I spent three hours on a simple quarter crack because I wouldn't use a patch

Everyone in my shop swears by patching materials for stabilization, but I was convinced I could trim and balance it out with just the rasp and nippers. That stubborn Percheron cross in Granite Falls proved me wrong, and I ended up having to go back for the acrylic anyway. Has anyone else found certain methods just don't work on specific hoof types?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesleyb9216d ago

Yeah, that "old wood" feel is a dead giveaway you need support.

emery1918d ago

Watched my buddy fight a mustang hoof for hours before he gave up and grabbed the glue.

jesse_allen18d ago

That bit about the mustang hoof got me thinking about pressure. Some of those tough, dry hooves act like old wood. You can shape them all day, but without something to hold the stress, the crack just works itself open again with the first real step. I had a mule like that, and the fix only stuck after I drilled a tiny hole at the end of the crack to stop it from spreading up. Sometimes the material is just too brittle to hold its own shape under weight, no matter how perfect your trim is.