Used to pull front shoes cold every time till a gelding kicked me in the ribs in Billings

I used to yank front shoes without any prep, just grab the pull-offs and go. Then this one gelding in Billings, he was a big draft cross, got ornery and caught me square in the ribs with a hind foot. Took me about three weeks to heal up. Now I always soak the foot in warm water for five minutes before I pull, especially if it's been dry weather. Loosens the clinches and nails way easier, less fight from the horse. I also started tapping the shoe with my hammer first to feel if they're hot-set or not. Anyone else change their routine after getting hurt like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

troyreed2mo ago

Ha, I dunno man, three weeks from a hoof to the ribs sounds kinda rough. Maybe it cracked a rib or something, but idk, seems like you could be milking it a little.

kai_butler832mo ago

Took you three weeks from a hoof to the ribs? Were you wearing a vest or just tough?

walker.max1mo agoMost Upvoted

Three weeks from a hoof to the ribs?" Man, I gotta jump in here and say bone bruises and rib cracks are no joke. I've seen guys take a kick and it's not just the initial pain, it's the breathing and moving that gets tricky for weeks after. @troyreed, I know you said he might be milking it, but bruising can go deep and take forever to heal. A vest helps sure, but even with one a hard enough hit can still mess you up. And three weeks isn't even that long, a cracked rib can keep you sidelined for a month or more easy. So yeah I'm on the side that says this guy probably wasn't exaggerating at all.