New Shoes? Neigh lad!

[StephenL]

My computer room is over a small stable. This morning the Farrier arrived.

The Forge


Removing the Chestnuts


Shaping the Shoe


First Fitting


Nailing it


Final Adjustment


Shaving the Hoof

[Guest]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

What an interesting procedure, I thought horseshoes simply came ready made and farriers just fitted them.

A well told story, Stephen.

[StephenL]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

Thanks Mark. Apparently when he was first trained, Ginge used to have to make the day's shoes before going out fitting them. Nowadays they buy them in basic sizes, but they have to be adjusted to each horse's individual fit. Also the hoof needs to be cleaned and trimmed, rather as we cut our toenails.

He’s a fascinating character. He did 13 years as Farrier in the Army, shoeing amongst others the Queen's horses.

[Chevvyf1]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

FAB set Stephen, takes me back to my horses and ponies ... I lurve that smell as the hoof is singed ... its like fresh cut grass or new laid Tarmac

This young Farrier is used to Dinner plate size feet then of Drum horses

Now horses often have "lights" fitted made of various poly-carbons particularly for Race horses because they are Lite

[DerekW]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

Chestnuts - as in Removing the chestnuts

What are they??

[StephenL]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

Chestnuts - as in Removing the chestnuts

What are they??

I didn't know before today. When horses are in the womb, their legs are joined together, front and rear separately, so they don't damage the womb, and they disconnect on birth. The remnants grow like toenails, and often need trimming. It seems painless!

[Chevvyf1]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

I did not know that

but this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_(horse_anatomy)

[Iansky]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

What a great set of documentary images that capture the process of the modern farrier.

You should contact one of the horse magazines and see if they are intrested in these as they capture the process well including removing the chestnuts.

Thanks for sharing.

[Wally]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

As Herr Flick would say 'very interesting,' and the snippets of info add to and round off the photo's.

[Chevvyf1]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

What a great set of documentary images that capture the process of the modern farrier.

You should contact one of the horse magazines and see if they are intrested in these as they capture the process well including removing the chestnuts.

Thanks for sharing.

Yes lots of Horse Mags, online as well as Horse and Hound etc.,

[DaiTheDragon]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

Very interesting, documentary style photographs and learned something as well(chestnuts).

David

[alfbranch]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

Thanks Stephen for showing these

Things I noticed were the anvil is well well used and the nail fille use (farriers rasp) I wouldnt mind the gas forge though.

[tomphotofx]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

Great set of images and a great narration too, enjoyed these a lot. You learn something new all the time on this forum.

Tom

[Wee man]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

Great set chesnuts new to me also used to do a bit of forge work know the skills these people have. Your sotsshow these well.

[Floribunda]

Re: New Shoes? Neigh lad!

Great set and info. I did not know about the chestnuts either.
My grand-daughter, who at 9 wants to be a vet, has just come home from a school camp horribly disappointed, as it poured with rain and the blacksmith could not get his forge alight. I will show her your photos.