Taking shoes off

[TallyHo123]

My friends horse needs the farrier for a twisted shoe but he can't get up until Wednesday, someone on our yard who people pay to turn out, muck out etc. said she can take them off and learn't how to when she did whatever degree she did.

I'm not sure about this, yes she is very good witht he horses etc. BUT if something did go wrong this could get nasty?

What do you guys think?

 

[AmyMay]

It's a skill we should all have - being able to take a shoe off in an emergency.

However, I would also be asking the farrier to come up pdq.

 

[*hic*]

Well if she knows how to do it, and has the tools and the horse is likely to do itself damage if the shoe is very insecure then it might be worth doing. I can and have taken pulled shoes off without the right kit in the past but I'd hesitate to offer to do it for someone else.

 

[TallyHo123]

Totally agree that the horse needs the shoe off, I'm just thinking if something does happen it could turn into a nasty situation. Her horses feet are the best quality either and the farrier was due to come 2 weeks ago and keeps cancelling on her.

 

[NeilM]

A friends pony twisted a front shoe and he could not put weight on that foot. It was a Saturday night, with no chance of getting a farrier until Monday.

I took some basic tools and a file and had the shoe off in about five minutes (yes I know the farrier does it in seconds...) I was careful to turn back the clenches on the nails, using an axle stand with a rag wrapped around it to rest his foot, I then removed the shoe, as the farrier does, using a pair of shoe removing tongs that I bizarrely acquired with an anvil some years ago.

The shoe came off with no harm to the foot or pony and he was very happy to be able to put weight on both his front feet.

Have a look on youtube, there are a few tutorials.

The alternative is to get the vet to do it.

 

[MardyMare]

My OH has taken off a loose shoe and helped another livery when her horse twisted a shoe. He asked our farrier to give him some tips and we now have basic tools for the just in case situations. He too is slow and has taken a couple off in front of farrier as a lesson. It does put your mind at ease. Hope you manage to sort it