Really sharp nippers

[SEL]

Recommendations?

As easy to use as possible because he's big and i have a shoulder injury. Also has tough hoof to go through.

Farrier and horse fell out undoing 3 years of training **sob** so while I build his trust back up I need to tackle them myself.

 

[milliepops]

OH says GE racetrack 14" but be prepared to spend £200 ?

Is there definitely no way back that doesn't mean you have to do it?

 

[SEL]

OH says GE racetrack 14" but be prepared to spend £200 ?

Is there definitely no way back that doesn't mean you have to do it?

I'm going to flutter my eyelashes at my friend's farrier. In fact I'd rather give him the £200 to spend all day doing the trim than do it myself. Thank your OH for me I'll go and have a look but ouchy price for an amateur ?

 

[paddy555]

https://www.equinepodiatrysupplies.co.uk/product-category/trimming-tools/

mine are GE's but they are well over £200 now. Before those I tried La Croix forge as my first nippers. Not available in the UK I don't think but they also worked fine for many years. The above link has several other makes and I think a more middle of road one could work if you just have the one and be a lot cheaper.

If you haven't already got one the most important thing for a big horse and an injured person is a hoof stand with a cradle. They are sadly also not cheap but if you are using nippers you have to somehow hold the foot up. That is either the farrier's hold which is not easy or alternatively a stand. Some people have not bought stands but have improvised with other items which may be a possibility.

 

[FFAQ]

I have GE'S and much cheaper blue devils. I use the blue devils on my own horses (2 cobs and a shire) because they are 14" and the 12" GE's for work. Honestly, I can't say there's much difference in the quality despite a £100 difference in the price!

 

[Brownmare]

As a cheaper alternative I can highly recommend the Cody James Dymondback rasp. It is utterly vicious and don't even think about picking one up without gloves on but it will make short work of trimming a lot of hoof even ridiculously huge, tough draft type hooves.
ETA it is also available on the link paddy555 shared

 

[Tiddlypom]

As a cheaper alternative I can highly recommend the Cody James Dymondback rasp. It is utterly vicious and don't even think about picking one up without gloves on but it will make short work of trimming a lot of hoof even ridiculously huge, tough draft type hooves.

I’ll second this.

I’ve not long been trimming my own 3 neds, and the dymondback rasp is the real deal. I have the medium and fine rasps, and have never felt the need to get the ‘most aggressive’ one, or even to use my fancy pants GE hoof nippers.


https://www.equinepodiatrysupplies.co.uk/product/dymondback-rasp/

ETA Get a good rasp, gloves and a hoof jack or equiv, and you’re sorted.

 

[SEL]

Thanks all. I've got a hoof stand and so long as he's allowed breaks and I've got a treat loaded assistant he'll use it. Luckily he allowed me to do a bit of rasping last night so we haven't completely gone back to stage 1 - but I'm not a male farrier and that's always been his anxiety.

My rasp wasn't much use so buying a new super sharp one for mahoosive feet will be today's job. I might see how far I'll get with the rasp because he always makes nippers look hard work even with the pro's!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Sounds good .

A good thing about diy trimming is that you can do as much as a creaky horse (and/or a creaky owner!) is comfortable with, and can come back another day to carry on to finish. I find that two hooves a day (out of 12) is what my knackered back can cope with.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

 

[Red-1]

I also don't use nippers. I do a bot a couple of times a week with a rasp, so they never get too long. I try to wait for rain, as a wet hoof is 10X easier to rasp than a dry one. Never mattered much with the posh horses, but with Rigsby, his feet are like rocks when dry.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I’ll second this.

I’ve not long been trimming my own 3 neds, and the dymondback rasp is the real deal. I have the medium and fine rasps, and have never felt the need to get the ‘most aggressive’ one, or even to use my fancy pants GE hoof nippers.


https://www.equinepodiatrysupplies.co.uk/product/dymondback-rasp/

ETA Get a good rasp, gloves and a hoof jack or equiv, and you’re sorted.

View attachment 65905

I may have ordered a dymondback rasp. The arabs have hooves of iron-like horn so hopefully it will make life a bit easier. I went for the medium.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I may have ordered a dymondback rasp. The arabs have hooves of iron-like horn so hopefully it will make life a bit easier. I went for the medium.

Update... I definitely need the coarse rasp too LOL!
Plus is anyone else having hooves grow really fast at the moment... I guess the grass is starting to come in?

 

[SEL]

Update... I definitely need the coarse rasp too LOL!
Plus is anyone else having hooves grow really fast at the moment... I guess the grass is starting to come in?

I needed the coarse one too - giant hooves and yes they are growing like weeds.

I may have found a sympathetic farrier to help with the nervous one. I have offered to pay extra and my back and shoulders tell me extra is worth it.