barefoot - farrier or equine podiatrist?

BackInBlack

BackInBlack

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i'm looking to keep my horse barefoot but really don't know if i should just go with a normal farrier (who would be way cheaper) or pay the extra and have an equine podiatrist. what do you guys do and what have been your experiences with either?
many thanks
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Farrier, cheeper and properly trained.

You may feel you get a 'better' service from a podiatrist, because they take pictures / lie on the floor looking at feet / flirt incessently / kiss you arse, but really its all pomp.

Farriers are trained in depth in equine limb formation, vetinary knowledge of the hoof the limbs and how imbalences effect other areas of the body, and they partake in a 4 year apprenticeship.

Lou x
 
My two have been barefoot for about a year now. My tried and tested farrier trims them regularly for me, I have every confidence in him.
 
This old chestnut again. Just search here for threads on barefoot trimmers. I assume that is what you mean. Are they calling themselves podiatrists now? Well I think they have a cheek. In human terms chiropody is used to suggest the routine processes of foot care, whilst podiatry is indicative of the higher skills and academic levels. I just wonder how much training these people who are elevating themselves to this title, actually have.
Personally, I would never let anyone other than a qualified and registered farrier near my horses feet.
I have one that is unshod, his feet are brilliant and my farrier is to thank for that.
 
yeah, i did a search, believe me! but i think most of the recent threads have been answered by an equine podiatrist! thats what got me thinking that everybodies using them now. in my own head i wanted to use my farrier but i had an equine podiatrist come out to see me the other day, spent a lot of time going through it all but i just couldn't justify the money side of things. so i'm glad the farriers come out tops, it's made my mind up for me, thanks so much
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Whoever gets recommeded locally is best. There are good and bad farriers and good and bad trimmers.

Equine Podiatrists are only one of the trained sets of trimmers. UKNHCP are the others. I wouldn't touch Strasser, they are the ones who have been prosecuted and they can draw blood when trimming and think that's OK. The US qualified EPs are trained and examined by just one man. Last time I looked on the website, the training was to do the same course five times (seriously!). I don't know what the training is for the breakaway UK group.

Personally, I would go to UKNHCP by preference. Their courses are approved by the Farriers Registration Council and give points for Continuous Professional Development to any farrier who attends them.

They know that barefoot is only 10% trim and will guide you as to the rest. Unless you have an extraordinary farrier he will not be able to tell you about the metabolic issues, the work needed to keep the feet growing fast, the best way to manage the horse to ensure it is rock-crunching.

You couldn't justify the money for an EP? Surely no trimmer charges MORE than your farrier to fit a set of shoes? If you are doing this to save money you are doing it for the WRONG reason.
 
but doing half the job of a farrier fitting a set of shoes surely
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farrier- trim, adjust shoe to fit, attach shoe to horse, finish

trimmer- trim.
 
I have used a great EP for years, I have my gelding that has never had shoes on and an ex Navicular mare that is now sound barefoot.

However my great EP was very unreliable so I started to use a good farrier who is also a friend. He is great at balancing a foot well, but after his first trim my boy was footy for the first time ever when on stones. I began to wonder if I had made the right decission to swop.

I then got some advice and had some great emails with a pro barefoot farrier who comes on this forum (hoofsculpture) and passed his advice onto my farrier who took it on board and did a great trim last time, my boy is back to charging happily over stony tracks.

My farrier has now borrowed 2 of my books on barefoot home to study. He did say that it is new to him as normally he trims to put a shoe on or for a horse that is out at pasture or who just works on a school surface.

So yes I believe there is a difference besides the Nutrition and management side of what an EP knows, but it also depends on the knowledge and experience your farrier has at creating rock crunching barefeet as opposed to a pasture / shoe trim.
 
I used an EP for 5 months on a friend's recommendation. They wrecked my pony's feet, her heels collapsed, and it's cost a fortune - with a remedial farrier - to get her feet back to resembling how they were when I bought her.
Won't ever make that mistake again, and you should see the vet/osteo/physio/dentist/(insert any equine professional here)'s face drop everytime I mention that she was trimmed by an EP.
I'm sure there might be good ones out there, but I've learnt my lesson!
 
PLEASE can i just say i had the interest of my horse at heart. if everybody had come on here to say an ep was better than a farrier i would more than likely use an ep. i was quoted fifty pound a visit and a visit would be every 4 weeks so it worked out more expensive than a farrier but if the farrier does the same job?! thats why i couldn't justify it. not because i don't want to spend any more money. aside from that i want the best treatment for my horses feet - its horrible when you are unsure as to weather you are doing the best for them.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Farrier, cheeper and properly trained.

You may feel you get a 'better' service from a podiatrist, because they take pictures / lie on the floor looking at feet / flirt incessently / kiss you arse, but really its all pomp.

Farriers are trained in depth in equine limb formation, vetinary knowledge of the hoof the limbs and how imbalences effect other areas of the body, and they partake in a 4 year apprenticeship.



[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, what she said
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