Dave Farley finds there’s always much more to learn about how to trim a foot and nail on a shoe. The Coschocton, Ohio, and Wellington, Fla., farrier says it took him 20 years to fully learn and understand foot balance.

He’s found that using a laser level and a contour gauge can help farriers learn to effectively balance the foot.

By using these two low-cost construction tools, Farley says you’ll be surprised at how quickly your eye will begin to more effectively see the distortions that are often found in both the hoof and limb.

Laser Level Leads To Effective Limb Alignment

Using a laser level can help a farrier develop his or her eye to see if both the foot and whole limb are properly aligned. The line projected by the laser beam will help you focus on a dozen critical evaluation points as well as letting you take a close look at proper limb alignment.

“When you balance the foot and the limb together, you’ll be able to improve the health of both the foot and the horse,” Dave Farley says. “Flares will recede and wall separations will tighten. Both your clients and the veterinarians you work with will soon see the differences.”

Farley says the main thing you want to look for when shopping for a laser level is finding one that not only offers a horizontal reference line, but also a vertical reference line so that you can develop a T-square image of the limb…