Barefoot trimmer- 3 visits on

C

CBFan

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Just thought I'd do an update on my boy's feet as I'm really pleased with how they are looking since I took on a barefot trimmer. let me know your thoughts.

R Fore Before:

017-2.jpg

020-1.jpg


R Fore Now:

RF-1.jpg

RFS.jpg


L Fore Before:

006-1.jpg

029.jpg


L Fore Now:

LF-1.jpg

LFS.jpg


R Hind Before:

014-1.jpg

025.jpg


R hind now:

RH-1.jpg

RHS.jpg


Left Hind Then:
013-1.jpg

027.jpg


Left hind now:
LH-1.jpg

LHS.jpg


Still a way to go but much improved I think! :)
 
im not normally a barefoot trimmers biggest fan, BUT the diffence in shape/balance of the hoof looks to me to be much improved.

can i ask purely out of intrest what qualifications does your trimmer have? how long have they been trimming?
 
She is a trained equine podiatrist - it's a 2 year course with annual refresher courses in order to stay on the register. She also worked along side another trimmer when she started out.

She started out by re-habbing her TB who was basically written off with Navicular. She now has him in full work and sound.
 
Going well! Heels on the left fore are particularly improved, aren't they?

From your user name, is your horse a Cleveland Bay? Do you have to restrict his/her grass intake much, I am aware of a number who seem to be quite prone to footieness if they get too much grass.

Did you make any diet changes to improve the feet or did you manage with just trimming/shoe removal changes?
 
Yes! left fore is my favourite right now! but much improved all round.

Yes he is a CB. I do find he gets footy on spring / autumn grass in particular. Luckily our grass hasn't been fertilised this year so I have only had a matter of a few weeks where he has been like this. He is much better being kept in during the day when he's like this so thats how I will manage him from now on I think.

I have ammended his diet slightly...He was aways on equivite Original supplement but I have added Magnesium and brewers yeast and have most recently added biotin which has made a noticeable difference to his skin and coat!

I feel that since adding the brewers yeast he utilises his food better - has gained condition but Im not too sure whether the magnesium has made a huge difference.

I have removed all Alfaalfa from his diet and now feed a grass based chaff instead.

He has always had pretty good quality horn but the shape of his feet was pretty poor and I really feel that a decent trim every 6 weeks has made the biggest difference.
 
The barefoot diet :)

Brewers yeast has a double anti-inflammatory effect on the gut (so does yea-sacc, a live yeast fed in smaller quantities, but more expensive). I have two who are footie without yeast, one badly so.

Magnesium is now being used to treat human type ii diabetics, they have realised that it helps insulin regulation.

I also keep mine in during the day in spring and summer and early autumn.

Glad it's going well for you.
 
CBFan said:
Yes, THE barefoot diet. I've been doing a lot of reading and listening so fingers are crossed it pays off!

Thank you!

People frown at me when I turn my horse out in the dark lol
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Oh don't tell me - they prefer to turn theirs out to sweat in a head to toe fly rug or get bitten by horseflies all day???
 
CBFan, I'm only asking so please don't take it as criticism but is it not possible that a better farrier could have achieved the same result?
 
Possibly clodagh... the philosophy is somewhat different so depends what you are looking for.

Nice cbfan, I like. Glad all going well :)
 
Clodagh said:
CBFan, I'm only asking so please don't take it as criticism but is it not possible that a better farrier could have achieved the same result?
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Possibly But I was on the second of what I considered to be the best farriers in the area. (there are several I wouldn't touch with a bargepole) There was one farrier left to try but he wouldn't take my existing farrier's custom.
 
There is a horse where I work with truly dreadful feet, he is now lame all round and going to the vets monthly for shoeing with x rays and so on. Looking at your pics it does make me wonder whether she might not be better off trying your way but I suppose the trouble is she only gets a year of insurance to investigate the problem so is trying the most intensive cure. Very interesting and clear pics and I wish you loads of fun with your boy.
 
they look good! seriously toying with the idea of barefoot myself, can I just ask do trimmers recommend a time of year when it is better to remove shoes and would you remove all of them or back one's first and then fronts and when do you introduce the barefoot diet before you take them off? stupid questions I know....
 
margerita11 said:
they look good! seriously toying with the idea of barefoot myself, can I just ask do trimmers recommend a time of year when it is better to remove shoes and would you remove all of them or back one's first and then fronts and when do you introduce the barefoot diet before you take them off? stupid questions I know....
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No question is stupid. Asking questions is how all barefooters start. The problems come when we stop asking questions;)

First - look at your horse's hooves and see if they are healthy. If so - then the diet is likely good already. If the horse has crumbling walls and paper thin soles - then it's not healthy. If you take the shoes off and the horse remains footy past when you'd expect - then diet is the first thing to review.

It's fine to take shoes off any time of year, but it's probably easier in winter. Spring and autumn grass is often too high in sugar and not helpful.

Taking them all off at once is fine. Taking hinds off first and getting your confidence up is fine too.
 
Clodagh said:
but I suppose the trouble is she only gets a year of insurance to investigate the problem so is trying the most intensive cure.
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Its a shame that a lot of horses are unsuccessfully treated in this way for 12 months before the owners are left to make decisions without insurers/vets leading the way. If it was all paid for out of our own pockets, I'm convinced we'd make different decisions along the way.

I would urge the owner of the horse you describe to try to find out if a reputable barefoot trimmer could help them, it doesn't hurt to find out and learn more in doing so, and it won't cost as much as a set of standard shoes!!!
 
cptrayes said:
But why would you do it with shoes if the horse does not need them?
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I don't think she was talking about shoes - more that a farrier could achieve the same trim... but you make a good point.

Re taking a horse barefoot - I have no experience. My boy was born without shoes on and at only 4 has never had them on so I have just been working on improving what god gave him!

At all times I have reviewed diet before the trim but now I have the trim right I feel we are coming on in leaps and bounds.

I think winter is generally felt the best time to remove shoes due to the softer ground and lower sugar levels in the grass however it can be difficult for them to build up a nice thick sole over this period due to the wet conditions so it is swings and roundabouts.

As already stated, get the diet right first as this will make the transition much easier and painless for the horse.

It is worth investing in some hoof boots for the initial stages and to use at difficult times of the year. My own trimmer said she is very proud of all her UK clients who persist with it due to the very changeable weather and grazing conditions we have to deal with but boots definately alleviate some of the problems.
 
thank you Oberon for answering all my stupid questions :)that i thought nobody would ever bother answering lol!!! Going to examine his feet tomorrow!!!!! :cool:
 
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