McMahan’s Hoofcare

04/07/2025

Not a joke...

Have you ever wondered why you can have a 15 acre field and part of it is chewed down to nubs and the other part has grass a hand high, But your horse is constantly grazing in the chewed down part?

Grass 6 inches and taller has less sugars than grass under 6 inches.

For every inch drop below 6 inches, the fructan (sugar) content rises.

Grass under 6 inches is stressed like it's a Monday morning with a project deadline. It uses sugar to repair itself.

Stop mowing your fields short.

Stop grazing your chubbys on chewed down grass. (this is why grazing muzzles are so touted...they keep the horse from being able to get much short grass)

(We aren't saying let your fields be 3 feet tall, by the way. The optimal thing to do is keep them 6-8 inches tall and graze them in small areas there)

04/03/2025

Cleaning up some older nippers and shoe pullers. I wish I had thought to take a picture of them rusty and crusty before I started!

03/29/2025

Gotta love a good ol’ barn cat!

03/25/2025

Reliable farrier accepting a limited number of reliable clients with well behaved animals within an hour or so of Penn Valley/Grass Valley area. Trims only. YES! I trim (and love) donkeys!

03/02/2025

Many horses are brilliant for the farrier, some need a little more support and some find it really hard!

No one wants to be “fired” by their farrier and there is so much you can do to help prepare your horse to be trimmed and shod… and give your farrier an easier time with your horse.

Simple things to work on that make the world of difference:

1. Standing still when tied up
2. Hold their foot up for a longer time than just having their feet picked out
3. Move their legs forwards and take them back
4. “Hammering” on their feet with a hoofpick
5. Holding their legs at different heights

Some horses require a little bit of additional input and guidance. If you would like to help or to learn how to make your horse foot perfect for your farrier, get in touch to book a session in!

01/24/2025

Voting ends tomorrow at midnight (technically 11:59 pm but who’s counting? 🤣) Vote for me!

https://www.theunion.com/bestof2024/

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01/07/2025

It’s that time of year again! Don’t forget to vote for me for the best farrier! It’s under pets->farriers/hoof trimmers 

https://www.theunion.com/bestof2024/

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12/27/2024

Don’t forget to nominate me! 😊

Click the link to nominate your favorite businesses in Nevada County for the Best of 2024!

https://www.theunion.com/bestof2024/

This year brought us so many magical moments, like the unforgettable aurora lighting up our skies. It’s a reminder of how special our Nevada County community truly is. Let’s celebrate the businesses that make it all shine! 🌟

Nominations are open until January 4! We need your help to make The Union’s Best of 2024 website a comprehensive list of all the best businesses in the county!

09/21/2024

Did you know?

PPID, or Cushing's disease, is highly prevalent in aged horses, affecting up to 20% of horses over the age of 15. 🐴 This endocrine disorder causes excessive production of cortisol, leading to symptoms like laminitis, weight loss, and a long, curly coat. Monitoring for signs and managing with appropriate care and medication can improve the quality of life for horses with PPID.

Visit our blog to learn how to feed a horse with PPID:
🇺🇸https://madbarn.com/how-to-feed-a-horse-with-ppid/
🇨🇦https://madbarn.ca/how-to-feed-a-horse-with-ppid/

08/28/2024

This is a great illustration of why you shouldn't pull nails or any foreign object out of the foot until you have taken the horse to the vet to have it xrayed. If you pull it out, without a radiographic image, you won't know where the nail Penetrated. Getting radiographic images can help prevent your horse from long term or permanent lameness.

08/03/2024

Why does your farrier require you to stay on a schedule if you stay with him? Is he just wanting more money? Is he just taking advantage of you? Absolutely not. It’s all about keeping the horse’s foot as consistent as possible. Too many people think “oh, they don’t look bad so they don’t need done.” When in reality, if they do look good inbetween cycles, and they still look good when they are due next…that’s a compliment to the job the farrier has done.

For every 1 centimeter of extra toe, it’s an added 50 kilograms of force on the tendons. If you do the conversion, that’s 110lbs of extra tension!!!!! Think about the pain a horse has with toes that are 4-5” long. Or, on a horse that’s only done once or twice a year. So, when a farrier requires or asks that their clients stay on a schedule, it’s for the benefit of the horse. It’s our job as farriers to do what we can to keep our client horses both sound and comfortable.

07/21/2024

Forget firefighters! When there’s a heat wave, clients who have Krispy Kremes, fans, ice water and lawn chairs waiting for ya are the real heroes!

07/09/2024

Time to say see ya later to that raggedy old steel stand and helloooooo nurse to a fancy new extra light stand!

07/08/2024

This is such a common problem these days.

I get a lot of inquiries from people looking for a new hoof care provider, but their horses do not stand well for the farrier, so unfortunately I am not able to help them. I have too many of my own aches and pains to struggle with horses that pull legs away repeatedly, dance around, or kick.

Seriously. This is basic ground manners. All horses should be trained to stand still for at least 15-20 minutes and hold legs up for at least 3-5 minutes at a time without fuss. (I do make exceptions for painful horses - as much as my body can handle!)

It is not the farrier's job to train your new/young/rescue horse. If you are unable to train the horse yourself, hire a trainer.

I think this is one of the greatest gifts we can give horses to ensure they remain wanted and cared for -- good ground manners, and that includes farrier manners. Make it your goal for your horse to be your farrier's and vet's favorite client. If you take the time to train your horse this skill, it will generalize into all other areas and your horse will be better behaved and more enjoyable to be around in every way.

If you are constantly having a hard time finding a good hoof care provider, or repeatedly "they just stopped returning calls", or wonder why the farriers with the best reputation "aren't taking new clients" when you call........ ask yourself if this could be part of the reason.

Additionally, I cannot possibly do my best work on a moving target. If you horse isn't standing well, he's not getting the best trim.

PLEASE. TRAIN YOUR HORSE. It isn't just for us, it is for them.

03/29/2024

THANK YOU so much for voting McMahan’s Hoofcare the best farrier in Nevada County two years in a row!