My Method of Horse/Hoof trimming Educational Demonstration, Satisfying/Barefoot/Trim

I found that this method will help with many things. Here are a few.
1 ) The feet will not run forward as much throughout the growing period. It creates a better break over, and less toe pressure.
2) There is LESS chance a horse will get sore after a trim. It does rarely happen, but usually only lasts a day or two.
3) This method will help prevent dishing and flaring. If your horse already has dishing and flaring, this method will help eliminate most if not all of it. They will get some dishing and flaring closer to when they are due for a trim, but it will be easily eliminated on the next trim. For those who trim their own and can touch them up every 3-4 weeks, it should totally eliminate these problems.
4) It also allows more horses to be barefoot by not taking as much off the bottom. And that's good because the more natural you can keep them the better.
Always remember there's no general rule to trimming and shoeing horses, but this is a really good start. Good Luck on all your horse projects.
Please Like and Subscribe! Thanks!! Rick

[@1huntswithnature10]

For me there's nothing greater in life then watching a professional accomplish his task.

[@rrshoeing]

I agree. Thanks!

[@robertaturk]

Love how thoughtful you are in thinking through what is best for each horse’s hoof. Not the usual mechanical one size fits all. Thanks for showing us a better way to doing it.

[@rrshoeing]

Thank you for watching, and the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the video.

[@user-zu6zz6tj8t]

That's some good simple trimming. Awesome

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks!!!

[@hermankelii6010]

Mahalo, Your method and the horse leg stand is much easyer to work on the horse foot trimming and cleaning

[@rrshoeing]

It’s a must have

[@katelist8367]

Excellent! My gelding has the same exact problem on the left front. Difficult to get a farrier to show up anytime soon etc etc so ... I am going to give it a try myself. Had a pretty good barefoot guy and then I moved ... dang it!

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks Kate. Just follow my video and it will help you get started. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

[@monicawilliamsk9]

I love your technique, I would love to see more videos from you. Maybe addressing problem hooves or overgrown hooves being brought back into shape. Keep up the great work.

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks I appreciate it. I’ll hopefully have more videos coming.

[@mingram008]

Great info! I think I’m in agreement with your technique! Hope to see more work from you!

[@rrshoeing]

Thank you!

[@jayniestanley4730]

Beautiful job. I like the way u explain the separate feet. U don't make the 2 front exactly the same or the b2 back. Each foot is a separate entity unto itself. U r different from the farriers that worked on my horses. I luv that u leave the soul almost alone. Just the dead soul is removed. That's not the way I was taught. Luv ur style. Thank you.

[@rrshoeing]

Thank You! I appreciate the kind words.

[@jayniestanley4730]

U deserve them. Ur right on the ball.

[@PrairieJournals]

Very nice. Thank you for sharing.🇨🇦🚜

[@rrshoeing]

Thank you!

[@Savedbygrace363]

Hope you make more videos like this ❤️

[@rrshoeing]

Thank you! I relocated to the east coast so I haven’t had a chance to do any videos in a while. Once I get settled I’ll do some more. Thanks for watching!!

[@Martyfm]

Excellent video. It’s nice to see people trying new techniques that favor the natural process of the animal. Keep up the good work and maybe tell everyone where you learned.

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks! I came up with this on my own. I've been shoeing for 27 years and over the years I just keep trying to come up with better ways. So far I haven't found or come up with anything better than this method. It has worked great for me for year now.

[@Ceila30]

Love this! Long overdue!! Always love our talks and all the additional information you bring to the table!!

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks! Me too. I'm glad to share as much as I can!

[@kingdomfreedom8323]

Gee..wish you were my farrier I know my horses would love this less disruptive is a more ample method. Unique & really nice job with minimum stress yourself & horse. What's not to like about that! Ingenuity & simplicity combined is best of both worlds overall 👍👌😊

[@rrshoeing]

Thank you!

[@ginalevinson602]

Glad you got to do this video. Nice job

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks!!

[@jefferyschirm4103]

Backwards , forwards , just getting it done nice work !

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks!

[@deondee60]

Good video Rick. Very informative.

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks 👍

[@gerrycoleman7290]

Quality work.

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks!! I appreciate it!

[@judyswill3066]

The only problem I see is the lighting. It is difficult to see what you are doing. It seems to be a very good method for their feet!

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks!

[@zenabelen7454]

Very interesting perspective that makes sens. I had a horse that had dishing and flaring, probably from a bit of founder before I got him. I could see where your technique would have helped him immensely. I kept him barefoot on easy ground and he wore easyboots when we rode on hard ground.

[@rrshoeing]

Hi Zena Yes the method works really well on horses with feet like that especially if you touch them up every 4 weeks to maintain the balance. Foundered horses tend to flare and dish quicker throughout the growing period so they really benefit from a shorter trim cycle. With that said as you probably know there’s no general rule with horses. (Especially with their feet). They’re all different, like us. But you usually can’t go wrong with shorter cycles with any horse as long as the farrier doesn’t take too much foot off the bottom. Ideally horses should be trimmed before they look like they’re due for a trim. It’s much easier to maintain the balance that way. Thank you for the comment.

[@cjjohnson5311]

I liked the treatment of the low heel hoof. But I have found that my horses flares can be resolved with a 45 bevel instead of rasping the outer hoof wall. Every time a trimmer goes big on rasping the outer hoof wall, my horse gets toe cracks. Maybe some horses just have thinner walls? I touch up my horses hooves weekly between trims to keep the bevel , any over enthusiastic bars and learning more about trimming in general.

[@rrshoeing]

Hi some horse are just prone to toe cracks due to weakness in that part of the hoof wall and yes thinner walls. Toe cracks can be difficult to get rid of but are usually just cosmetic and don't create any lameness issues if the foot is maintained regularly. Every foot is different so like I said in the video they all have to be treated a bit different to get the results you're looking for. You can't go wrong with a nice bevel or rockering the toe. The more pressure you take off the wall on break over the better. It's great you touch them up every week. You should be able to maintain a perfect balance that way. I'd have to see pics of you horses feet to really determine the best approach. The problem with how your horses are being trimmed for most people is they don't want to or can't touch them up every week. If you waited 6 week and didn't touch up you'd have dishing and flaring and possibly worse toe cracks. With that said there is no general rule with horses feet. It's all determined by their conformation. Thanks for the comment.

[@markiobook8639]

Fine work

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks! I really appreciate that!

[@abbykoop5363]

This was interesting. I've found also that many horses with front feet like that will graze with the low heel forward and the higher heel behind, and this just exacerbates that particular growth pattern.

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks for your comment. This method has worked really well on all types of feet. I came up with it years ago and have had nothing but great results.

[@brittanyspangler5206]

I’ve definitely noticed this with mine! He tends to have his left front behind his shoulder and right one out front when he grazes. His left front is the one that tends to get longer/more dished at the toe and his right one is his smaller foot.

[@rrshoeing]

Yes it takes the pressure off their toe when they hold it out in front. It puts the low heel foot flatter to the ground. That's why it's important to move the foot back under the leg as far as possible, and rockering the toe helps as well. By moving it back and rockering, it helps prevents the foot from running forward, dishing and causing more toe pressure.

[@TightwadTodd]

Based on your description and perceived reason, i would say, that that is in fact a club, it's just that it is a grade 1.

[@rrshoeing]

So slight I wouldn’t consider it a club. A lot of horses are born with one foot smaller and more up right. What really matters is it’s a good solid foot with a good break over and angle. Thanks for your comment.

[@lisaande51]

So you don't find that is weakens the hoof wall to buff the top off? I have a mare with exactly the same front foot conformation as this horse. I have trimmed her myself for 14 years with no lameness, so I guess I am doing ok. But I will be more mindful of just rockering the lower heel hoof vs the upright hoof.

[@rrshoeing]

Hi Lisa, no it has no effect on the hoof wall at all. I've been using the hoof buffer for years with only great results. That doesn't mean you have to use one it just makes it a bit easier and looks better than rasp marks. If you want you could put some sealer on the wall after buffing, but I've never really seen any difference doing so. In a day or so you'll never know it was even done. Yes don't be afraid to rocker the low heal toe. It will only help the break over and ease the movement of that leg. Sounds like you have it handled but you could shoot me some pics and I can take a look it you want. Thanks!!

[@MissLady-pq4hc]

Nice job, but different.🐴💙

[@rrshoeing]

Thanks!! Yes definitely different but makes a lot of sense and works really well. If you trim horses give it a try. It is a bit more work but worth it.

[@tylersiddons2716]

Where did you get the tool for the drill! I need this!

[@rrshoeing]

Hey Tyler Yes you do. It save a ton of work. You can get it at most Farrier supply stores. Here's where I normally get my stuff. Wellshod.com Thanks!!

[@jimbradford9313]

Where do u get a hoof buffer

[@rrshoeing]

Hey Jim most Farrier supply store should have them. Or you can order one from well-shod.com Thanks www.well-shod.com/TOOLS-AND-RASPS/hoof-finishing-tools/HOOF-BUFFER?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2qKmBhCfARIsAFy8buJR3AfB4-mExV82eCShYQiSxG1EP7ON7keK33WcA2BHvfxLB_adrr8aAqbiEALw_wcB

[@paolo-7365]

La videocamera è troppo lontana per vedere il lavoro che fai sullo zoccolo, su uno smartphone non è visibile nessun dettaglio. Buon lavoro e grazie.

[@rrshoeing]

Hi Maybe your resolution isn't coming through in 1080p. If you watch it on a 1080P computer with strong internet, you can see details much better. Thanks for the comment! Ciao Forse la tua risoluzione non arriva a 1080p. Se lo guardi su un computer 1080P con Internet potente, puoi vedere i dettagli molto meglio. Grazie per il commento!

[@DWhite-el4ih]

No disrespect, but you haven’t reinvented the wheel. You’re trimming the foot the same as anyone, just in reverse fashion. No one needs to take more sole away than is necessary and you didn’t here. You just cleaned out the loose, dry, and flaky stuff that isn’t doing anything anyway.

[@rrshoeing]

The reverse fashion is what makes the difference. It’s so you can see the length and balance before trimming the bottom. Helps build the foot and rotate the foot back under the leg without getting them too short. It sets the break over as well. I appreciate your opinion so “No disrespect” but If you knew anything about horses feet you’d know it’s a totally different way of trimming. I only had to take very little off the sole on this particular horse but it’s not like that on every horse. Every horse and every foot is different. Unfortunately you just don’t know what you’re talking about. Not everyone can trim and shoe horses properly. There’s a lot to it. FYI the “flaky stuff” as you call it is dead sole. You should know that since you’re such an expert.

[@DWhite-el4ih]

@@rrshoeing Watch the video in reverse, it will reveal that you do all the same steps. If you’re trimming to balance a foot, it really shouldn’t matter. You’re getting to the same destination as the rest of us. But hey, if you can sell it to your clients, good for you. They’ll go for it since they don’t know.

[@rrshoeing]

@@DWhite-el4ih Yes it is all the same steps. I never said it wasn't. But what you don't understand is by doing them in reverse it prevents you from take unnecessary foot off the bottom. You get your balance, break over, and angle by moving the foot back under the leg not from what you take off the bottom. This helps prevent horses from getting sore and allows more horses to go barefoot because you're not taking sole out to shorten the foot to get your angle. By seeing your finish length first it shows you how much more or little to take off the bottom. It's not a sales pitch I had more than enough work before I came up with this method and did really good work with the traditional method and other Farriers do as well. I just think this works better over all for more horses. I can still trim the traditional way really well but I prefer this method. Like I said it just helps prevent you form hacking a bunch of sole out for no reason. Plus it's great for beginner Farriers because they can never figure out how much to take off the bottom, and this helps them gauge the length before they even touch the bottom. It makes a lot more sense than starting on the bottom and cutting them too short. It's definitely not the only way but I think it works the best for me. Also keep in mind there's no general rule with horses. They all have different needs and you have to adapt to make it all work for them. Whether it's Farrier work, training or anything else, you have to find what works best for that particular horse. We Just agree to disagree that's all. No need to get upset. Happy New Year!

[@judymiller5154]

so so many farriers clean off the entire sole down to waxy and scrape the entire frog clean before shoeing. more barefoot trimmers are leaving sole callous, consider it "gold"

[@DWhite-el4ih]

@@judymiller5154 Good farriers don’t take any more sole than is necessary. If you’re leaving a bunch of redundant sole and frog that’s barely attached or collecting dirt, debris, bacteria, and fungus then you’re not doing the horse any favors. Also, “barefoot trimmers” are not godly. They preach a practice that allows them to make money without having to learn much beyond how to trim a foot. Shoes aren’t right for every horse, but from a therapeutic or lifestyle standpoint shoes can make a huge difference in a horse’s life. Also it’s important to keep in mind that not all shoes need to be made from steel and nailed on. You can glue on steel shoes, polymer shoes, wooden shoes, or even make custom polymer shoes in some cases. Every horse and every problem is individual. There’s never a one size fits all option.