My new $300 hoof stand from the trade show was a total game changer... until it wasn't

Bought a fancy, lightweight aluminum stand at the Midwest Equine Expo thinking it would save my back on long days. Used it on a big draft horse in Springfield last week and it worked great for the first three shoes. Then the quick-release latch gave out mid-lift, and the whole thing folded like a cheap lawn chair. Had to finish the job with the horse's hoof on my knee like it's 1950. Anyone else have a tool that seemed perfect but broke at the worst time?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_emma4d ago

That Springfield draft horse probably weighs over a ton. Honestly, expecting any portable stand to handle that kind of force repeatedly is asking a lot. My old steel stand from the 90s would have bent completely under that load. The fact the aluminum one got through three shoes on a giant horse is pretty impressive. Sometimes we just push gear past what it's built for.

quinnprice4d ago

My uncle's fancy digital tire gauge did the same thing. Worked perfectly until it just blinked and died right before a big race.

harper_burns594d ago

Man, isn't that always the way? I had this super nice laser level that was my pride and joy for setting garden beds. Thing was a champ for two solid seasons, then one Tuesday morning it just lit up like a Christmas tree and went totally dark. Never got a single beep out of it again. It's like the fancy electronics just decide they've had enough right when you need them most. Makes you want to just go back to the simple stuff that doesn't have a brain to quit on you.