by Sammy L. Williams, Mexico, MO
I have shod horses professionally for over 55 years! I am primarily a Saddlebred farrier but have filled in with Morgans, Arabians, and various other breeds and disciplines in order to keep a full work schedule close to home. I have appreciated reading The Natural Angle, which provides good information, techniques, and processes that are important for my profession. However, I do not recall reading the detail of equipment a full-service professional farrier needs to bring to every job he/she does. To be successful it is essential to be well equipped.
First, I use a Ford 250 with a custom camper shell, dedicated only to my business. My own design of shelves and cubbyholes within the camper shell makes it easy for me to reach and use every piece of equipment necessary, without the expense of a trailer or larger/more complex rig. Everything in the truck is fastened down or arranged to prevent movement in transit on sometimes rough roads. The payload of my truck is about 2,000 pounds of supplies and tools.
The reason I carry and have listed certain items is that most barns never have more than a hammer or screw driver around the place. Some may find it unusual that I carry some electrical supplies. I do that in case I have to replace a receptacle to keep my fan(s) going during hot summer months. I also have a light switch for lights in the shoeing area. Wire nuts are sometimes needed to cap off electrical wires until an electrician can fix them properly; this can help prevent barn fires.
I carry and use fly spray in the truck so I do not spread flies from one barn to another. If there are sick horses in a barn, I use disinfectant on my safety shoes, tools, and apron before going to any other barn. I wash my hands and change clothes before even feeding my horses at home. I carry Copper rivets not only to secure pads to horseshoes, but as a handy everyday fix for halters and nameplates as well as other stable leather equipment. I carry an assortment of bolts because I’ve found that a bolt here and there can repair a manure spreader, wheelbarrow, jog cart, tractor, to name a few. Being able to fix some of these things can clear the area for us to get the shoeing done, and is really great Public Relations on a minimal budget!
USEFUL ITEMS FOR YOUR TRUCK
FOR PERSONAL SURVIVAL AND COMFORT
FOR HORSE SAFETY AND HEALTH
TRUCK REQUIREMENTS TO GET TO THE JOB AND GET HOME
- Change of clothes
- Wintertime extra clothes including coat, coveralls, sweatshirt
- Gloves (for warmth and for protection while working)
- Socks
- Paper and cloth towels
- Band aids (cotton cloth)
- Bulk sterile cotton
- Vet wrap
- Antibiotic cream
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Hand soap
- Benadryl for sudden allergies
- Aspirin/Tylenol
- Turpentine
- Copper sulfate, FootPro CS+
- Spray disinfectant
- Canister mosquito and fly spray
- Soap
- Truck requirements to get to the job and get home:
- Mechanic tools with an assortment of bolts and screws
- Tire chains year-round
- Log chain
- Jumper cables
- 3 to 5 ton hydraulic jack
- Mechanic tools with an assortment of bolts and screws
- Tire chains year-round
- Log chain
- Jumper cables
- 3 to 5 ton hydraulic jack
FOR SETUP IN THE STABLES
SUPPLIES FOR ACTUAL SHOEING
- More assorted bolts and screws
- Light switch
- 1 plug-in receptacle
- Copper rivets and nails
- Wire nuts
- Electrical connectors
- Electric fan
- 2 extension cords – preferably 12 or 10 gauge
- 2 drills with assorted drill bits
- Pine tar
- Oakum
- Forshner’s Hoof Packing
- Equi-Pack Soft – Vettec
- Reducine
- Venice turpentine
- Nails, Sizes 4.5 to 16
- Various other types of nails
- All appropriate shoes and sizes for the disciplines you shoe
- Specialty shoe types to have on hand include Saddlebred, Morgan, Arab, plus random keg shoes in various sizes
- Leather pads
- Plastic wedges
- Frog pressure pads
- “Pink stuff” latex
- WD-40 and a light oil
- 6″ Bellota file (for keeping hoof knife sharp)
- Shoeing box full of tools
- Forge
- Extra/spare/replacement tools
- Anvil and bench
- Hoof stands
- Oxygen and acetylene torch
This article is from The Natural Angle Volume 17, Issue 4. For more Natural Angle articles and tips, click here.