I used to think a quick rasp was fine for a mild flare, but a horse in Spokane changed my mind.

I was working on a big quarter horse at a stable outside Spokane last fall. The horse had a mild flare on the left front, and I figured I could just rasp it down quick and be done. I got about halfway through, being a bit too aggressive, and I heard a tiny 'crack' sound. My heart just dropped. I stopped immediately and checked the hoof wall. I'd gone too thin in one spot and caused a small vertical crack. I had to stop, clean the area, and apply a patch with acrylic. It added a full hour to the job and I felt awful. Now, I take my time with the rasp, even on what looks like an easy fix, and I check my progress constantly. Has anyone else had a simple correction go sideways because you rushed it?

2 comments

2 Comments

knight.xena23d ago

My uncle's old farrier in Boise always said the rasp is the most dangerous tool in the box because it feels so harmless. He told me about a time he was just cleaning up a quarter crack on a trail horse, got distracted by a wasp, and took off way too much heel in one stroke. The horse went lame for a week.

phoenixh7423d ago

Nah, @knight.xena, that's just bad handling, not the rasp's fault.