c/farriers

Vent: A young colt scattered my tools all over the stall. Everyone stopped to help. Kind of miss that barn family feel.

PSA: That awkward clinic debate over always using a hoof level

At a big farrier clinic last month, everyone was saying you must use a hoof level for perfect balance on every horse. I spoke up and said I often skip it for pasture ponies and easy keepers. The room got quiet, and an older farrier shook his head, calling my way careless. I kept my cool and explained that on soft ground, a super precise trim can sometimes lead to tender feet. I told them about a ranch horse I work on who moved better after I left his hooves a bit more natural. A few folks rolled their eyes, but after the talk, a couple of younger shoers thanked me for saying it. It was funny how such a small thing caused a big fuss in a room full of pros. Now I think it's good to remember that not every rule fits every horse.

I finally went through my grandpa's farrier kit. The old methods seem slower but more thoughtful. Am I just being sentimental?

Cold shoeing failed me on a laminitis job

I always figured cold shoeing was fine for most horses, you know, to save time and skip the forge. But last week, I worked on a horse with bad laminitis and just did my normal cold shoe routine. The owner called back after two days saying the horse was worse off, barely putting weight on that foot. I mean, I felt pretty terrible about it, maybe it's just me. I ended up asking an older farrier for advice, and he pushed me to try hot shoeing for a tighter fit. So we fired up the forge, shaped the shoes hot, and nailed them on. Within a few days, the horse was moving way better. Now I'm not so sure about always skipping the heat, especially for horses with serious foot issues.

Rant: Back in my day, setting up for a job took forever...

I used to spend half the morning just getting my gear ready... especially that old cast iron anvil. Now, with a lightweight portable forge, I can start shoeing in minutes. The real hack I learned is to keep a pre-packed kit in my truck with all the basics. It saves so much time compared to digging through a messy toolbox. Plus, modern adhesives for pads are a game changer over the old tar and oakum method. Honestly, sometimes I miss the simplicity of the old ways... but efficiency wins every time.