My Favorite Horse

My favorite horse stands between 14 and 17 hands. I have gone as small as minis and as large as drafts.

On the back half, the smallest shoes might be “00”, but I carry a few sets of “000”. The front half might be as large as a “2”, but I carry up to a “4”.

They spend their days going on trial rides, local horse shows, and ranch work.  

Some may jump fences and perform some significant arena work. Some may race around barrels, poles and flags.

They live and train in back yards, boarding barns, working ranches and dude ranches.

Their hooves are trimmed to the angles dictated by their conformation, not the vanity of people.

Horses have big soft noses. It’s okay if they tickle my back when I am working on their front half. No biting please.

Working Conditions

In a perfect world it would be nice to always work on nice clean rubber mats, on a cool spring day, in the shade with good lighting, a soft breeze blowing, witty banter with the client, and a well behaved horse.

All that said, I have worked in the road ditch in the blazing sun. I have worked in the mud surrounded with biting flies. I had a peacock run under a horse one day as I was driving nails. That was just way too exciting. So let’s be adults here. Ask yourself, “Would I want to work there under those conditions?”

If outdoors, a reasonably clean flat area, large enough for all of us including the horse, my anvil and tools is required.

If indoors, lighting is a big issue. Good task lighting is preferred, or if you have a useful outlet, I have a string of lights.

Dust and debris are dangerous to all, including your horse. Let’s clean up.

Dogs, cats, goats, sheep, poultry, bovines, and anything else that gets in the way, or worse spooks the horse, must be kept away. Your horse is a big powerful animal, and we can both get hurt real fast.

Let’s all be safe every day.