Keeping hooves tidy between trims

Amy567

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29 June 2009
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My boy is barefoot and he's doing really well with it :) I feel a little silly though as he's my first barefoot horse and his hooves were flared so as they grow down they look a little horrendous! I like his hooves looking neat and so my farrier is literally coming every 8 weeks to rasp his hooves as he hasn't got enough to properly trim. I wondered if there are any horse owners out there that keep their horses hooves rasped and neat between trims? I'm not thinking of anything major like dealing with the frog or actually taking the hoof off, just a quick rasp to keep them round and even :)

Are there any courses or books people would recommend?
 

maccachic

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Mine is trimmed every 4 weeks. Is your horse getting exercise? Only time I rasp myself is if there is an issue we are addressing and need to keep an area off the ground to reduce mechanical forces on it.
 

Fides

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My mare tends to wear slightly unevenly so I rasp the outside edge to keep it balanced between visits. I wouldn't leave it 8 weeks though (maybe mid winter) mine get seen every 6.
 

paddy555

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I think most owners tidy up between trims. I use a sanding block < a fiver at B& Q and sand paper. I run it around almost daily, just grooming the edges as you would your own nails with an emery board. No danger of taking too much off and it keeps the edges nice and rolled.
 

Dawng

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My farrier gave me a rasp so that I could help stop the flairs between trims so that it helped the foot to grow in the right direction.
 
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