Question about using a new rasp on a draft horse with flat feet

I picked up a Heller Classic rasp last month, thinking it would save time on a big Percheron with pancake feet. First shoe, I went at it like normal but the cut felt way too fast, took off more than I wanted in two passes. Ended up with a sole that was too thin for comfort, had to switch back to my old rasp to finish. Anyone else had a tool work too well and mess up your feel for the job?

2 comments

2 Comments

nora_chen21d ago

Oh man, "pancake feet" is such a perfect way to put it! I've heard that about the Heller rasps, they cut super fast. It sounds like you might have been using the same pressure as your old one. With a fresh, sharp tool like that, I try to let the rasp do the work with a lighter touch, especially on a flat foot. It takes a shoe or two to get the feel for a new tool's speed.

martin.dakota21d ago

My first time with a Heller rasp I turned a perfectly good hoof into something that looked like a cheese grater attacked it. I was so used to leaning into my old dull one that the new one just ate through everything. It's a humbling moment when your tool is clearly smarter than you are. How many shoes did you mess up before you got the hang of it?