I think a lot can depend on how hard the feet are. How often you have to sharpen tools as well. Many times in the summer knives and rasps skip across the hoof and make sparks. Environment plays a bigger role in my opinion.
LOL, it's been uncharacteristically warm up here this week. Everything is melting and wet. I've been just flying through feet all week. Regards
Yep!! we have a good bit of snow, temps have been moderate (some melting) and my horses today went pretty fast. In the middle of our dry summers when I'm bending the handles of my nippers (I am thankful that I can still do that), taking about a quarter of a blade width per bite, trimming takes a good bit longer.
Smitty, what do you consider an "average" days work to be? How many apprentices do you have working at one time?
If you want to know, first stop was seven trims. Next stop was two, one with 4 shoes and holes for studs, second was 2 fronts and a trim. Next stop was two shoes. And last stop was two shoes and one trim. It wasn't a stressed day, Friday.
The best day for along time with an app stripping, trimming some feet and clenching in the one yard was 16 set on polo ponies. over here at the moment its been a lot slower I work 5 days a week now, for 28 years I done 6 days a week
That's a good day. With the collapsed disk in my back, I know where my limits are. If I work over them, I don't like to pay the price the next day. I make appointments four days a week. On Fridays I use for stuff. If during the week someone needs to change an appointment, I can on Friday. I also schedule people to come to my house on Fridays. I've found stress a lot less now I work this way.
Its a hard job on the back there is no getting away from it been efficient and organised does help getting numbers done
I work Tuesday thru Saturday, for similar reasons to Mikel. Also, we have a lot of holidays on Mondays, so I don't have to schedule around them. I think working smarter is more important than working harder, if you're trying to make a living at it. Regards