Question about the old way of fitting shoes on a draft horse

Last week I was working on a big Belgian in Springfield, and the owner asked me why I was taking so many measurements. It made me think about how my grandpa taught me the trade 15 years ago. He'd just eyeball the hoof, grab a shoe from his box, and start hammering it to shape on the anvil right there. No calipers, no tracing paper, just his hands and his eye. Three years ago, I started using a digital angle finder on tough cases, and now I won't shoe a draft horse without one. The old way worked, but I've seen fewer cases of lameness since I got more precise. It's a different skill set now. How many of you still shape shoes freehand versus using more modern tools?

3 comments

3 Comments

cora_scott7711d ago

Well my grandpa could eyeball a pie and cut perfect slices too... but I still use a ruler. Some things are just better with a little help.

the_joel20d ago

My uncle was a farrier and he had that same eye, could bend a shoe cold. @kaid59 that digital scan thing is wild, my dentist still uses the goop you have to bite down on forever.

kaid5920d ago

My dentist just switched to digital scans. Same thing.

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