Can you really cut ergots off?!

[Anne_Oxfordshire]

I have trimmed Lady's feathers off ready for showing this season and she looks really smart, the only thing is her ergots stick out and so I can't trim the hair around them, at least not with the trimmers anyway, which looks a bit untidy.

So do I...

a) leave them like that with the longer hair round the ergots?

b) trim the fur round the ergots with scissors and leave the ergots sticking out?

c) cut off the ergots and the fur?

I've been told you can ask your farrier to trim ergots, so presumably you could also do it yourself? My OH has trimmed chestnuts off for me before with his stanley knife! Works brilliantly.

But how close can you cut ergots to the skin? I am worried about cutting too much off and making it bleed or something!

Thanks

[cubic]

If you soften them up with water you can often pick them off with your fingers. Only the "dead" bits will soften enough for you to pick them off, so you avoid the problem of trimming too close.

[bliss]

My farrier cuts bliss's chestnuts and ergots - she will not tolerate having them picked, she'll drop to the ground - I wouldn't do it myself, can't you ask your farrier to do it, the first time, so you can see how much to leave, and then you could get your OH to do it after??

[Roz]

Would agree with Bliss, get your farrier (or barefoot trimmer) to do it for you, they know what they are doing. My lad was born without ergots, strange but true!

[silversnaffles]

Come to think of it, my mare doesn't have ergots either! But my welsh sec D has massive curly ones lol! xx

[cubic]

Apr 8, 2008 21:42:16 GMT 1 Roz said:

My lad was born without ergots, strange but true!

It must be evolution!

[rosie]

My farrier cuts my mares. She doesnt like me trying to pick her chestnuts either, but doesnt bother at all about the farrier cutting them or her ergots.

[Charlyfarly]

OMG - with a stanley knife!!!!? possily a disaster in the making??? sorry I just had a DANGEROUS ACT moment

[Anne_Oxfordshire]

I know what you mean dylansmum! I thought while I was writing that that you're all going to think it's really dangerous! oops! But this was on Galaxy who's 28 and stands like a log (moving suddenly would be waaaay too much effort for her!). Wouldn't attempt that on Lady who's young and fidgety!

Thanks for other suggestions and comments. I think I will ask the farrier what he thinks next time he comes (2 weeks time).

Thanks

[Fussymare]

It does depend on the breed. My TB doesn't have any ergots to speak of, but my WelshxTB has huge ones!! I asked the farrier to trim them last time he did her feet. He told me they can bleed if you cut them back too hard.

[horsey123]

my trimmer does mine if i ask her