Trimming Overgrown Donkey Hooves

This day was challenging, taking care of very overgrown and distorted hooves on three donkeys.

Our 2011 Class at Pegasus Rehabilitation

That's me in the black tank top.  Mark and Karen are in the front.  Marie and Zander and Ted are to my left.  Jose and Mike are to my right.  I haven't been in contact with the other class members.  To date I think me and Marie and Zander and Ted are the only practicing farriers from the class.

Mule Hooves

These were some pretty overgrown mule hooves when I started.  They are in good shape now.  Since getting out of school, I've worked a whole lot on donkeys and mules.  I find them as enjoyable to work with as horses and ponies.

Risks of the Trade

I couldn't resist sharing this.  I can't tell you how I've grown very AWARE of when a horse needs to poop when I'm working on the back hooves.  I've nearly had a load dropped on my head a few times and now recognize the signs of needing to quickly drop the foot and stand back!

Another Extreme Case

This is a pair of extremely distorted/overgrown pair of hooves on a miniature pony. She is now back to being sound and functional.

Since this pony, I've encountered another mni that had hooves that were literally a foot long, horizontal...and she's quickly becoming normal and sound.

Hooves I've Encountered

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was first out of school, I thought hooves like these were very challenging and scary to work on.  In the past two years, I have found these to be the "norm" and I've encountered hooves that are literally a foot long and horizontal on the ground and twisted like a licorice vine...with the frog pointing 90 degrees in the wrong direction.  I have been able to correct these hooves and make the horses/ponies sound again.  It's amazing what some regular and correct farrier work will do to fix an equine hoof.

Learning Equine Leg/Hoof Anatomy