Barefoot trimmer vs farrier

ktj1891

ktj1891

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So what is the difference? Is one better than the other? What is the pros and cons?

I am trying to work out how to help my boy and improve his feet and don't know if I should be asking myself that question or looking at who is trimming my horses feet?

I currently use a farrier but have spoken to some barefoot trimmers who seem to be more 'interested' in my barefoot horse and offering more advise.

Help?
 
My farrier trims mine and helped me resist the vets request for heartbars. He is super and does as little as is needed. He has a farrier's sense of humour though......

I have been told to keep quiet about the wonders of hoof boots because he doesn't get a good enough mark up on them. He is also going on a barefoot course and has told me he will continue to trim for £20 or he'll give me the "barefoot ******" and charge £50 lol!

Can't speak highly enough of him. He took my girl from difficult to shoe to happy to be shod tied up in a headcollar and now he trims her.
 
KristmasKat said:
My farrier trims mine and helped me resist the vets request for heartbars. He is super and does as little as is needed. He has a farrier's sense of humour though......

I have been told to keep quiet about the wonders of hoof boots because he doesn't get a good enough mark up on them. He is also going on a barefoot course and has told me he will continue to trim for £20 or he'll give me the "barefoot ******" and charge £50 lol!

Can't speak highly enough of him. He took my girl from difficult to shoe to happy to be shod tied up in a headcollar and now he trims her.
Click to expand...

Can I ask your farrier's name? I potentially don't live that far from you and although I don't own a horse I like to have a few recommendations at my disposal for future reference (and I'm partial to the occasional daydream of getting my unshod part loan pony a level, balanced pair of hooves for Christmas!).
 
A trimmer will have been trained to aim for a "performance" hoof, and has a lot of interest in achieving this, as if you run into problems they can't put shoes back on. They should also give you advice on the environment for your horse and tips on feeding.

A farrier should be capable of doing this too - but lots of them think that barefoot means a resting horse, and trimming a foot means a trim to prepare for a shoe, which IS different to a working trim. Some farriers also think that it is a) a fad, b) it can't work with THIS horse, c) trimmers have had a weekend course instead of their 4 years apprenticeship.

So, it depends on your farrier really. Some are really keen and will help you, others think you are off your head.
 
It is not a question of one V. the other they are two different approaches to the management of the horses foot. If you have a farrier that is aware of both then it is fine.
If on the other hand your farrier is not aware of how barefoot works as a science then I would not encourage him/her to trim the feet.
This might help regarding footfall.
http://www.rockfoot.com/footfall.html
 
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