All this Barefoot stuff, can someone explain?

[dressagecrazy]

Ok so ive been looking at going Barefoot for a long time, i currently have one horse Barefoot. He is Farrrier trimmed.

I have another old TB who is Barefoot behind & did not take well at all to being Un-shod in Front. He has multiple problems with his body & we found that Eggbars keep him extremely happy & comfortable. With the right treatment i have almost stopped the Ataxia he was suffering from. So atm i wont consider Barefoot with this horse i have got to a point of this system works & im keeping it.

My next horse who is my dressage horse has suffered an injury in the field & damaged his Impar ligament & has adhesions to the DDFT. He has had a Bursa Injection & currently has Eggbars with a frog support then also has Equipak. Im not entirely happy with this & i have researched a lot & im probably going to take this horse barefoot, he's already barefoot behind.

So question im stuck on is there are 2 different groups of Barefoot peeps, what on earth is the differance between UKNHCP & AEP's??? I know obviously one's a UK based group but what are there main differances eg Trims/Idea's???

Im currently leaning more to UKNHCP as they seem to have more published articles on taking performance horses barefoot. Am i right with this thought?

I have no idea how i will take this horse barefoot with a trimmer & keep my farrier happy as well but i guess i will cross that bridge when ive fully finished my research.

 

[amandap]

My personal opinion is that it's a case of finding a good Trimmer that suit you and your horse that is most important.

I personally find it hard to distinguish but EP trim is based on a scientific/mathematical model developed by K.C.La Pierre and UKNHCP is originally based on lessons learned from study of feral horses in USA and is based on knowing what a healthy, strong foot is and how to enable the horse to grow one. Both take an holistic approach and are regulated by their professional bodies so check the lists for these Trimmers. Both also trim and advise for performance barefoot horses which isn't the same as an unshod horse. There are of course Trimmers working outside UK bodies some of whom are excellant and experienced.
The UKNCP and EPA have been working closely together for some time on establishing trim standard.

Equine podiatry association. http://www.epauk.org)/
Institude of applied equine podiatry. http://www.equinepodiatry.net)/
UK natural hoof care practitioners. http://www.uknhcp.org.uk/

I'm not a professional, just an owner so hope this is correct.

 

[Dubsie]

So question im stuck on is there are 2 different groups of Barefoot peeps, what on earth is the differance between UKNHCP & AEP's??? I know obviously one's a UK based group but what are there main differances eg Trims/Idea's???

Im currently leaning more to UKNHCP as they seem to have more published articles on taking performance horses barefoot. Am i right with this thought?

I have no idea how i will take this horse barefoot with a trimmer & keep my farrier happy as well but i guess i will cross that bridge when ive fully finished my research.

I have no idea, but I think there's a 3rd sort, which we fall into: pony has never had shoes and the farrier trims.

 

[LucyPriory]

My personal opinion is that it's a case of finding a good Trimmer that suit you and your horse that is most important.

I personally find it hard to distinguish but EP trim is based on a scientific/mathematical model developed by K.C.La Pierre and UKNHCP is originally based on lessons learned from study of feral horses in USA and is based on knowing what a healthy, strong foot is and how to enable the horse to grow one. Both take an holistic approach and are regulated by their professional bodies so check the lists for these Trimmers. Both also trim and advise for performance barefoot horses which isn't the same as an unshod horse. There are of course Trimmers working outside UK bodies some of whom are excellant and experienced.
The UKNCP and EPA have been working closely together for some time on establishing trim standard.

Equine podiatry association. http://www.epauk.org)/
Institude of applied equine podiatry. http://www.equinepodiatry.net)/
UK natural hoof care practitioners. http://www.uknhcp.org.uk/

I'm not a professional, just an owner so hope this is correct.

The UKNHCP was set up by a couple of ex AANHCP trimmers who fell out with the guy who set it up. Lots of politics which I won't go into.

But the trim standard is not an exclusive premise to the orgs mentioned. Over half a dozen groups involved in setting it up including the AANHCP.

The AANHCP has been called on to give expert testimony in welfare cases and has 35 odd years of experience and has trained hundreds of practising trimmers. So if you have a problem you know someone, somewhere in the organisation will have had it before you and will know how to manage it.

But I agree - it is important to find a trimmer that suits you. But even more important to educate yourself in how to 'read' hooves so you really know if they are healthy and properly trimmed. In my experience probably 80% plus don't know how to. Sadly and with no prejudice or judgement of anyone, it is just how I find it.