No Linda, I'm not trying to bait you. The questions I've asked you are because of statements you've made.
Kim ur in a no win and rock and hard place.. you don't have the tenured to flat out refuse or go aginst what is taking place.. you may be spot on and very correct but the vet will never see it that way.. and ur still building ur business so walking away due to refusing the vets wishes will not look good or set well with vet or owner..sometimes I think the farriers that have been doing this a long time forget what its like to walk away when hell you need to work..and you wanna work and learn so walking away is not that easy... I don't know what u can do u really in a tuff spot ...the only thing I know to tell you is next time ur in this and vet start pointing out the things done that did not meet his needs...rip that Shoeing off and say wait I'm gonna fix it ..make it where he says yes that's exactly what I want ..sure it will take time and money but try damn hard not to be his scapegoat..most vets I deal will stay there we trim and the vet looks and say yea good...then set the shoes the vet looks we may lunge then the say yes that's good...then they may leave or stay while i finish and clinch.. that's the only thing I would know to do.. and politey tell the owner although you have not had good luck in the past with that set up that you do know what works on one horse may not work on the other so u will try it and give it time..
Kim what made you go with the toe clip over no clips or side cliped?? ..no say wrong or right just wondering what made you decide that's what you would go with..
I didn't want to wedge without a clip and toe clipped was all I could find in this shoe which met the Vet's rx.
Take the stress off the race nails and keep the shoe from shifting back. I have one pair of these shoes without a clip. Company doesn't make the clipped version anymore.
99 % non-union......most are hired on how fast. usually in 13 mins. 20 mins is max here. no knipps just hit with rasp; rasp heels; take shoe out nail on after few hits on stall jack. I take about 44 mins - 1 hour to shoe a racehorse. most holders/trainers won't hold for anyone that takes that long or get hired. the fastest I did was in 13 mins for fronts in receiving barn for turf to dirt only. I didn't have to anything except shape the shoes to the foot and clinch. it was the most nerve-racking "call race 3 first call to in 10 mins - call race 3 second call" get your horse over for the third race...........never did it again......
Kim, if it isnt a race plate you can use a larger nail like a 4 1/2? 3 degree wedge is a lot more shoe than a raceplate.. I admit you have me confused??
I used a #5 race nail It's the Victory Elite 3 degree wedged aluminum The race nail fit the shoe best. They were punched odd to me for such a thick shoe.
you haven't worked a receiving barn , I was the blacksmith for the receiving barn back in the 1990's {when I was much younger} .......it was already shod up 2 days ago before for turf race; went off the turf due to rain; switched shoes and put dirt shoes [low toes] up front only. back then you couldn't use queens plates up front if the track was sloppy or deep.
Kim if the foot is balanced and lands slightly heel first clips are almost never needed. If on the other hand the trim is off and the foot is making a toe first landing shearing forces are created. Poor farriers clip everthing that moves. I have had horses jumping 4-5 feet, drafts logging in the woods, drafts pullng carriages without clips but.... they were trimmed properly before the shoes were applied. You have to decide if you will build your business doing what is correct for the horse or if you are going to let owners, vets and trainers dictate the parameters of how you shoe. When I was building my business I worked 3 part time jobs so I could make the hard but necessary decisions about shoeing the horses in a manner that would improve their health and performance. My dad told me that when decisions come up on life the one that seems the hardest is almost always the right one. If you build up a client base that is not under your control in the end your business is out of control. You will not be able to transition later. Charge a top level fee and do the best work possible. If you need to develop your skills get on a plane and spend some time with some of us on here. Anyone is always welcome to come to maine stay at my farm for free and see first hand what I have talked about on the forums for years. I am sure that the door is open as well all over the US for you. Don't make the usual mistake of creating a hellish business for yourself. When I was getting started in 2000 Rick Burten and others advised me to always do what I believed was right for the horse, charge a lot, and be willing to walk away. Still great advice. I have stayed in the guest bedrooms of Eric Russell, Bruce Matthews, Jaye Perry, Gene Ovineck, and others and have watched a lot of the folks on here trim and shoe. If you have the will to be a great farrier this is such a fun profession. If you just want to be an iron hanger I'd rather do anything else.
George saying poor farriers clip everything it a bit of a silly statement and something you don't really mean.. in fact most iron hangers as you call them would never clip a horse.. shearing imho happens not only at a toe landing ..but when jumping aginst the clock riders really grinding on a horse to go faster..or event horses that can't always land heel first due to rider out of place..or jumping into water or step ups..the list goes on and on..
of course I do......... The Vet also wanted small nails. Was Just noting that the shoe was punched for small nails despite size.
