"Dear Riley Built,

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to visit Texas and spend some time hoof trimming with you. It was a great experience. The knowledge I gained has helped me in consulting clients on preventative hoof care in my veterinary practice.

I was very impressed with your chute design especially the safety and ease of handling for both the operator and animal. Cow after cow was quickly restrained for trimming without injury or stress and remained calm through the entire procedure. I am fully convinced that a tilt system such as yours is safer and more humane than an upright chute using only belly bands for support. The view of the hooves your table provides is excellent for accurate diagnosis and treatment of any claw or foot problem.

Your chute proved more than adequate for the handling of every frame size of animal. An important compliment of your chute is how little physical effort is required by the trimmer apart from the actual trimming itself. Having trimmed animals in manual chutes, I can fully appreciate the total automation in your chute.

From a disease prevention standpoint, it was nice not to have manure contaminate the work area or subsequent cows in the chute. Congratulations on a winning design, and keep up the good work.

Sincerely

Alan Langill D8VM"

"It was a year ago that I almost made one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I was thinking about becoming a hoof trimmer and had all but decided to buy an upright shoot, and have a man that I knew real well, and that had done our trimming for years train me on the art of hoof trimming.
He had me so convinced that no farmer would ever use a table anymore because they were unsafe and unfriendly.
One of the things that bothered me about his operation was the fact that he needed someone with him to help get them in the chute and pick up the feet so that he could trim.
I knew that if I was going to become a good hoof trimmer I wanted the ability to do quality, fast, and efficient work on my own. We all know what it's like to have to worry about hired help not showing up! That was one worry I didn't want.
These few details convinced me to check out other options of tables to find what I was looking for, and one that farmers would like.
One day, I heard about an individual named Bill Riley, and I decided to give him a call.
He would eventually sell me a truck mounted tilt table that definitely rose above all the rest.
I was trained by a friend of Bill Riley's who taught me how to properly trim cows feet.
Bill Riley's tilt table and trimming methods were the best I have ever seen! It was unreal to see a cow stand up on her toes and not sag back on her heels! This is one of the biggest advantages over an upright chute that I, and other farmers I work with, have been impressed about.
On an upright chute it's been said that it's easier to trim from heel to toe because of foot angle, but on Bill's table the feet are secured, and all sides of the foot are clearly visible and accesible from every angle! The cow's comfort level on Bill's table, is better in my opinion, because they can lie comfortably in a natural position while their feet are being trimmed.
The farmers I work with have commented time and time again on how well they like the position of the cow, the foot angle and the way in which we trim. Bill's style of trimming is clearly the right way!
I was trimming for a gentleman early this fall that had an upright table trimmer early in the spring. The farmer lost three cows due to the way the upright trimmer had trimmed his cow's feet... he had trimmed the heels off! The farmer had a veterinarian out to look at them and the vet couldn't believe how they took the heels off, and how the chute and trimmers banged up the cows' hips. And that's the second comment like that I've heard.
So, the fact is, you can either have an upright chute and walk in circles all day to pick up thier feet by hand, or you can learn to trim the right way with a hydraulic tilt table made by Bill Riley. The choice is yours, but my choice and only option I would recommend is to use a tilt table made by Bill Riley.
Are you concerned about the difference of number of cows? Well, I have seen and done 60 to 100 cows a day using Bill Riley's tilt table. And that's with one person..... not the two that it takes with an upright!
If you want to learn the right method of trimming and are willing to work, just call Bill Riley and the farmers will be calling you because you'll be doing it the right way. And you'll have the best tilt table you've ever seen"

Bruce Olson
Postville, Iowa
319-864-3332

When I was farming I had alot of John Deere and Massey Fergeson equipment. When getting a new piece of machinery we always had to go over it for things not done correctly or loose bolts. With the trimming chute made by Bill Riley, when you get it you are ready to go. This is the best piece of equipment I have ever bought.

Tom Walker

If you'd like to tell us your own personal story about your experience with Riley Built™ equipment, email your letter to Bill Riley. Be sure to include your name, and any contact information you'd like published.