Roland's nags and nails: my shoes are finally on a horse!

This blog is sponsored by the PRO FEET range of hoof care products from NAF

I think I’ve forgotten to mention in my previous blogs that the shoes I’m now making are being used, rather than thrown away. They’re actually being nailed on, which is (for me) a major accomplishment.

Trimming hooves is now my major focus and, whilst I’m putting serious amounts of concentration into that, I’m trying not to drop the ball with my other tasks. Kris Parsons, my training farrier, did have to bring me up short about leaving nails in the hooves when taking shoes off. It seems that each time the learning curve gets steep, for a while anyway, a few established competencies become incompetencies. Why is that?

Although my next college block and exams aren’t until the end of October, there’s a lot of work to do. The picture is of my scribbles as we journey between yards. It’s a good opportunity to do some book work, but Devon roads and Kris’ driving aren’t conducive to fine art. Even so these drawings will help me recognise conformation abnormalities and prepare me for my other career as a painter (I don’t think so!)

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