While at the Summit last week I had a small discussion at my booth that may be of interest,a farrier from out west stated that the Hoof Planes did not work for him very well , I asked him to tell me about it, as another farrier approached , farrier #2 is from the mid atlantic region. Farrier #2 buys 1 Hoof Plane from me per year , and we joke about that I should "rent " him a Hoof Plane, then I could make some money on the deal. Well farrier #2 heard farrier#1 trial;s about the very hard hooves that the Hoof plane does not work well on and proceeded to give advice on softening up the hooves with heat via the use of a torch. Farrier # 1 on occasion attempted to interrupt the good advice and farrier #2, with best of intentions kept suggesting the handling of the torch and how it worked. After it quited down, I suggested that when the hooves are that hard out in hose areas it is often because the ground is very dry,sometimes drought condition..........and high fire risk, that even if it was a good practical way of softening the hoof, it might not be looked upon too kindly by the fire folk,barn owners and ranchers etc. since any open flame is in and of itself a risk. I bring it up, not to point at anyone, but to show the uniquteness of our world, in that what works in one area may not be the best idea in another. thought it was interesting ray
I've never tried the propane torch on the hoof trick; never felt the need. In the last 5 yrs, I have dealt with 2 Vet referrals of torch burn induced laminitis. 1 lived & 1 didn't. As with anything horse related; you had better know what you're doing.
I've never tried the torch thing, and probably nevery would - lack of proper training. Like Brian said, got to really know what you're doing.
Hot fitting does the same and even if you are just trimming you can heat up a shoe and hit the hoof and it does it faster to me?
But, Depending on the fire hazard conditions of the area at the time, any fire might not be the smartest tact! Point being,that we as practicers,usually give opinions based on what may be limited knowledge of particular situations.all based on what we do each day. Ray
After hearing about other regions, that deal with drought & wild fires reminds me of our state motto that should be on the license plate, "Michigan. It's just not that bad"
I've used a heat gun. It's electric. It doesn't have an open flame. Mine has two settings: low and high. It's a bit like a hair dryer. I've even used it for bending up to 1" pvc conduit. (I'm a retired electrician. Which is why I know about that.)
We have weeks in Portugal when we have to be extra careful when hot shoeing , common sense prevails , most folk have facilities for working hot steel ,
