Tuesday, June 19, 2012

My Barefoot Horse: If Wishes Were Hoof Stands (Advice Requested)

Harley is not impressed by the inedible hoof stand.

The Hoofjack has been long-listed on my wishlist for several years now.  The stand is expensive and not totally necessary, so lots of other things ranked above it on the "must buy" list.  Since I have not come into a large sum of money or won the lottery, how, you ask, did I come into hoof stand ownership?

By co-ownership! 

I own 1/3 of the stand!  That's right.  The barn owner, another boarder who grooms her horse's feet, and myself all chipped in and purchased the real thing.  Split into thirds, that cost is very doable.  My fellow boarder and I were vacillating over a cheaper version in a catalog, but were hesitant to risk using an imitation.  When the barn owner expressed interest in purchasing a stand, we cheered and jumped at the opportunity. 

The Hoofjack is very well-designed, durable, and safe.  The cradle and pillar are very easy to switch between and the height is adjustable.  Can you see the circular magnet on the side of the stand?  Those heave-duty magnets allow me to never put my rasp on the floor.  This is also nice, because I do not have to reach all the way to the ground to pick it up again either.

At first glance, this seems to be a hoof stand match made in barefoot-trimming-heaven.  The only problem is that there seems to be a learning curve involved with using the stand.  The first time that I attempted to use it, I completely gave up and put the stand aside.  When Harley's foot was resting in the cradle, it felt too wobbly as I tried to trim.  I tried pressing his foot into the stand to stabilize it, as I have seen on videos, but the results were not much better.  Harley also seemed less patient with the stand than he is with just me.  He pulled his foot out of it several times.  I found myself feeling kind of annoyed, because I did not want to have to train him to keep his foot in the stand.  It is unusual for me to balk at a training opportunity, but trimming is hard work and I felt an overwhelming need to "just get it done".  My perspective was that the stand was interfering with my work.

It appears that wishes are not without irony.

Since my first attempts, I have used the stand to finish his foot from the top with some success.  The stand is thousands of times better than using brute strength and my back for finishing off the mustang roll and shaving off any remaining flare at the quarters and back of the foot.  However, I am still playing around with the optimum height. 

When I do use the stand, Harley seems to want the stand set very low.  This is not a surprise since the previous stand that I used was, quite literally, my knee.  Actually, I find using my knee comfortable for my back when I am working on the bottom of the foot.  I can keep my back straight, by bending my other knee so that my shin is nearly parallel to the ground.  It is a squatting/kneeling position of sorts, which I have perfected over the past two years.  Now I fear that the stand will not be able to match this comfort or the secure feeling that I have cradling his foot between my hands and knee.

Any advice from those who successfully use and love their hoof stands?

Silly hoof stand.  Carrots are for horses.

16 comments:

  1. This is exactly why I only use my stand for drafts. To make it stable you have to keep at least one of your feet on the base of the stand at all times, sometimes both, which can make it hard to maneuver. Most trimmers I've seen only use the stands to finish the roll from the top.

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    1. That makes me feel better. Thanks, Shannon. Keeping a foot or two on the stand at all times would definitely be awkward. Harley's original trimmer rested his foot in the cradle while she trimmed, so I was trying to imitate this, but I wasn't getting very far.

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  2. Oh jealOUS!! I'm lusting after one...
    I still use my knee, or an upside down bucket which works as well as a bent D**k. ;)

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    1. You just need two or three hoof devotees to buy one with you! ;)

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  3. I have that one, after first getting the Hoof It stand. I thought I'd prefer it better, and I do slightly. We have enough horses, they were considered an investment- or so it was justified. For me, the HJ's cradle is a lot more usable, but slightly prefer the Hoof It's post. The HJ's post is a bit smaller and the hoof tends to be less secure if not careful. Raising the post a little higher worked, and I've thought of wrapping it with vetrap (if it really started bothering me). I don't seem to use the cradle much, but when working from the top, very grateful for having the stand.

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    1. Thanks for the tips, darkhorse.

      I was talking to a farrier yesterday and he had me raise the post higher, as you suggested. This was worlds better. My back is very happy about the post However, the cradle has not come out of the tack room for a couple trim cycles. At least I am feeling like I am not the only one who set it aside.

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  4. My farrier braces the leg between his squeezed together knees for bottom of the foot work. That is the posture I use too.

    The hoof stand comes out for the final rasping topside. (I however, use a chunk of piling.)

    Crazy thing - I priced hoof stands just yesterday as I ordered my new hoof knife and a groovy spring contraption that allows you to operate nippers with one hand. (!)

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    1. One-handed nippers sounds pretty cool. You are going to have to write about that one for us!

      Those stands are crazy expensive, right?

      I can't seem to get the leg hold right, either. I do not know if it is because I am too small, too weak, or just a wimp, but it really hurts my legs. Not muscular pain. The foot pressing into my thigh hurts. I keep trying it though, because it makes me look like a real farrier. ;)

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  5. Val, what a great post! I finally got my Hoof It stand a year ago and it has made such a huge difference! My horse has trouble holding up his legs so it has really helped. I know what you mean about having to experiment and learn how to use it best. I'm still learning too.

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    1. Thank you, lytha!

      I hope to continue to learn as well. :)

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  6. I wish I had a solution. I just wanted to say woo hoo for getting something you had an eye on and then bummer since it wasn't quite what you were hoping for. I hate it when that happens.

    With more practice you'll no doubt find how it best suits your needs. Farriers have an advantage because they get to try it all day long on all sorts of different horses. It's not like you can trim Harley's feet for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week! Good luck. :0)

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    1. This is true, and I am certainly glad that I do not have to do that much trimming. I think my arms would fall off! ;)

      I am still happy to have the stand. It will be very helpful even if I only use if for the top of the foot.

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  7. From a farrier: Hoof stands are good and bad. Some people love ones, others they hate. It comes down to personal preference. Each stand takes what seems like YEARS to figure out how to use more efficiently, especially if you work on all sorts of horses like I do.

    The cradle is nice for a few things but I very rarely ever use it on a daily basis. I puff my chest up and put my big girl pants on because I am a working farrier. I wouldn't be caught dead using the cradle every day. However I do use it for instances such as a very old arthritic horse trying to lay on me, an injured leg that's unable to be held between my legs, etc.

    Horses have to be taught to put their feet up on stands so don't get discouraged. Some want to take their foot back. Some are truly uncomfortable but most are just jacking around. One foot should be on the stand at all times, sometimes two feet depending on what stand you have. I keep one behind the hoof on the stand and the other on the edge/front/back of the stand depending on what stand I am using.

    My favorite stand? One I made and welded myself. Cost me a few dollars in scrap metal and tubing plus some welding wire. I've also got a hoof jack, stall jack and some yoder model but there's all something I don't quite like about them.

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    1. Thank you for your expertise and feedback, Sydney. I have not given up.

      I am really impressed that you made your own stand!

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  8. Hello, My name is Kevin. I am the owner of Equine Innovations Inc. The Hoofjack® is one of the products we manufacture. I want you to be more than pleased with your investment. Would you please call me at 1-208-278-5283 (mountain time)to talk. You can also e-mail your phone contact info and I will contact you (kevinkeeler@hoofjack.com). I am looking forward to talking with you.

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    1. Hi Kevin! Thank you for contacting me and for visiting my blog. I appreciate any help that you have to offer.

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