My old boss told me to always use a rasp before the finish file

He said it would make the job faster and give a smoother edge on the shoe. I tried it his way for about two weeks on a bunch of different horses. It actually took me longer and left more rough spots than just going straight to the file. Now I skip that step unless the hoof wall is really uneven. Has anyone else found that some 'standard' advice just doesn't work for their style?

3 comments

3 Comments

linda_perry1425d ago

Yeah, that rasp-first advice is one of those things that sounds good in theory. Found it just adds an extra step for most normal trims. Only pull mine out now for a really shelly hoof or a major flare that needs rough shaping.

the_mary24d ago

Totally agree with you @linda_perry14. I read this whole article a while back where a farrier basically said the same thing. He called it a "time-waster" for your average, healthy hoof that just needs a touch-up. Made me feel way better about just grabbing my nippers first for a regular trim. That rasp-first rule always felt like extra work for no real payoff. I only break mine out for the same stuff you do, like dealing with a ton of flare or super crumbly hoof wall.

the_mia12d ago

Honestly that "time-waster" line from the farrier really hits home. So is the whole rasp-first thing mostly for beginners then, to stop them from taking off too much hoof with the nippers? Once you know what you're doing, it sounds like you just skip that step unless the hoof is a real mess. I'm trying to figure out if I was taught wrong or if it's just one of those old rules that doesn't apply to every situation.