of the 2×4 is a small platform you are attempting to perform incredibly detailed work on. This table is incredibly valuable and the slightest mistake could cause it to explode; most of the tools you are given to work with are crude, bulky, and (like the table) also incredibly expensive considering they were invented sometime in the 14th century. While you are standing in this pizza oven from hell you will have to light a fire, which you will use to heat up your art work. Sometimes this art work will set you on fire.

Meanwhile the Hulk is tugging on the other end of that 2×4, occasionally ripping it away from you and dragging small knife blades that are sticking out of this table through your hands and legs. Side note: Friction tape will become your new best friend as it makes holding on to the rusty and poo crusted tools (which are now covered in your own blood) much easier! From time to time the Hulk might let you have the 2×4, but he is going to sit on you while you toil away on your art project. Now, as you fuss over details and panic every few moments that the speck of blood you just saw might not be yours (and are incredibly relieved when it is,) imagine there is a bucket of excrement sitting above your head, which at any moment may tip over on you without warning. Depending on the time of year, that bucket of poo may be switched for a bucket of spit. (Ah, clover…) And I mean more spit than you might think any earthly critter would have the capacity to produce. You will also sweat so much you will drink two gallons of water by the end of the day and not need to p*e once. For this reason you will never leave the house with no less than nine extra shirts and just as many towels.

To make your task even more impossible imagine that there is this invisible crazy man wildly running around your work area swinging Gallagher’s hammer. At any moment he might run up and smash you like one of Gallagher’s ill-fated watermelons. If you are unlucky enough to find yourself on his pedestal of doom that day, you are going to be faced with one of those moments when where most rational people might question your sanity. Since you can’t give up and call it a day with only three of the four 2x4s now complete (there is this very terrifying 5’4” 120lbs women who just body slammed a 1,300 pound Hanoverian into submission who would be very displeased if you did) you must trudge on despite the pain of what you are pretty sure is a broken leg and maybe a few pulverized ribs. It takes a special kind of stupid to keep working after the might of Thor’s hammer (a draft horse) knocks you through a barn wall. Fortunately you’re a farrier and you are just the kind of stupid needed to get back up and finish the job!

Now that you’re done with the first horse there are 12 more waiting…

29/06/2024

18/06/2024

So THAT'S how that happened 🤣🐴❤

18/06/2024

I love donkeys as y’all know. My friend client just said to me “Donkeys are smart. Old donkeys are brilliant.” Couldn’t agree more. Respect for all the donks! 🩷🩷🩷🩷

30/05/2024

RESPECT THE FARRIER!

No, I’m not talking to your horse, I’m talking to YOU.

Recently, I’ve seen posts empathizing with horses who struggle with the farrier, and holding farriers accountable, but I didn’t see any empathizing with farriers, and holding us owners and trainers accountable, so here I am.

I also trimmed today, so I’m feelin’ it.

Sure, I’ve seen the typical posts that talk about disrespectful horses, but I think it’s high time to stop deflecting and blaming our horses for what is actually OUR disrespect and lack of responsibility.

We don’t just have a responsibility to our horses, but to our farriers.

I made a living trimming professionally for about a dozen years, I blew my shoulders out on it, got burned out on it, I know how demanding it is, so I’m a stickler for being appreciative of our farriers and setting them up for success.

If things don’t go well, we don’t get to blame our farrier for what is OUR lack of preparation.

Blaming our ‘disrespectful’ horses is pretty lame as well, no pun intended.

Trimming is physically hard work, it’s dangerous work, and it’s technical work.

First of all, we don’t get to complain about the quality of work if our horses can’t stand still.

Second, our farrier has every right to get firm or use restraints if they are concerned for their safety and we insist they continue.

If we aren’t comfortable with that, yes, we do have EVERY right to stop the session at ANY time and reschedule, but our farrier should be compensated for the missed appointment, and it will be our responsibility to prepare our horse for the next appointment, whether we do it ourselves, or pay a trainer, or plan on sedation, or schedule enough time for our farrier to give breaks or train, IF they agree to that and will be compensated for their time.

We should always compensate our farrier a training fee if they do agree to train on our horse, or reschedule if they don’t have the time or inclination to do so.

We should not complain that our farrier just didn’t have enough patience with poor Fluffy.

It is OUR responsibility to prepare Fluffy to be patient and comfortable with the poor farrier.

We should not blame farrier impatience for what is actually frustration when we expect our farrier to train on our horse without compensation, or without their agreement when they don’t have the time or inclination.

If our horse needs to put their foot down more often than normal for some reason, and doesn’t have good duration, it’s our responsibility to make sure that can happen without our farrier getting torqued on, and compensate monetarily for that extended time.

It’s amazing how patient a farrier can be when they aren’t getting tossed around, and are actually getting compensated for overtime like any other professional.

Our horse’s bad joints are not an excuse to contribute to the deterioration of our farrier’s joints.
If we have an arthritic horse, we should visit with our vet about using some pain relief before the appointment, for the sake of both horse and professional.
If the horse simply needs trimmed with the foot lower, we might consider giving a tip; the farrier will probably need a masseuse, unless they’re fortunate enough to be as short as me.

Farriers love their job, they love our horses, or they wouldn’t be doing what they’re doing, but it’s really difficult for them to love their job and love our horses if we aren’t pulling our weight.

That means doing what is necessary to get our horses comfortable physically, and having them used to getting their feet picked up, handled, tapped on, rasped on, held between legs, with the same duration that will be expected by our farrier, BEFORE our farrier shows up.

But it isn’t always about foot handling.

If our horse can’t confidently and patiently stand on their own for the same duration that it takes to get their feet worked on, adding a stranger who’s asking them to do it on three legs isn’t going to improve the situation.

Our horses should be comfortable standing, whether it’s tied or with us holding them, for the same duration it takes to get their feet done; we can use a hay net to facilitate some patience and peace of mind initially.

Finally, we should never, EVER expect our farrier to put up with herd bound issues. If our horse can’t stand still, we should bring in a buddy so our farrier can do their job.
Separation anxiety should be addressed on our own time, not our farrier’s.

Being respectful of the hard work that a professional puts in not only physically, but intellectually, and skill-wise, doesn’t mean we have to get harder on our horses, it means we have to get harder on ourselves, and show a little more appreciation.

“A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected.”

15/05/2024

It’s ok Sweetie. I’m here now. I’ll show up for you 💔😭

15/05/2024

A satisfying before and after trim on a 29 year old pony.

08/05/2024

I wish 🙄

Guess what season it is??
Please and thank you in advance for soaking your horses’ DRY hooves before a trim session.
It makes life easier for us trimmers 🙌

04/05/2024

Your horse just sunk into the ground!

Things I never thought I’d say 😂

Horse is ok. Good thing she’s an old steady eddy.

30/03/2024

It’s just part of the love language right?? lol

I need this! 🙌😂

27/03/2024

You know you’re a farrier when…you’re doing your own manicure, you hold and use the nail file like a rasp 😂

24/03/2024

This is Nero. A client horse of mine. He’s looking for a new pasture.
19 year old Standardbred. Broke to ride.
Pm me for more info.

24/03/2024

These are my clients horses.