Friday, December 15, 2017

Power Trimming

Since 2012, I have been the sole hoof trimmer for my horses. I like to keep my horses on a short trim cycle of 3-5 weeks depending on the time of year and, from a financial standpoint, this is much more easily managed by doing it myself. Trimming is hard work and it can be time consuming, but I plan and manage my time well and it's never been too bad.

The only time my horses' hoof care isn't completed by me is when Dan is shoeing them. Even then, he uses my trim job and just preps the foot for a shoe. In fact, Dan stating matter-of-factly on a ride a few years ago that "he'd put a shoe on that" was the reason I moved away from the frustrations of boots and into shoes for competition. Prior to that, I always figured I'd have to learn to shoe myself one day because no local farrier felt comfortable shoeing my "short-toed" horses (despite complimenting my horses feet every time they see them).

Healthy barefoot herd for at least half the year; grateful for horses with good hoof structure!

With the introduction of Stan to my little herd in July 2016, the time it takes me to trim has only grown - as one would expect. I don't use nippers when I trim, only a rasp and a knife because such a short cycle negates the need for nippers. I'm happy with this method, but it can be time consuming if life gets busy and I go 5-6 weeks between trims instead of 3-5. Thus, I began to throw around ideas of trimming with power tools more seriously. 

I sat on this idea for well over a year because I knew it would be costly to get a nice tool that could do the job. The workout that comes with hoof trimming isn't wholly awful after all, and it was a nice addition to my week. Except, well, taking time to trim so many feet takes away from riding. Even if I am only doing one horse a day, doing this over multiple days detracts from riding each of those days!

My time is more valuable than ever since introducing a daily commute to my life. Trimming was the last thing I want to be doing with my limited time. And so, I finally bit the bullet and ordered a cordless angle grinder.

Power tool for the win

And I don't regret it one bit.

Grand total time to completely trim 12 hooves with the grinder? 25 minutes. And that will only get quicker as I hone my technique and skill. Previously, if it was a rainy day (when their hooves were softer and easier to trim) I could do 4 hooves in 15 to 20 minutes. To do 12 in nearly the same time? That is priceless to me!

Disclaimer

I have been trimming my horses successfully by myself for 5½ years. I know my way around a hoof, especially my own horses' hooves, and I'm very well versed with my tools (rasp, knife, stand). I've never lamed any of my horses in the time I've been trimming. Additionally, I check in with local professionals from time to time, and I routinely get compliments on my trim jobs from professional farriers both local and out-of-state and vets.

Additionally, my horses are very accustomed to loud noises. None of them cares one iota about clippers and all are tolerant of being dusted off by a shop vac vacuum/blower in the winter. The noise an angle grinder makes is nothing compared to that!

So, lest anyone think otherwise, I absolutely do not advocate this solution for everyone! I hold no liability if you go out and commit some horrible error. I simply wanted to share a unique approach for others to learn about because it isn't that common (at least not in my area). I don't intend this post to be an end-all, be-all how-to, because your mileage may vary!

Mostly? I struggled to find similar experiences when I was striving to learn a little more about the utility of the tool for trimming hooves. EasyCare had several blogs that vaguely mentioned it, I found one video on a strange site, and Karen Chaton's blog had some casual mention, also. By sharing my thought-process/experience, perhaps I can remedy that for future someones like me curious about the utility of a power tool for hoof trimming. 


Why I Chose This Tool

The market for angle grinders is a little intimidating for someone not fully versed in the world of power tools. I'm very capable with certain tools, but my expertise doesn't range far from those I use for certain projects. Angle grinders are not a tool I have needed before in my various creative pursuits.

I chose this angle grinder because
  1. My SO (a general contractor) recommends Makita over other brands.
  2. I wanted cordless because I didn't care to have a cord in the equation - in my mind, that's just asking for an accident. Also, I'm lazy and don't want to drag out an extension cord every time. 
  3. This model also has a paddle switch with a "safety". This means that once the safety is pressed into the larger switch, a mere release of pressure on the switch will turn the tool off. That's a great feature to have around horses.  
  4. And finally, I chose this model because, with the battery, it's only 6 pounds. That's pretty friendly to handle one-handed and even easier when using two.

Acclimating the Horses


Everything I read and all discussions with professionals who trim with a grinder said the same thing re: introducing it to your horses: Act like it's business as usual and you'll have minimal issues. So I did just that!

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Clearly stressed out about the noise of the angle grinder....not.

While I initially introduced Griffin to the tool alone first (knowing he, above the other two, would have no issue), I made a point of bringing Q and Stan into the barn shortly thereafter. I wanted Q and Stan to realize that my new toy wasn't going to hurt them by watching how much Griffin DIDN'T care. Seeing is believing and whatsuch.

To introduce the noise of the tool, I held it up for all of the horses to see and spoke aloud, "Okay. This is going to make noise. But you'll be okay. On the count of three, one, two, th-ree!" I said, giving a sing-song voice to "th-ree". Q and Stan balked a bit the first time, but Griffin (who flinched his first time but nothing more) stood with a hind foot cocked in relaxation.

Adding a mustang roll to his hoof. 

I then proceeded to walk to each horse with the tool running in one hand and a brush in the other and brushed them while the tool was running. Each horse immediately calmed with the association of brushing with the noise. I then touched each horses shoulder with the butt of the tool (still running), stroking down their legs with it. None of them reacted. Perfect!

From there, I dove straight into my normal trimming routine -  business as usual! The only thing I did differently from my typical routine to introduce the horses to the grinder was to hold their hooves between my knees as farriers do instead of putting them on the stand as I normally would. This was to allow for easy release of their feet if they didn't like the sensation of the tool on their hoof. It also allowed me to begin to figure out my technique with the grinder as it's a lot easier with two hands instead of one! By the time I finished with one foot on each of my horses, they allowed me to put their other feet on the stand to trim each remaining. (Below's video is Griffin's second session with the tool.)


I'm still working on technique, but I'm really pleased so far. The time saving is amazing, and I really feel like I have more finesse with the angle grinder than a rasp, despite my current rookie status with it. It's a lot easier to take "just a little more" off with the angle grinder than with the rasp.

For inquiring minds, yes, the angle grinder could absolutely result in "too much too quick" but only if you are leaving the tool stationary on the hoof. If you keep it constantly gliding over the area you're working on, it can be gentler than even a rasp can be.

Conclusions

The upfront cost of the grinder + battery (no charger because my SO already has one I can use), was moderate-high ($233.20), but the time savings afforded by trimming my horses with an angle grinder instead of my former non-power tool approach makes this endeavor more than worth it to me. I will still have a rasp on hand, but it will be nice to only replace it once a year or so instead of once every few months!

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Before and after the roll touch up. You can see an old abscess growing out on his heel.

My approach definitely isn't a common one, but I wanted to share it for anyone similar out there who is also considering this approach. When I scoured the internet for stories and experiences trimming with power tools, the results were few and far between. Finances aside, if I'd been able to find an account of another horse owner pursuing trimming with power tools like the story I've told here, I would have jumped into the fray a lot sooner than I did! I gain a lot from hearing others stories; I know mileage my vary and different solutions exist for everyone, but it's nice to see what is possible. Remember, I'm a scientist! I love building up observations and evidence on various topics so that I can reach my own conclusions based on that evidence - and a large sample size (many observations) is much more beneficial in this quest.

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So, I'm curious, I live in a rural, remote part of West Virginia, my readership is by and large NOT like my area. Have any of you encountered hoof care professionals (or amateurs) who use power tools as a part of their routine? The only power tools our local farriers use routinely are dremels. I understand the difficulty of guaranteeing a client's horse will take to a power tool safely, but I'm sure some professionals have a short-list of clients they could trim this way. I feel like the practice may be more common among amateurs like me who don't have to worry about the liability of others? Anyone have a story to share on the topic?

24 comments:

  1. fascinating stuff! hoof health in general is something i knew basically zip zero about until i started reading so many blogs - and even now, even tho the subject is super interesting to me, i still only have a middling to good eye for discerning a healthy foot from something more off balance or out of whack.

    all that to say - i'm intrigued to hear how you feel about this tool over the long run! i've never seen a farrier in my area use a power tool instead of a rasp, but then again most of them are using nippers first before the rasp. anyway i'm all about ruthless efficiency and practicality over here, so any tool that saves you that kind of time sounds like a win to me. keep us posted on how it shakes out - and whether you start finding that it works best as alternating trims between the rasp and the grinder or some such type approach

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    1. Aren't blogs freaking wonderful for learning more about subjects you had only a small grasp of knowledge for in the beginning? You've taught me so much about eventing in the past few years that I'd have taken ages to figure out otherwise.

      Ruthless Efficiency might be my middle name, or it might have been before I worked for the government lololol

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  2. I've seen lots of farriers use power tools, especially with draft horses or in barns with large volume. I do think having a good base to start with helps. A lot of farriers use a sander to "buff" the hooves at the end. I trimmed horses at the rescue for a while and the work out and time factor were too great for me to consider doing it regularly. It's one of those things I'm happy to pay a professional for (but finding a good pro is HARD). Power tools would definitely be in consideration for me if I decided to take over my guys' hoof care myself.

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    1. Tools for drafts sounds like a solid decision. I know they take awhile to work on without them! Dan makes custom shoes for some up here and each shoe takes ~3 hours to make and nail on! No thanks.

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  3. My farrier uses the natural balance shoes and likes a short toe as well so I really appreciate that. I'm not looking forward to finding another farrier, but I really don't want to do it myself. I've never seen farriers using power tools, but my guess is they just don't know that they can use them on all the different horse they see so there's no point in it.

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    1. Those natural balance shoes have always intrigued me! And yeah, finding a new and GOOD farrier is such a difficult task.

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  4. Fairly common around here, especially with barefoot trimmers. Probably has a lot to do with how hard/dry hooves tend to be -- rasps have a fairly short shelf life out here. Kirt @ Renegade (who taught me to trim) has worked with me a bit on using power tools, and if I had more than just the pony to regularly trim, I would most likely end up getting an angle grinder because it certainly makes the job go a lot easier. So right now it's on my "will someday splash out the $ for it" list.

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    1. I wondered about you desert-folk with your diamond-hard hooves! That makes perfect sense.

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  5. I gave up doing Gem and Pete myself due to the time factor and that’s only 8 hooves. I can’t imagine the time suck of doing 12 by hand. I’ve never seen power tools in any of the places I’ve been but I’m guessing that’s due to carriers not wanting to take the risk of a horse freaking out about the noise or the time to desensitize every single horse to it.

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  6. Good god I wish I could get away from this. Just happy to have a stand so I can at least have fewer bruises from holding hooves on my knee.
    Of course... Now I need two rasps because the horses are at two barns. Let sigh

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    1. I'm impressed that you went so many years without a stand! That's some strength right there.

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  7. I think that this is awesome. I just want to learn how to take a shoe off!

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    1. Buy a pair of pullers and ask your farrier if he has an old rasp you could have next time he's out. It's really easy to pull a shoe so long as you rasp the bit of nail off that they clench over to help hold the shoe on. I've heard so many ways of doing it in a pinch, but that's definitely the easiest.

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  8. My old barns farrier used a corded angle grinder. How he used it depended on the individual horse and how much hoof he had to take off. Few horses didn't like it at all, most were fine though, and it was much faster than traditional methods. The smell though, not so great lol.

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    1. Oh yeah, the smell is rough. But burning hair is still worse in my opinion!

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  9. I trim my own horses too, and I also sometimes use an angle grinder. I have tendonitis in my wrist, and a quick grinder trim is much less strain than using the rasp. However, I find that I have a bit less finesse with the grinder than with a rasp, so I only use it for occasional maintenance trims on the girls with fully rehabbed healthy shaped rock crunching feet. My problem horse only ever gets the rasp, so I can be extra careful and OCD with her less-than-ideal hooves. It is a nice tool to have for sure though!

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    1. Great point about tendonitis - I am prone to that in one wrist, too, and never thought about how trimming could trigger it! And great points about less-than-ideal hooves needing a rasp over the tool. That makes complete sense!

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  10. I did my own for a few years but the time factor plus the strain on my hands was too much (I type for a living so my hands are already a problem). I still do go back and 'touch up' hooves after my farrier leaves though, sometimes shortening up the toe, adding a roll and trimming back the bars. I miss being able to do it myself but there is no way I could physically handle three now. Great write-up! The angle grinder looks fun, though I am sure I would be the fool who took too much off :P

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    1. Oh man, typing for a living...I feel you! I do more of that than I care to think about. I bet your hands are grateful you don't trim anymore.

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  11. Mel has been using an angle grinder for trimming her horses' hooves for years, especially in the summer when it's so dry in her region: http://melnewton.com/2015/mels-approach-to-trimming/ She mentions it off-handedly in pretty much every post she's ever written about trimming hooves; it always caught my attention. I didn't know using power tools for trimming was a thing until I started reading her blog. :)

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    1. Ha! I missed that for years, or just didn't pay attention as I never imagined wanting/needing a grinder! lol Thanks for the link!

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  12. you guys are all bad asses. I would never do this myself but love reading all about very cool!! :) (Liz you are a pioneer woman I swear I admire the shit out of you) ! :)

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