Can we talk about how much younger farriers today do things different?

I was out in Lexington, Kentucky last week helping a guy named Dave pull shoes on a 5-year-old mare and he pulls out this little angle grinder with a special disc. Took him maybe 4 minutes per foot. Three years ago I was still rasping everything by hand like my dad taught me back in '87. I guess I'm old school but has anyone else noticed these battery powered tools changing the whole pace of the trade?

2 comments

2 Comments

gonzalez.vera3d ago

Honestly, what's the big deal about a little ridge here and there, matthewsullivan? If the horse isn't complaining and the shoe stays on, who cares if you can feel it with your thumb? Ngl, those grinders just save time and let you get to the next horse faster.

matthewsullivan3d ago

Started watching that guy work and realized I've been wasting half my arm strength for nothing. Those little grinders with the flap discs are nuts, they level a foot in like 90 seconds compared to ten minutes of filing. But I still see younger guys skipping the final hand finish and leaving ridges you can feel if you run your thumb along the hoof wall.