Old timer showed me a better way to hold a rasp at a clinic in Kentucky

Guy had to be pushing 80, watched me file for two minutes, then just said 'you're leaning into your back foot son' and showed me a grip that saved my shoulder by the end of the day. Anybody else pick up a weird trick from an older farrier that stuck with you?

3 comments

3 Comments

oliviabutler2d ago

Old fellow at a clinic in Oregon taught me to tuck my elbow in tight when driving nails, stopped my wrist from aching by noon. He barely said a word, just tapped my arm and nodded. That one tip got me through my busiest season without a brace.

ross.kim2d ago

...and the quiet ones always have the best stuff. Had an old rancher up in Montana show me how to wrap a hoof wrap tighter by using my thumb instead of my palm. Said "thumbs are for grip, palms are for smoothing." Changed everything. My wraps used to come loose by the time I got to the third hoof. Now they stay put even through a muddy turnout. Funny how these little tweaks get passed down. Nobody writes them down. You just have to be paying attention when they show you.

zarat372d ago

Picked up a trick from an old timer at a show in Arizona that changed how I set my feet. He said "stop chasing the horse" and made me plant my lead foot so my whole body stayed square to the hoof. Turns out I was always shifting my weight toward the toe instead of keeping my center balanced. By the end of the day my lower back wasn't screaming and I actually finished faster. Never woulda figured out that was the problem on my own...