Had a shoe come off a draft horse in the middle of a trim last Tuesday and had to improvise with a hoof pick and some baling twine from the barn to keep him comfortable until I could get back with my truck.

What's your go-to quick fix when you're caught without a full kit on a farm call?

3 comments

3 Comments

My old boss in Kentucky would have fired me on the spot for using baling twine like that. It stretches and can cause a worse problem. I always keep a roll of vet wrap in my truck now.

mary37216d ago

My cousin's a farrier and he said the same thing about baling twine, it's a real farm hack but not safe for actual repairs. He saw a horse get tangled bad because the twine gave way and snapped back. @the_stella is totally right about the stretch causing worse issues. Vet wrap is cheap and made to hold under pressure without tightening down like a tourniquet. It's just not worth the risk trying to make do with the wrong stuff. Keeping the right supplies on hand is a basic part of being responsible.

the_lee16d ago

My buddy's gelding got a nasty cut on his leg and they used twine as a quick wrap. The thing tightened up overnight and cut off circulation, ended up with a huge vet bill. Seeing that mess was enough to make me keep the right stuff in my tack room forever.