Barefoot trimmer/EP in Cheshire - recommendations?

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dancingkris

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Hi all

Can anyone recommend either a barefoot trimmer or EP in the Cheshire/South Manchester areas?

To give you a bit of background - I have a 5 year old TB who I've had just over a year. He came to me in a terrible state of neglect and his hooves were the worst I've ever seen. He had quarter cracks on all 4 feet which extended into the coronet band and they are not the best shape. I have tried with the help of my farrier all sorts of things and we are on the road to recovery now. He's had shoes on with staples, patches with resin, then the remedial farrier at Leahurst saw him, dremmelled out the cracks and applied imprint shoes. He is now barefoot as the imprints wouldn't stay on when he was hooning around the field - as he has a tendency to do! He's coping well although I'm not doing anything with him - he's turned out every day and in at night - the plan is to restart him in Spring. His front feet aren't bad - there is a slight depression in the wall where it was dremmelled out but is is solid wall which is now growing down. His hinds however aren't great and one still has a crack in which the farrier is confident will grow out in time. He's on a low sugar/starch diet with all the recommended things for barefoot horses (ML linseed, magnesium, BY etc).

I don't want to 'go behind my farrier's back' as he's been great and his feet have come a long way but it seems when he's trimmed now it is just a basic trim and the shape, flare etc isn't really addressed. I really want to get this horse's feet right and wondered if anyone can recommend a trimmer as I can't see us ever getting them right at this rate with just a normal trim.

I will try and post some pics later tonight or tomorrow - if I can ever work out how!
 
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I would just like to add that it sounds as though the main thing your horses hooves need it time to grow. So that they can grow out the cracks and become stronger from the improved diet.
With that in mind your farrier sounds like he is doing a good job. If you look on the rockley farm website Nic only does a very basic if any trim at all. By all means find a trimmer or EP but I would probably speak to your farrier first.
 
I agree with Vicky, Karen doesn't just look at the feet but the whole picture, diet included. She trimmed my horse for years, only because I've moved that she no longer trims him.
 
Thanks for your replies - I will certainly have a look at the website you have recommended.

I hate the idea of going behind my farrier's back - he's done a great job so far but I feel like we have hit a brick wall and there has been no improvement in his hinds and its not looking likely that there will be if we continue as we are. I have purposely done nothing with him since I got him back in December 2011 to give his feet chance to grow and get them right and I am prepared to wait as long as it takes, but feel like perhaps a new approach or a fresh pair of eyes might just help.

Thanks again!
 
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