I was sure that new hoof testers were just a gimmick until I tried a pair in Boise.

A guy at the Idaho Horse Expo let me use his 'Flex-Touch' testers on a tricky quarter horse, and the extra feel in the handles showed a subtle abscess spot I'd missed. I bought a set right there after seeing the difference on three more horses that afternoon. Has anyone else switched tools and been surprised by how much it helped find problems?

4 comments

4 Comments

lily5717d ago

Man, that's so true about judging tools too fast. I did the same thing with those padded hoof stands, thought they were just for fancy show barns. But my old gelding with arthritis stands so much quieter on one. Hey @aaron_mitchell, your story about the digital pick is exactly it, sometimes the new thing just gives you a better look. I guess we all get stuck in our ways with the tools we know. What's the next gadget we're all probably wrong about?

price.ben17d ago

Check out those cordless clippers if you haven't yet. I made fun of them for years, but the lack of a cord and less noise is a game changer for my spooky mare.

juliarodriguez9d ago

My wallet is starting to feel personally attacked.

aaron_mitchell18d ago

Ever feel like a total idiot for judging a tool before you even pick it up? I was that guy with the digital hoof pick, swore it was just a fancy toy. Used my old trusty one for years, then borrowed a buddy's digital pick on a wet day and the little light showed me a crack starting way up in the frog I never would have felt. My pride still hurts a little.