When it comes to choosing the best hoof stand, It is important that you do your research and choose a product that fits your needs.
A sturdy hoof rest that is comfortable for your horse to lean its foot on will quite literally take a weight off your shoulders.
Owning your own hoof rest is advantageous for keeping feet filed between farrier visits and can speed up your daily grooming routine.
Here we take a look at 8 of the leading hoof rests and help you decide which one will work best in your stable.
Roundup Of Our Top 8 Hoofstands For Horse Owners
HOOF-IT Hoof Stand- The Blacksmith Model (Best Overall)
[amazon box=”B013X7WJ6O”]
This lightweight stand helps relieve pressure on your back and still comfortably supports the weight of a large breed horse. We like the unique PostCradle design of the rubber hoof rest. no need to switch attachments.
The stand can be lowered to a minimum of 16.25” which is, unfortunately, a bit high for ponies. Horse owners can easily move this hoof jack around even to do more regular tasks such as cleaning feet with a hoof pick.
The base shape has been purposely designed as a hexagon so that the stand will not roll away if tips over. You will need to stand on this plate to stop this lighter model from leaning and falling over.
Pros
- Lightweight and durable
- 2-in-1 PostCradle design
- Non-slip rubber padding
- Easy to adjust
Cons
- Plastic susceptible to horse breakage
- Tips over easily
Tough 1 Profesional Adjustable Farrier Stand (Best Heavy Duty)
[amazon box=”B01M042JZM”]
One of the more durable tools on the market. This farrier stand is made of steel and will survive drops, kicks, and other hazards of regular use. It weighs about 12.8 pounds so is sturdy enough not to constantly tip over but not too heavy to be moved around to where it is needed.
This is a medium-size hoofjack with the lowest height adjustment at 15” which works for most horses except for the very small breeds and miniatures. We love that the hoof cradle can be dropped down to expose the rubber post head, perfect to use for rasping.
The cradle and the filing post are both padded with rubber to protect the foot. This rubber padding can come off if your horse moves its hoof around too much. Luckily the stand will still work if this happens and you could use a towel for padding.
The stand gets more unstable the taller you make it so it becomes a bit wobbly when working on a very large horse. Because of this, we like the wide base diameter so you can stand on it to stabilize against a leaning horse.
Pros
- Adjustable height
- Easily assembled
- Two magnets to hold filing tools
- Heavy Duty
Cons
- Rubber padding comes loose
- Too tall for small horses
HOOF-IT Hoof Stand- Blacksmith PRO – The Professional Model (Best For Stability)
[amazon box=”B07XR6N1W9″]
The same great 2-in-one design as the Original BlackSmith Pro means you don’t have to switch between hoof rest attachments.
The main difference between this and the original version is the non-skid rubber base. This rubber foot provides a fantastic grip on concrete and tile, stopping the farrier stand from sliding around while you work on your horse’s hoof.
We love the bright yellow color and the fact that this medium size hoof jack is fairly lightweight. Some customer reviews report the top attachment cracking.
If this happens, you can buy replacement PostCradle and rubber foot parts which are much cheaper than replacing the whole thing.
Pros
- 2-in1 PostCradle design
- Non-slip rubber foot
- Replaceable parts
- Adjustable height
Cons
- Doesn’t work for ponies
- Some parts can damage easily
Kerbl Hoof Jack EcoFlex 2in1(Best For Flexibility)
[amazon box=”B01BBK2QN6″]
This is a unique design jack that is flexible and doesn’t have a wide base. These factors lower the risk of injury during use. We love that this product is very affordable and has a compact design for easy storage.
We also like that it is more precise when it comes to overall height adjustment thanks to a folding set screw.
You can use the rubber post for edge work or easily attach the hammock cradle. The hammock attachment fits directly onto the rubber post and stores neatly on the base of the stand. The rubber feet on the bottom of the poles provide grip on smooth surfaces.
The hoof jack consists of several pieces and we would rate this as one of the trickier stands to assemble. However, once connected, it is very easy to use.
Pros
- The flexible design prevents injury
- Durable materials
- Affordable Price
- More precise adjustment
Cons
- Parts are more easily damaged
- Tricky to assemble
Castillo Hoof Stand- Steel/ Aluminium (Best Light Weight)
[amazon box=”B07C2KZFRC”]
This stand is made of durable steel and aluminum. It weighs a mere 1.9pounds/ 900g, making it super easy for a horse owner to carry around. It can also be compacted down to a small size for more convenient storage.
The tool comes with a cradle and a post fitting and is adjustable in height. Both attachments are rubber padded and can be shifted around a full 360° while you work to help you or your horse get more comfortable.
The stand has short pedestal-type feet which help balance on uneven surfaces. Our only issue with this stand is the small design of the base. It is difficult to hold it down and prevent a fidgety horse from flipping it over.
Pros
- Compact design
- Extremely lightweight
- Non-slip base
- Adjustable height
Cons
- Poor base design
- Magnet isn’t very strong
High Country Plastics Farrier Stand (Best For Tall Horses)
[amazon box=”B005HH4SHW”]
Despite the misleading name, this is a sturdy steel rest perfect for taller horses.There are 4 height options but you can also let the pole drop lower down without inserting the pin. Before you use it, you need to screw the straight post onto the base plate with a wide, flat-head screwdriver.
There are magnets on the main pole to store a file, hoof knife, or shoeing nails. These magnets fall off quickly but are easy to fix with superglue. You can also keep the pole fitting that is not in use on these magnets.
This farrier hoof rest is very tall but, with the right tools, you could cut the pole shorter and add extra holes for lower adjustments. Honestly, this is a bit too much effort and we would recommend buying a different product if you have a smaller horse.
Pros
- Durable, good quality metal
- Very stable
- Cradle and pole rest attachments
- Non-slip base
Cons
- Too tall for small horses
- Some assembly required
Hoof Holder Hoof Stand With Cradle (Best Value Generic Product)
[amazon box=”B09HNL5P76″]
The generic farrier tool is much more affordable than similar products sold by well-known brands. The Hoof Holder Hoof Jack consists of a sturdy 14” x 18” base and two interchangeable rests.
There is one straight post with a rubber cap to rest the hoof on. The second attachment is a hammock holder to use while fitting a shoe or using a hoof pick. We like that this hammock-style cradle is flexible and conforms to different hoof shapes including small draft and draft cross hooves.
The plastic base is lightweight and comes in an attractive blue color. The hexagonal shape of the base is a bonus as it will not roll away if it falls or your horse kicks it over.
Pros
- Suitable for front and hind feet
- Adjustable height
- Durable materials
- Magnets to hold tools
Cons
- No guarantee that comes with trusted names
- Not for small horses
F.R.A.Hoofstand (Best Budget)
This entry-level metal stand keeps things simple. The F.R.A Hoofstand has an upright post on an adjustable pole with tripod legs to keep it stable. The longest leg on the tripod is great to stand on to keep the frame stable while you work on your horse’s foot.
This is the budget-friendly option, coming in at only a quarter of the price of other hoof stands. The lower price means fewer bells and whistles. However, it gets the job done and is super useful when it comes to filing, trimming, shoeing, and general hoof care.
Pros
- Cheap price
- No assembly required
- Available in red or yellow
- Sturdy build and steel feet
Cons
- Can easily be tipped over
- Not many product details
How To Choose The Best Hoof Stand
Practicality
First off, it shouldn’t take an engineering degree to assemble your new tool. The fewer loose pieces that can get damaged or lost the better. The stand should also be very easy to use in terms of shifting between rest attachments or adjusting the height of the pole.
This is something you could use every day. It needs to be light enough to move around fairly easily and not so bulky that you have no space to store it.
Adjustability
Most hoof holders available are adjustable in one way or another. Many have a pole that you can change height either by loosening and tightening a clamp or moving pins up and down set holes.
Most available products come with two attachments; A cradle or sling rest to use for working on the bottom of the hoof and; a post/ ball fitting to use when working on the top or outside of the hoof. Ideally, any attachment hoof rests should be padded with foam or rubber for comfort and stability.
When deciding what to buy, you need to know which horses you intend to use the tool for. A standard hoofjack will fit most medium to large breeds but for small breeds, ponies, and older horses that struggle to lift a leg, you should look into buying a pony-size jack or at least a product with a lower minimum height
Stability
You rarely find a horse that stands perfectly still when you work on its feet. A wide, heavy base with extra space for you to stand on works great to avoid the jack getting flipped over by a leaning or curious horse.
Some hoof stands even have a rubber underside that grips on smooth surfaces and prevents the rest from sliding around. Raised ‘feet’ underneath a jack can help create stability on uneven surfaces and get a better grip on grass.
There are perks to flexible frames that don’t have a big, solid base. For one, they give way when kicked or shoved and are less likely to injure you or the horse. Some horses are also spooked by big colorful objects or more restless around these bulky stands. In this case, a tripod-based post may be less risky.
Price
Finally, your budget is going to affect your decision on which hoof stand to buy. Tried and tested quality usually comes with a price but that is not to say you can’t find a good budget stand.
If you own multiple horses and work on their hooves yourself, it is going to be worth spending some extra money on a good quality stand that will last you years. The same goes for anyone training to become a professional farrier or if you are running a livery or stud farm with lots of horses in your care.
An alternative is to make your own hoof stand. It’s easier than you think and very affordable.
If you regularly employ a farrier to see to your horse’s feet and are only looking to do some touch-up trimming and filing a few times a month; a cheaper hoof rest will work just fine.
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