An Uncommon Way to Shoe Horses
I noticed what appeared to be a bus shelter while walking with my cousin in Portugal this past week. I was told that it wasn't a bus shelter but was a stand for shoeing horses.
I couldn't appreciate how that would be practical as I, after all, was an expert from seeing all those old cowboy movies.
As I looked closer, there were 2 hooks on one side of the stand, with a matching pair on the other side.
Evidently, a horse would be led in and a sling would go from one side to the other under the house matching each pair of hooks,
The horse was then raised off the ground until there was adequate clearance to get to the hooves with no danger to the animal.
There was a ratchet and stay on the rotator side so that it would lock in place and when the pressure was released after the hooves were re-shod, then the horse would be let down.
It seemed to make sense as with the 4 feet off the ground, the horse would be less likely to hurt itself or the farrier doing the job.
I have been an Activerain blogger since 2008 and as the battery on my laptop died I am posting from a cell phone for the first time.
I am so appreciative of the abilities of those that can do this effortlessly.
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