Barefoot retired ponies and farrier

[CazD]

How often do your barefoot retired ponies see the farrier? Our farrier has recently retired and the new farrier is a lot more expensive (£20 extra each for the shod ones and £15 for the unshod ones). We've got 2 shod and 2 unshod so £70 extra per visit. I'm wondering whether I could have the unshod ones done by the farrier every other visit and just file them myself in between visits. Or would this be a very bad idea?

 

[Burnttoast]

Trimmer approx every 6 weeks atm for our 2 retired natives. I used to do them myself on a much more frequent basis (average of 3-ish weeks) but am now ill so relying on someone else, which is tricky. I try to get him to come 4-weekly but somehow the dates always end up stretching to 6 If you have a clear idea what you're aiming for when you pick up the rasp there's no reason why you shouldn't. If you go a bit awry the farrier can rebalance for you (and will hopefully point out any issues so you can improve).

 

[marmalade76]

Hooves can grow at different rates at different times of year, with a retired horse I would make an appointment when they look like they need doing rather than booking in advance at set intervals.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

My shod one goes around 6 weeks.
My unshod one usually sees the farrier every other time. I tidy round with a rasp as and when necessary in between and she gets out hacking on tracks a few times a week when toddler trekking which helps the trimming.

 

[rabatsa]

My unshod ones get trimmed every 7 weeks.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Rasping the unshod ones yourself in between getting the farrier to do them every 12 weeks or so would work if your farrier would be agreeable to that.

I now trim my own after my farrier went awol again, and this time of year I find it best to do some light rasping every 7-10 days to keep on top of things, rather than once every 6 weeks. It's both easier on my back to do little and often, and easier to keep the feet in good balance.

 

[marmalade76]

Rasping the unshod ones yourself in between getting the farrier to do them every 12 weeks or so would work if your farrier would be agreeable to that.

I now trim my own after my farrier went awol again, and this time of year I find it best to do some light rasping every 7-10 days to keep on top of things, rather than once every 6 weeks. It's both easier on my back to do little and often, and easier to keep the feet in good balance.

Rasping is surprisingly hard work, I find it hard to breathe when I'm folded in half!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Rasping is surprisingly hard work, I find it hard to breathe when I'm folded in half!

Indeed, so ideally I don't trim more than 2 feet a day out of the 12 I'm responsible for . 4 is manageable, but no more than that for me in a day.

 

[Red-1]

I'm doing my own now too. I was fortunate that my farrier had no ego and was keen to show me how to trim. I also read loads on the internet. I would send photos to the farrier every few months so they could OK it. I don't now, I send them to @ycbm instead . The farrier would generally just say they looked good.

I trim mine at least twice a week, that way it is to lightly run the rasp round. I take regular photos as then I can see any imbalances.

 

[SEL]

Big mare's feet grow like weeds and I find trimming them hard work so she sees him every 6 weeks

But my shoulder complains if I spend too much time with a rasp so I prefer to let the farrier take the pain

 

[Red-1]

Big mare's feet grow like weeds and I find trimming them hard work so she sees him every 6 weeks

But my shoulder complains if I spend too much time with a rasp so I prefer to let the farrier take the pain

I do grimace a bit when I do Rigs, his feet are sooo tough and the walls about 3/4 inch thick! I only do them when wet, and will wash/hose him specially.

 

[Landcruiser]

I trim two of mine myself (one ridden, one unbacked) but have trimmer every 4-5 wks to my retired horse, so I'm a bit @rse about face. The younger 2 are fairly straightforward and well behaved, I keep on top of them by doing them every week or so. Old boy is un-cooperative and grouchy, as well as growing hooves that go in crazy directions. My point in answer to OP's question is that it depends on the horses really.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I rasp mine in between but find they can't go much more than 7 weeks in summer.

I often think an electric rasp would be so much easier

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I have a barefoot retired wb. His feet get done approx 3 times a year. Farrier casts his eye over them when he shoes my other one every 6 weeks and does a quick rasp round if needed.

 

[Spotherisk]

2 x 31 year old retirees, living out, trimmed by the farrier about every seven weeks.

 

[paddy555]

I rasp mine in between but find they can't go much more than 7 weeks in summer.

I often think an electric rasp would be so much easier

very seriously considering this.

Tools

electrichoofknife.co.uk

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

One retired barefoot horse and two donkeys. The mare and one donkey roughly every 8 weeks. The other old donk has to be done about every 5 to 6 weeks as his feet grow at a huge rate and he would look like a typical rescue case donkey if he went as long as the other two between farrier visits.