Basic farriery kit

[Trewsers]

Can any of you recommend a basic farriers kit to me? Joe had a shoe hanging off (again) and I couldn't get the farrier out until next week (he's busy). So, I had to pay the vet to come out and remove it - we were worried that it might have been jabbing into his sole (it looked terribly skew wiff). Anyway, I recall seeing a kit in Rideaway at some point - any ideas folks? Seeing as they live at home now and we're off a yard, I need to be able to remove a shoe from time to time, should the need arise! Any thoughts?

[Trewsers]

Anybody?

[Wally]

Get a buffer and a small hammer, some shoe pullers and a rasp. Nail pullers too are a wonderfully quick and easy way to get a shoe off a foot that might be a bit weak.

[Trewsers]

Thanks for that - its something I really need the tools for - ah, the luxury of being on a yard once....hehehe...

[Wally]

Don't buy cheap ones! It is a false economy.

[magicalmac]

Just a little tip Trewsers- if you've never done this yourself get your farrier to show you how before the emergency arises. Mine showed me and got me to take the shoes off under his supervision, its not quite as easy as the farrier makes it look. You'll have more confidence if the situation arises with a bit of a practise.

[teabiscuit]

its not quite as easy as the farrier makes it look
i'm going to put this forward for the understatmement of the year award :D
its blurry hard work :) especially if the hoof is in good nick
good idea to know how though.

[magicalmac]

i'm going to put this forward for the understatmement of the year award :D
its blurry hard work :) especially if the hoof is in good nick
good idea to know how though.

Yes I suppose it is a bit of an understatement, Ive seen my farrier just pull the shoes off and never given it much thought. When I did it myself, well you would'nt believe the size of the bruise on my leg and the backache well thats a whole other story. As with everything theres a knack to doing it.

[Trewsers]

I watched closely as my vet did it on Friday evening! Will definitely watch the farrier too - honestly, how many times can that horse lose a shoe or maim what he's got????!!!!!

[Trewsers]

Don't buy cheap ones! It is a false economy.

Would I be better asking my farrier to point me in the right direction? or do you think that the ones in say, Robinsons would be ok?

[teabiscuit]

could you ask your farrier to sell you his old tools? the trade tools are at least a million times better than the robinsons stuff (maybe not quiet a million :))
i once got a rather nice pair of cutters from my farrier that he'd finished with, but were still good enough for me to use when i needed too
and i think you have to be a registered farrier to buy from trade shops, not 100% sure though

[Bebe]

Def need trade ones and I've known a few farriers who have been happy to sell off their old tools cheaply or even to give them away.

You can get away with pulling a shoe with a good pair of pullers and a rasp, but it's infinitely easier if you have a pair of nail pullers too.

Good tools aren't cheap unfortunately. You don't need to be a registered farrier to buy from trade shops, you can buy pretty much anything bar shoes and nails as a layperson. You'll probably get asked what you intend to do with the tools if they could be used to apply shoes but that should be it.

[teabiscuit]

thanks for clearing that up Bebe, i knew you couldn't buy shoes and nails if you weren't a registered farrier, wasn't too sure about tools though

[becs]

Our local saddlery said they weren't allowed to sell me a rasp! But have seen them mail order as you say. Maybe the legal limitations are why you're not finding them easily? Bit of a pain when we just want to sort an emergency out.

[Trewsers]

Maybe the legal limitations are why you're not finding them easily? Bit of a pain when we just want to sort an emergency out.


yeah, its daft, its not like I intend to set myself up as a farrier or anything (don't know enough dirty jokes for that:p ) Just that I need to be able to sort out an emergency shoe hanging off situ.:rolleyes:

[Wally]

Lets put it this way, you can buy an entire Robinson's kit, for what it cost just for my nail nippers! My forgeing hammer was £60!

Our local saddlery said they weren't allowed to sell me a rasp!

They are being silly, even farrier suppliers can sell you rasps!

[magicalmac]

As Bebe says ask your farrier he gave me some of his old ones and was quite happy to do so.

[teabiscuit]

i'm pretty sure you're allowed to do that on your own horse legally, maybe the saddlery was being better safe than sorry?

pain in the posterior all this malarky isn't it? bah humbug to 'em.