Guide School & Packer Training - Hunting, Fishing & Camp Cook School

A Guide School Student's Journal

      

Wrangled at 6 a.m., breakfast at 6:30, up to the tack shed by 7. In our classroom session today we went over shoeing tools, basic hoof anatomy and steps for shoeing a horse or mule. Then we caught and haltered our assigned horses to start practicing the real thing.

We started out by pulling the old shoes off the horses, which wasn't too difficult. But after Cody demonstrated how to trim the hooves and put new shoes on, we found out that part isn't near as easy as an experienced shoer makes it look. Now we see why he has us practice the "shoer's squat" all week. Those upper leg muscles really start to scream. Fortunately though, we all got a few shoes nailed on with no casualties to us or the horses.

Late afternoon Cody demonstrated different horse restraints (twitches, scotch hobbles, etc.) for use in extreme situations. Tough day, overall, but definitely educational!