video or info on using shoeing stocks?

[rebmik]

I have a Shire with EPSM and cannot have his hind hooves trimmed any more. (Sometimes with drugs)
I’ve borrowed shoeing stocks and have been working with my horse getting him into the stocks, 3rd time shut front and back and put chains over and under. Just trying to take my time so it won’t be a bad experience.
But would love if anyone has a video or knows of a video that shows the correct way to trim using the stocks.
I know the belly chains are if he can’t hold himself up, but can’t imagine any horse doing this very well????:confused:
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

@rebmik 6238 wrote:

I have a Shire with EPSM and cannot have his hind hooves trimmed any more. (Sometimes with drugs)
I’ve borrowed shoeing stocks and have been working with my horse getting him into the stocks, 3rd time shut front and back and put chains over and under. Just trying to take my time so it won’t be a bad experience.
But would love if anyone has a video or knows of a video that shows the correct way to trim using the stocks.
I know the belly chains are if he can’t hold himself up, but can’t imagine any horse doing this very well????:confused:
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

I don’t know of any videos. Just make certain the “stocks” are well anchored and don’t tie the hoof off solid when working on it. We usually use either 1 1/2 or 2 inch rope with a loop braided in one end. Then take a couple of wraps around some part of the “stocks” the hold the hoof up. Important to be able to release quickly if necessary.
Belly chains are usually used to keep the animal from being able to go down when in the shocks – most often because they have just thrown a “fit”.
Sounds like you’re taking your time – just be careful.
Good luck
Joe (Ak)

[WVDrafty]

I also recommend not locking down the foot while working on them. I have seen lots of pictures with them secured down tight. I have seen a horse come unglued and it aint pretty. If you have to trick him to get him in and shut the bars ,and both of you are nervous about it , I would work on it some more. I groomed mine, gave a little grain, and worked on haltering,bridal, etc without back bar in place. If he wants to move back, just bring him back in. After a few times and they were relaxed I then put up the back bar. I do not tie their heads down either. My horses had not been asked to lift a foot and were 4 and 5. The stocks helped me to teach them to give a foot and kept me safe. I never use my chains , top or underneath. I put a dog collar around and above the hoof , then snap a cotton lead rope in to the d-ring. Pick up the foot and place it on the rest and wrap the lead rope once around the rest. The collar slides and wont burn the leg and get tighter if they pull. I hold and the farrier does his thing. If the horse gets crazy you can give him his leg before he falls, then start again. I am going to make a long strap to go through the hole in the foot rest and hold not fasten that, then I guess I’ll have an extra dog collar or get another dog.

[Pete]

Rebmik shoot me an email i may be able to help pfleming7@sympatico.ca Pete

[Morgan]

I disagree with the posts above. Stocks are made to fasten the foot secure. Mine have places to strap the foot down and once the horse finds 1) that the foot won’t give, no matter what, and 2) he is not going to fall down, I find they usually relax. I do drafts, quarterhorses, morgans, anything else too. Once they have been in stocks they seem to be easy to trim and shoe without stocks. Easy on me, easy on the horse, and makes things go smooth. Any questions, I would be glad to answer.

[grey]

I agree with Morgan. Hard and fast, all the way around. Chains over and under. In fact, the best set of stocks I’ve ever seen/used also had a “cage” out front in order to fasten the head. Being able to toss the head can afford the horse an incredible amount of leverage and momentum. Tying hard and fast is not a substitute for training, nor are the stocks themselves. Instead, tying hard and fast is a safety measure to prevent the horse from getting injured in the stocks. If the horse cannot move within the confines of the stocks, he cannot throw his weight around and thus can’t get himself hurt.

For a while there, my back was so bad that I could hardly bend over to tie my shoes. By the time I was mostly healed up, my best mare was so well-trained that I can now sit on a low kiddie’s kindergarten chair and my horse will gently rest her foot in my lap so I can trim at my leisure and comfort. Even still, any time I put her in the stocks I tie her hard and fast. It’s not that she isn’t trustworthy. It’s that the consequences of a rodeo in the stocks is so dire that I don’t even want to go there.

[Scott G]

@BachelorFarmer 14100 wrote:

Shoes are good for ice and macadam, other than that they are a nuisance.

With the rock in our area, our horses would be walking on their coffin bones if they weren’t shod.

Never used stocks until about a year ago when I started using a new farrier. He is stellar and so are the stocks. Farrier comfort is paramount in my book. It is hard enough to find good farriers that will work on drafts anymore, so when you do find one its in your best interest to take real good care of them. I spent enough time upside down when I was a young wrangler to realize I just wasn’t built for that s***. My torso makes up the majority of my tall frame so I end up being bent in a ‘U’. Anything I can do for a good shoer to make them happy I will. Stocks, ice tea, working in shade,… whatever it takes.

The only issue I’ve had with my new spotted draft gelding in the stocks is falling asleep. He’ll start dozing off if I’m not watching him and cut off his wind when he slumps on the front crossbar and wake up with a start. Still better off dozing in the stocks instead of on top of the farrier.

[Author]

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