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Looking back at how we used to shape a hoof versus the way I do it now
For years, I shaped every hoof freehand with a rasp, just like I was taught. It worked, but it was slow and you had to really trust your eye. Then, about five years ago, I started using a hoof gauge for every single horse. The difference was night and day. Before, I might get a hoof looking level, but the gauge showed me angles that were off by two or three degrees. On a big draft horse I worked on in Salem, using the gauge showed a consistent medial imbalance I had completely missed by sight alone. It takes an extra minute per foot, but the precision is worth it. The horses move better, and the shoes fit right the first time. I wish I had made the switch sooner. Has anyone else found a simple tool that made a big change in their work?
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seanperry2mo ago
That "night and day" difference you mentioned finally got me to try a gauge, and now I feel silly for resisting it.
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