Are You Smarter Than A Pony Clubber

ohh I knew these!! My horse was always hot shod and my farrier loved to quiz me. The only one i didnt know was the Commissure.
ohh proud of myself. lol

I am so relieved that I retained this knowledge from all my studying from my quiz rally days... perfect score :)

wow i am shocked how bad my long term memory is! i did all the quiz rally stuff when i was a kid...even went to nationals for it..memory fail :)

So, remember a few weeks ago when I told the story about being away from my home barn and having a local vet come out who "didn't do feet" and then I had to pull the shoe myself to dig out the abscess? Not sure if I told that part, but that's what happened when one of my horses had an abscess in June. Well, the vet who didn't do feet had fortunately driven her partner's truck and had puller, rasp, and hoof knife (tools #1, 7, and 3) with her. There was no way I was going to pull my horse's show off with just pullers, for one because it would tear off half his hoof and for two because he was already in pain from the abscess.

So, I took a hardware store hammer, opened up the pullers and used one edge of them like a clinch cutter (#6). Once I got the clinches loose I used the puller a bit, (start with the back, and pull towards the toe), then I hammered the shoe back down and pulled the nails once they were loose. After that 15 minute process I have a ton of respect for farriers.

I spoke with my farrier once I got home and he said that you could use a very wide flathead screwdriver in an emergency to act as a clinch cutter, but don't angle it in at the hoof or it might cause damage. Also, my vet said that nail pullers are the most useful tool because they can pull any shoe and just remove one nail if it is just a hot nail. Bottom line, always have the right tools, and the right people around you. And don't use this comment as a manual for how to pull shoes, ask you farrier and learn from them--I'm sure they would let you pull one yourself.

Hmmm, I always called the "commissure" the sulci which I think is also correct for #8.

I also agree with John about having respect for my farrier after having to pull a shoe that was twisted with the clip into the sole. Did I sweat!

I've always called #8 the seat of corn (assuming I'm looking at the right thing).

Mary gets bonus points. That is also a correct term.
Blugal - #8 is pointing to the gap between the frog and the..uh, sole. Its the groove where you dig with your hoof pick. The seat of the corn is located in the middle of the "V" shape formed by the wall and the bar, down by the heels. Sorry my pictures are always very clear...photo shop and I have many arguments. Hope that helps to clear it up! :)

Having removed shoes with nothing more than a rasp, hammer, and needle nose pliers (and lots of sweat and cuss words) I will repeat what John said and get the right tools for the job!

After the needle-nose plier experience, my farrier took pity on me and gave me some nail pullers for Christmas years ago. They are my most cherished possession and I guard them with my life. I don't use them terribly often, but when a horse springs a shoe and steps on the clip, it's such a relief to get it off quickly and easily.

These are great! I'm forever linking them to our PC facebook page for kids to study.

going to quiz champoinships this week- really excited