Barefoot trimmer

Twinkle Twinkle

Twinkle Twinkle

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Who uses them? I had the back lady out the other week and was saying to her that Ellie was very sore after being trimmed by farrier and she suggested if l am going to keep her without shoes that l would probably be better having them done by a trimmer.
She has given me the phone number of the lady she uses so l think l will give her a try. Just want to know if anyone else uses one and do you find them better and how much do you pay thanks Rosie.
 
It all depends, if my farrier made my pony footsore, I would not be happy. But I would give him the benefit of the doubt and ring him.
If a horse's feet are prepared for cold shoeing (requiring a very skilled practitioner), then it would be different to hot shoeing, and different to grass turnout, I would be looking for a farrier who listened to what I wanted, and told me at least a little about my horse's feet, if I asked!!!!
Good farriers are not always good communicators, I suggest you are on site when the horse is being shod, else he will may just rasp away with no thought. The best farriers will have done competitions when they were learning their trade.
It is possible that he trimmed too hard to make it clear to you that your horse was unsuited to barefoot work... I will let you ponder on that, are there any other farriers in the area?
 
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I use a barefoot trimmer and would personally never go back to using a farrier for barefoot horses. She is fantastic and really knows her stuff!
 
MrsD123 said:
It all depends, if my farrier made my pony footsore, I would not be happy. But I would give him the benefit of the doubt and ring him.
If a horse's feet are prepared for cold shoeing (requiring a very skilled practitioner), then it would be different to hot shoeing, and different to grass turnout, I would be looking for a farrier who listened to what I wanted, and told me at least a little about my horse's feet, if I asked!!!!
Good farriers are not always good communicators, I suggest you are on site when the horse is being shod, else he will may just rasp away with no thought. The best farriers will have done competitions when they were learning their trade.
It is possible that he trimmed too hard to make it clear to you that your horse was unsuited to barefoot work... I will let you ponder on that, are there any other farriers in the area?
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I was holding her while she was being done and l did comment that he had cut a lot off to be fair it was only the second time he had trimmed her. And he does competitions he was at one last week. If l was not sure she could not work barefoot she would have shoes on but l really want to give it a try.
 
I have used trimmers ever since a farrier's apprentice went 'digging for gold' in my horse's soles - not just one of them - but two! No explanation or apology was given to me afterwards. I was simply fobbed off the farrier when he saw my horse stood in pools of blood!

As I didn't require shoeing I was always left for the apprentices to do. So oddly - with a UKNHCP trimmer I actually get a more qualified person than I did with the farrier......

I have used Ross and Mel Barker for years now and can't recommend them highly enough.

I would only ever use a UKNHCP trimmer with an EXCELLENT reputation.

Not all trimmers are born equal;)

A good trimmer doesn't focus on what to trim - the secret is to know what NOT TO TRIM:)
 
Rgoldenfilly said:
I was holding her while she was being done and l did comment that he had cut a lot off to be fair it was only the second time he had trimmed her. And he does competitions he was at one last week. If l was not sure she could not work barefoot she would have shoes on but l really want to give it a try.
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What I am saying is, the farrier might have trimmed hard to make your horse footsore so you would give up the idea of barefoot riding, only if he is presented with a very unbalanced foot, or a horse which has been standing in mud for three weeks, would I consider that it might be sore, but in any case he should advise you. As for it being the second time, well a good farrier takes about ten seconds to identify most problems, and if he can't sort it out on his first trim, then it is due to a major problem , which he should have discussed with you.
Find out if this farrier is the best available.
I would not expect a farrier to use a knife on a second trim, unless there was significant growth, how long between trims? is the hoof growing very rapidly, are there conformation defects.
 
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MrsD123 said:
What I am saying is, the farrier might have trimmed hard to make your horse footsore so you would give up the idea of barefoot riding, only if he is presented with a very unbalanced foot, or a horse which has been standing in mud for three weeks, would I consider that it might be sore, but in any case he should advise you. As for it being the second time, well a good farrier takes about ten seconds to identify most problems, and if he can't sort it out on his first trim, then it is due to a major problem , which he should have discussed with you.
Find out if this farrier is the best available.
I would not expect a farrier to use a knife on a second trim, unless there was significant growth, how long between trims? is the hoof growing very rapidly, are there conformation defects.
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No there is no conformation defects she is a first premium filly graded by chaps. He is a very good farrier used him for years and never had a problem as l have always had my ponies shod but l would really like to keep Ellie as natural as possible.
 
I'm hoping to keep my youngster barefoot - I've managed to find a barefoot trimmer to come and do him. I've learned loads and he's been fantastic at showing me what to look out for. My other horse is shod and I use a fArrier for him.
 
Foxhunter49 said:
It is actually illegal for barefoot trimmers to do other people's horses They can trim their own but cannot charge anyone for trimming theirs.
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Absolutely 100% INCORRECT

WRONG

FALSE

UNTRUE

Got the message? If not, suggest you go and do some research before you post such nonsense.
 
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Echo Bravo said:
Sometimes they are a little footsore if they are slightly or flatfooted and no I trust my Farrier ever time.
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EB do you mean that they are footsore after a trim, or footsore all the time, if they are flatfooted?

If they are footsore after a trim, and were not footsore before it then the trim is wrong. Simple as that. A trim that leaves a horse less capable than it started is the wrong trim. Trust the horse. If it wasn't sore before and was after, why trust the person who made it sore more than you do the horse? It's trying to say something and people aren't listening.

If the horse is flatfooted and footsore all the time, take a long hard look at the diet as the majority of the time that can be corrected by changing the diet, though with difficult cases it can take Sherlock Holmes to work out what you actually need to do.
 
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