I only occasionally have to break out the shears.. Usually, I use a cheapo $4 hoof knife from TSC.. I have a more expensive knife, but I like the cheapies better because they're more flexible.
I just trim until all the excess hoof wall is gone, the foot has the correct "trapezoid" shape, and the sole is more or less level with the hoof wall.. I rarely make anybody bleed.
The finished shape should look something like:
__
\ _\
^^^ that when viewed from the side.
I helped a guy get downright brutal with a buck's hooves once.. This buck that had what appeared to be swimming flippers on his front feet, and the trimming he got was something the likes of which I've never seen..
When it was all said and done, the hoof shape was correct....but he didn't have a heel. The sole met flush with the hoof wall across the entirety of the underside of the foot.. It was just...weird.
Needless to say, the buck wasn't walking too much better when he left the stanchion than he was when we loaded him up...and he was grinding his teeth something fierce, too.
I just trim until all the excess hoof wall is gone, the foot has the correct "trapezoid" shape, and the sole is more or less level with the hoof wall.. I rarely make anybody bleed.
The finished shape should look something like:
__
\ _\
^^^ that when viewed from the side.
I helped a guy get downright brutal with a buck's hooves once.. This buck that had what appeared to be swimming flippers on his front feet, and the trimming he got was something the likes of which I've never seen..
When it was all said and done, the hoof shape was correct....but he didn't have a heel. The sole met flush with the hoof wall across the entirety of the underside of the foot.. It was just...weird.
Needless to say, the buck wasn't walking too much better when he left the stanchion than he was when we loaded him up...and he was grinding his teeth something fierce, too.
