Bought a cheap hoof stand from a catalog years back and it cost me more than just cash

Back in maybe 2008, I was trying to save a few bucks and ordered one of those no-name hoof stands from a discount tool catalog. It was about $60 cheaper than the good ones. Thing felt flimsy right out of the box, but I figured it would do. The leg lock was plastic and gave out after a few months, dropping a draft cross's hoof right on my knee. That cost me a week of work and a doctor visit. The real kicker was the base, it was too light and tipped over with a nervous horse, scaring it and making my job ten times harder. I ended up buying a proper stand within the year, so I basically threw that $60 plus a week's pay out the window. Anyone have a brand of stand they've used for years that can take a real beating?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona_murphy3d agoMost Upvoted

Ugh, that's the worst kind of false economy. Honestly, the week of lost wages is the real killer there. A lot of folks don't factor that in when a cheap tool breaks. It's not just the replacement cost, it's the downtime and the risk. That plastic leg lock is a huge red flag. Good stands are all metal for a reason, they have to handle the torque from a horse shifting its weight. A tipy base is a safety issue for everyone involved.

hayden1443d ago

Saw a story last week about a farrier who got a bad knee injury from a folding stand collapsing mid-job. The horse spooked and it was a whole mess. You're totally right about factoring in lost work, that's the hidden cost that wrecks your budget. Cheap gear feels like a win until it fails at the worst possible moment. Makes you wonder how many shops cut corners on safety to hit a price point?

the_nathan1d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, a plastic leg lock on a farrier stand? That's just asking for trouble...