Various tools used by farriers consist of hammers, nippers, rasps, and hoof knives. The regular tasks of a farrier mainly revolve around hoof trimming and shoeing. Ensuring each hoof is appropriately trimmed to maintain its correct position relative to the ground is crucial in ordinary situations.
Aspiring apprentices and individuals learning about equine health and hoof care often inquire about farrier tools when starting out. While the question can be answered briefly, it opens up numerous in-depth discussions on the subject.
Farrier tools are utilized by those working on horse hooves for tasks like trimming, cutting, smoothing, and replacing shoes. Some horse owners opt to regularly trim their horse’s hooves themselves, while others seek assistance from experts. Typically, hoof trimming should be done every 4 weeks on average to maintain the length and condition of the hooves, as the overall health of the horse greatly depends on its hooves’ well-being.
When it comes to fitting shoes, seeking the services of an experienced farrier is often preferred due to their extensive expertise gained over the years. Professionals in this field have vast experience working with various types of horses and ponies.
It is crucial to use the best farrier tools specifically designed for their intended purpose when performing any type of equine hoof care. One such tool is the Radius Rasp, available in different variants ranging from coarse to medium and fine. The coarse variant of the Radius Rasp is used to trim excess material from the hooves initially, as it features large cutting blades that can efficiently remove bulk material.
Next, the medium blade variant serves the purpose of removing any remaining material, providing a refined finish that cannot be achieved with the coarse model alone.
Lastly, the Fine model is essential for achieving a flawless and smooth hoof surface, especially around the edges, to achieve what is commonly referred to as the mustang roll.
The coarse model stands out with its deep cutting blade and is available in a black color.
On the other hand, the medium model, part of the sparkle range, resembles a peeling blade similar to a cheese grater and comes in a transparent finish with an attractive glitter effect.
The fine model, with a blade resembling a file blade, allows for precise material removal during the final finishing stage of hoof trimming and is available in white.
All three models are designed to be used with one hand and come equipped with an integrated magnet for easy attachment to a stand during trimming. Additionally, each model features a measurement ruler on the side, aiding in precise trimming down to the millimeter on all sides of the hoof.
These sought-after product models are highly favored for their convenience during trimming and their ability to achieve a flawless mustang roll finish.
Among the trimming range, no other products perform as effectively as these, leading most equestrians to have at least two of these models in their toolboxes.
A significant advantage of purchasing any of these models is that they offer easily replaceable blades, which are both affordable and simple to replace by hammering in or out!
Farrier tools- What are they and what do they do?
During a regular farrier visit, we often observe the skilled work they do to keep our beloved horses sound and content. But have you ever wondered about the different tools they use and their purposes? In this blog post, we will explore and identify some common farrier tools and their functions.
Once upon a time, farriers had to craft their own tools, but nowadays, a wide variety of styles and interpretations of the original blacksmith’s toolkit are readily available for them. Here are some common tools you may see in action:
- Hoof Pick – Farriers also use hoof picks to clean out the hoof before trimming.
- Apron – Made of leather, this tool protects the farrier’s legs from injury or nails if a horse pulls its leg away.
- Hoof Testers – A two-pronged tool used to locate pain or sensitive areas on the hoof sole, it can help find the site of an abscess or stone bruise.
- Rasp – Similar to a nail file for horses, it is used to remove hoof wall, round the edges of the hoof, and make it even and level after shoeing.
- Knife – This tool is used to pare away excess sole and loose dead frog from the underside of the hoof. It can help drain hoof abscesses.
- Nippers – Similar to nail clippers for horses, they remove excess hoof material and cut the hoof wall to the proper length.
- Pullers – Used to remove shoes, they are shaped differently than nippers and slowly lever the shoe off, one nail at a time.
- Nail Pullers – Designed to remove nails when taking off a shoe, they have jaws on one end with a hole in the middle for the nail to fit.
- Anvil – Used to shape the shoe correctly and ensure it’s level, it has a flat top and a rounded horn and is very heavy.
- Forge – Gas-operated, it heats the shoe to shape it correctly on the anvil, often used in hot shoeing.
- Rounding Hammer – Helps shape the shoe on the anvil.
- Tongs – Used to remove the hot shoe from the forge and handle it while fitting the shoe.
- Nailing Hammer – Smaller in size, it is used to nail the shoe to the hoof and allows the farrier to feel the nail’s direction during hammering.
- Nail Cutter – A small pair of nippers used to cut the excess nail as an alternative to the hammer.
- Clinching Block – Placed under the nail’s wring section prior to clinching, it helps secure the nail into the shoe.
- Clincher – Used to fold the nail end over, securing it to the hoof and holding the shoe firmly in place.
- Hoof Stand – A small stand with varying shapes and heights that a farrier can place a horse’s hoof on while rasping or clinching, providing added support and reducing strain on the knees and back.
Caring for a horse’s hooves is crucial, as their performance greatly depends on their condition. As the saying goes, “No Hoof, No Horse.”