Warning: I keep seeing guys set the hoof knife angle way too steep.

Saw it three times last week at a clinic in Boise, and it's just tearing up the sole. What's your go-to angle for a clean cut?

3 comments

3 Comments

jennyt832mo ago

A steep angle works better for me on some of the really tough, dry hooves we get out here. It lets you get under the dead sole without having to force it. A shallow blade just skates over the top and you end up taking more passes. The key is keeping it sharp and not letting it dig in past the flaky stuff.

the_diana12d ago

Those steep angles are a disaster waiting to happen, especially on anything softer than concrete. I watched a guy last month in Reno bury his knife right into the sole, left a divot the size of a quarter. A shallow 15-20 degree angle lets you feel the sole and peel it off in strips without any force. Jenny, if your blade is skating on tough hooves, it's not the angle, it's the edge. Spend a minute on the stone instead of cranking the angle up and you'll get way more control, no extra passes needed.

avery3662mo ago

Totally agree, I see the same thing. I keep mine pretty shallow too, maybe 20 degrees. Lets the blade do the work instead of gouging.