(Update: I found out on his next visit that he is not, in fact, a farrier. A farrier trims hooves for the purpose of affixing shoes. This guy is a barefoot hoof trimmer. It’s a different style, intended to make the hoof flat against the ground and to help the hoof become calloused, similar to wild horse hooves. I’ve changed his title through the rest of the post. 🙂 )

We wanted to have a whole neighborhood trimming party. The guy has to drive nearly an hour to get out here, so he might as well trim all the hooves around here. Unfortunately, our young horse Whiskey (pre-named when we got him) got a crack in his hoof, so we asked the trimmer to come as soon as possible.

Foundational problems demand attention – horses, houses, or humans.

I had never seen this done before. The trimmer enjoyed his work and was kind enough to let me take a few pictures of what he does.

He started with a hoof pick. (Sorry the picture is poor. The horses are used to my camera, but I was still trying not to make Whiskey nervous. Horse hooves are no trifling matter.)

Then he used the hoof nipper above to take off some of the overgrowth.

He and Whiskey interrupted the repair session for a couple heart-to-hearts about exactly where those hooves were allowed to go.

As I said, horse hooves are no trifling matter.

Whiskey lives up to his name by being a particularly “spirited” horse.

Last, the trimmer used a rasp to file down the edges.

The barefoot hoof trimmer and his wife give horseback riding lessons at their home. I’m considering this as a mother-daughter activity with my horse-happy older daughter.

The last person who tried to give me horseback riding lessons told me to think left to go left, and think right to go right.

I tried it, and the horse just stood there.

Clearly, I do not share a telepathic bond with the equine species. This guy seemed to deal with the horses in a less mysterious way, though, so I’ll give it another try.

After the trimmer was done, he and my husband talked for forty-five minutes about desensitization techniques, training, and I don’t know what else. What do men who have never met talk about for nearly an hour?

Then a neighbor stopped by, and they stood out there talking for another forty-five minutes.

It was all hooves, harnesses, and hay. I said howdy to the neighbor and high-tailed it inside to get the kids to bed.

Maybe one of these days I’ll post a set of pictures taken from horseback! Don’t be counting on it anytime soon, though! 🙂