TIL a simple hoof pick trick from an old timer in Kentucky

I was trimming a mare at a barn outside Lexington last month and the owner's granddad walked over. He showed me how to use the flat end of my rasp to gently tap out packed mud from the sole instead of digging at it with the pick. Has anyone else found a tool they use differently than how they were taught?

2 comments

2 Comments

wadebailey4d ago

That old timer's trick is a perfect example of how sometimes the simplest tools do the job best, as long as you stop overthinking it. The rasp's flat end gives you a nice, controlled tap that lets the mud fall away without risking a stab into the soft tissue. I've also noticed that a lot of folks forget their hoof knife's curved blade works great for scraping off dried-on mud from the sole, not just for trimming the frog.

angela_carter4d ago

Wait, he actually does that with the flat end of the rasp? I've been trimming horses for like eight years and I always thought that was just for hanging a hoof up on your knee or something. That's genius though because digging at packed mud with the pick always makes me feel like I'm gonna stab into the frog or sole by accident. I've definitely caught myself using the little brush on the hoof pick to dust off clods, but never thought to flip the rasp around. That old timer must have a ton of tricks up his sleeve, sounds like he knows his stuff.