Hoof trimming

GoldenWood Farm · #1 02/28/13, 11:45 PM

Okay I feel like an IDIOT asking for help on this but I am willing to admit I need it. Hi my name is Justine and I suck at trimming goat hooves

. I can't seem to get them in the right shape and I ALWAYS leave their toes too long but I can't seem to get the knack of doing a proper trim on them.

How can I get some of my poor girls hooves back to how they are supposed to be? I have been searching for the past 30 minutes online on various forums and websites for a good picture guide. I can't seem to find any that will help me actually fix my bad trim job on my does

. I am sucking it up because I thought I had actually done a pretty good job but when I pulled out Lady to grain her today I looked at her feet and dagnabit I left her toes too long!

I try and follow all the guide lines and charts but I just can't seem to "get it". Maybe I need a different tool when trimming? Maybe I am just hopeless and doomed to ruin my goats hooves? All I can say is I am raising my hands and yelling "HEEEELP" over here.

Justine

Gaby Rose · #2 03/01/13, 12:58 AM

You've probably already done this but YouTube really helped me in the beginning.

GoldenWood Farm · #3 03/01/13, 01:08 AM

The saddest part is I have had goats for 10yrs and obviously been trimming for that long. Sometimes I do great and I can eek by but I would really like to learn how to trim well and correct problem hooves/feet.

Justine

KrisD · #4 03/01/13, 01:45 AM

Hmm when I started I would put a ruler parallel to the coranary band and draw a line on the edge ruler. Then I would just trim along the line I drew.

Minelson · #5 03/01/13, 06:38 AM

I hear you Goldenwood! I'm having trouble with Pony's feet looking too long on the toes. I feel like I never take enough off of any of them. Kris,...If I drew that line with a ruler I'm afraid I would have a LOT of blood. But I will try that and see. Part of my problem is patience because I'm trying to figure out how to do it without straining my back and I feel awkward.

Backfourty,MI. · #6 03/01/13, 07:06 AM

I'm sure I'm not the best at hoof trimming either. I could probably go a little shorter sometimes but I'm always afraid of cutting to short & having them bleed. A couple times I did see a drop of blood where it would start oozing & that scared me so I don't go that short anymore.

KrisD · #7 03/01/13, 10:17 AM

Min it doesn't have to be super short. Just make sure the line is straight so your angles are good and straight. You can take a little more off each time.