Barefoot Farrier - Collapsed Heels Navicular Syndrome

diesel1981

diesel1981

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ammanford
can anyone recommend a barefoot farrier or UKNHCP registered trimmer for carmarthenshire area? have heard of Sara Cave anyone had any experiences? Have horse with Navicular Syndrome and collapsed heels......advised to go barefoot
 
Most farriers do Pasture/Grass trims this is totally different to a barefoot trim a podiatrist also advises on diet, exercise etc I have been advised by farriers, vets and people who have had horses with these problems! read the last post on Navicular syndrome, collapsed heels!!

Does anyone have experience of an Equine Podiatrist in Carmarthenshire??

They are qualified with IAEP (institute of applied equine podiatry)
 
Jamie Hickman - I recommend him, he did a really great job of my horse - I am sure that mine would be lame now if not for Jamie.
He lives in South Wales.
 
Can i just say that that pretty much bollox..

A farrier is more higly trained in trimming and shoeing. they will advise you on diet and excercise if you ask them.. oh and they also have the vetinary knowlege..

A bloody 'barefoot' trim is exactly the same as the trim you farrier does except costs you twice as much and they piss about abit..

sweetheart i know more about navicular than you can shake a stick at that why i asked who has advised you...

They are not qualified in the same level as a farrier who has done his DipWCF and that is that and until they are i will not be advising anyone to use them..

Lou x
 
I do not know of a single farrier that is ''barefoot'' trained.

Im sorry but as a professional i will not get into this debate again, i dont sent much store for EP podiatrists or the like as they are not regulated or highly trained.

We DONT just do a 'pasture trim' we trim for maximum health and function and probably know a lot more about navicular than any EP.
that aside barefoot is often a good option for a horse with navicular except if the horse is in work or needs more support

oh and i second nailed.
 
I am pretty much in agreement with Nailed. "Bare foot farriers" do appear to charge £50 for something my farrier does very very well for £15!!

I trust my farrier 100% and think he does a brilliant job. My horse is competed regularly and has hunted so not just a pasture trim (whatever that it)

 
thanks Silver, dont call them farriers though
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so ur not saying dont do barefoot but use a farrier? i dont know anything about podiatrists barefoot etc thats why im on here, think it was u who suggested it on my other post xx our yard has an excellent farrier but a yard user said a podiatrist would be better, i appreciate any info and am not trying to start a debate but thought this is what the forum is for!!!
Thanks xxxxxxxx
 
Sorry OP, but I'm married to a farrier and I teach anatomy to apprentice farriers and I would not let a "barefoot trimmer" (not farrier) near any of my horses.

I am sorry if you have received a lot of conflicting advice regarding your horse's problem, but I have to say I strongly agree with the sentiments expressed by Nailed and TheFarrier
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Oh, and welcome by the way, sorry!
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didnt mean 2 cause offence!!!! im trying to gather info on the subject and it was The Farrier who suggested i look into barefoot on my other post although he didnt say use a EP, our yard has a great farrier but another yard user suggested i look into EP, im only after information not a debate!
 
This topic unfortunately often becomes a debate.

All farriers can trim. I trim each horse as an individual and never call it grass turn out because it is so much more than that.

I know many horror stories about trimmers that i wont repeat as i dont slag people off. They are not governed by anyone and their training is irregular and often incorrect.

Choose a farrier. I am saying barefoot though. for your horse.
He has been recently diagnosed and the common treatment plan is barefoot in a field for a minimum of six months with regular trimming. get his feet right and the re-evaluate
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If you need any information at any point or advice or help i am always a pm away. and yes it was me that suggested barefoot. It sounds like a good place for yor horse to start.

A farrier will never insist on shoes if they are not necessary
 
If advice feels wrong to you dont take it. Ask for second opinions, third opinions. As many opinions as you like but take them with a pinch of salt. The advice you should consider is any given by a professional who has experience on the subject.

I did suggest barefoot but i would never suggesst or condone using an EP. Find yourself a godd farrier though. You say the one on your yard is good. start with him.

Your horses heels need fixing, he may want to raise them but this can be done without putting a shoe on. talk to the afrrier. I dont want to give too much advice without all the information but this is what i suggest
 
Don't worry...Nailed, for some reason, seems to assume everyone should know she trained as a farrier
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and instead of explaining this to people and advising from there she seems to rant first, explain later
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However, I would echo her's and the farriers advice of sticking with a farrier and steering clear of barefoot trimmers...
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QR

I'd say involve your vet and get him to liase with your farrier. Let your farrier see and work off your horse's x-rays.

I've been (am) where you are and as I had a useless vet and farrier with no other options at the time and getting increasinly frustrated I tried barefoot/used an EP. It was a "trained and registered" person from EPAUK and what a joke. I can't believe I got desperate enough to even go down that route.

Everyone seems to say that "barefoot trimmers" can ALSO advise on feeding, management etc. What training have they had on that? If you want feeding advice speak to your vet and a nutrionalist etc.

Honestly, so I didn't suffer in vain, please speak to your vet or get second opinions etc.

I manged to find a new fantastic practice and farrier who work together. The new vet showed me my mare's plates (old practice didn't/wouldn't) and discussed everything with me. I also read everything that I could on this condition. It's now blatantly obvious to me how being barefoot would never work and my mare needed the support of a wedged egg bar.

I know it's different courses for different horses and it depends on multiple factors but please please work with your vet.

As discussed with my new farrier any trained farrier is perfectly capable of trimming a horse and has many more years training, apprenticeship and exams under his/her belt than any EP.

Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be with a navic horse.

If you want to pm about navic or owt feel free.
 
Thanks so much, poor boy has improved in himself but the feet need sorting asap, do u know of the ways a farrier could support the hoof without shoes?
 
There are several products that could act as a wedge without having shoes there are all glue products and can be made into a wedge. there may be other options as well. you should discuss this with the farrier are your yard for his opinion. i have not seen the horse the vet or the feet so cannot really say what he needs. He may even need shoes but probably since he will be in the field barefoot is best.
 
Hang on everyone - I think you have all lost sight of the original question posed by Diesel.................

'can anyone recommend a barefoot farrier or UKNHCP registered trimmer for carmarthenshire area? have heard of Sara Cave anyone had any experiences? Have horse with Navicular Syndrome and collapsed heels......advised to go barefoot'

So if there is anyone who can advise Diesel of Barefoot trimmers and/or Farriers who specialise in barefoot trimming in the Camarthenshire area I am sure it will be much appreciated
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No to barefoot trimmer.

Yes to an EXCELLENT farrier in Carms, depending on your area. I was near Ammanford.

Wish I could have bought my farrier out to Canada with me, it took me almost a year to find someone to compare.

Another one with bad experiences of 'Barefoot trimmers' I wouldn't trust them to cut my dogs' nails.
 
Rather unfair of you nailed to suggest that barefoot trimmers 'piss you about', are 'all' farriers always late? I'm sure that there are good and bad trimmers just as there are good and bad farriers, dentists, instructors etc etc !!!

And they may not be regulated yet, but I believe its in hand - rome wasn't built in a day.

Diesel - sorry can't recommend anyone but I'm assuming you've checked the websites to see if anyones listed?
 
Used Sarah - no problems at all - very good with the horses and the feet are fine - been using her for and Mel for over three years now.
 
You could try Alun Jones as he is an EP AND a vet, so best of both worlds. I think Jamie Hickman has moved, hasn't he? As my friend was using him but said recently she needs to find a new trimmer.
 
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. How many times have we heard from farriers when a horse has gone lame..."oh it's only a bit of nail pinch, it will settle", only to be left with a hopping lame neddy, a week of poulticing and in all probability a month of not being able to ride all for a hefty price of £60, not to mention confining the poor beast to barracks to heal from a human inflicted injury, vets bill, antibiotics, bute and the cost of all of that. I took my pony barefoot in February, and aside from being footy on rubble (which even a shod horse has trouble with), I am not looking back. My pony is more sure footed, better able to balance going down hill, and strides out better without shoes on, than she ever did with them on. And we just had a ball at the Royal Bath & West. I have even had a farrier put his hands up in horror when I said I wanted her shod...he didn't understand why. Diesel...I will PM you with the name of a qualified lady who comes out to me...she will know someone who will be able to advise you.. she also has a warmblood that came to her unsound with navicular and was going to be PTS...he's now 100% sound and just had a lovely trip out to the beach. She does my pony and also maintains a 17hh Clydesdale, which farriers were going to charge £120 a pair to shoe...try and work that one out????
 
I have used Sara Cave in the past for my two horses. She did an excellent job and I was very pleased with her knowledge and level of professionalism.

I was particularly pleased with the job she did with my horse that had severely collapsed heels. His heels now grow in the correct direction and have come back to where they should be.

I'm sure that a farrier would have been able to do an equally good job, however I am happy to recommend Sara's work.
 
Sounds to me as if you should take advice from a nutritionist (free at the local feed company, but pick a good one!!!) and use a trusted farrier (for trims good value for money at £15-£20 depending where you are)
There are alot of fancy names for foot trimming but you can't beat a blacksmith ( don't use a whitesmith, he does not trim or shoe horses!!!! and used historically to consider himself a "cut above")
 
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