Hoof Trimming

This is perhaps the one most critical area of getting your animal ready for show. If you trim the hooves wrong, your animal will not stand correctly, resulting in the animal looking as though it is week in the chimes, posty, and many other defective appearances. Also, trimming too much off the hooves and toes can result in a rocking effect for the animal and really stresses out the tendons and muscles in the legs and can cause the animal to break down in its pasterns.

You can easily ruin an animal who should have been a grand champion by improper hood trimming. So take extra care, use a sharp trimmer, and clean tools. Always keep blood stop or some other type of agent handy for stopping the bleeding if you cut too deep or too much off the hoof. You can also keep your dehorning iron handy and have it heated and sear the area to stop the bleeding. Give a shot of antibiotic and understand that the animal will be tender footed for a few days. Keep a check for infection.