Barefoot Trimmers

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The Shepherdess

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I am looking for an experienced professional barefoot trimmer who is not too far from south Derbyshire. I have checked the Equine Podiatry website, but wonder if anyone can make a recommendation from their own experience. I have no objections to using a registered farrier, but it must be someone who has studied and is equally comfortable barefoot trimming as he/she is trimming in prep for shoeing.

Thank you
 
The Shepherdess said:
I am looking for an experienced professional barefoot trimmer who is not too far from south Derbyshire. I have checked the Equine Podiatry website, but wonder if anyone can make a recommendation from their own experience. I have no objections to using a registered farrier, but it must be someone who has studied and is equally comfortable barefoot trimming as he/she is trimming in prep for shoeing.

Thank you
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Yvonne Thomas should cover your area, shes based Chesterfield way :) Shes on the website and very friendly and helpful.
 
I live miles away from you, however my friends gelding is barefoot.

The farrier trims his feet. If you have a good farrier who has been properly trained this may be the best option. Afetr all they should be traine to deal with all hoof ailments, and also have to trim youngsters etc.

Is there any reason your after a specific barefoot trimmer and not using your farrier.

Also my farrier is good, he won't try and persuade you to shoe a horse that clearly doesn't need it, and tells you straight if when they do. (my boy needs a full set of shoes, but I knew this before I took him on loan)
 
Jaime Hickman.

Lives in Chesterfield. Started trimming over 30 years ago, founder member of EPAUK, one of 14 fully qualified EP's in the country.

jaimeexup@hotmail.com

07811188842

for more info.

both Paul and Yvonne mentioned above are also both excellent btw,
 
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Debatable and certainly not in my experience.

Most EP's are educated to degree level or beyond.

See also recent OFSTED report on farriery 'education'.

See also Equine Podiatry Training.
 
Achinghips said:
Imho, best to go with a qualified farrier, better education.
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Perhaps, perhaps not ofsted seems to think there's a huge issue but then most horses owners and vets could have told them that for nothing.
I use a farrier to shoe my horses a trimmer when they are BF the farrier is an expert in putting on shoes And the trimmer is an expert in working horses without shoes.
 
I agree with Goldenstar, the Ofsted report really is very critical of farrier training, which was everyones argument against trimmers. Farriers were do much better trained. Well it's official, their training is rubbish for shoeing, so their trimming training will be even worse.
If you need a barefoot trim get an expert, a barefoot trimmer.
 
Achinghips said:
Imho, best to go with a qualified farrier, better education.
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Unfortunately not for working barefoot horses. The syllabus does not cover hard working barefoot horses or their nutritional needs. If an apprentice learns it, it's by the pure chance that his master knows it.
 
Gentlegiant88 said:
I live miles away from you, however my friends gelding is barefoot.

The farrier trims his feet. If you have a good farrier who has been properly trained this may be the best option. Afetr all they should be traine to deal with all hoof ailments, and also have to trim youngsters etc.

Is there any reason your after a specific barefoot trimmer and not using your farrier.

Also my farrier is good, he won't try and persuade you to shoe a horse that clearly doesn't need it, and tells you straight if when they do. (my boy needs a full set of shoes, but I knew this before I took him on loan)
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Unfortunately for people who want to be able to trust an expert like you do, there are quite a few of us riding around on horses that farriers told us could never work without shoes, many of which would also now be pts as incurably lame.

I evented a horse which could only be shod one front foot at a time because he could not stand on the bare foot for the other to be shod, 9 months after I took off his shoes.
 
and for the sake of a balanced view it should be said that there are barefoot trimmers and barefoot trimmers... Some extremely well trained and experienced... and some not. The later are a problem for the bf industry and do it no favours at all.

Whilst we now have a recognised National Occupational Standard and many of us work to or above it, not all do.

We (and by that I mean at least three of the trimming associations) are working towards unified nationally recognised regulation and registration, the truth is it takes a very long time to organise these things and there are many hurdles (least of all getting people to agree standards and who sets them, for instance the WCF seems to think it should be in charge of this!).

In the meantime my recommendation would be in the first instance for people to check out the qualifications/experience/association with professional organisations/references etc of anyone they are considering working on their horse. Then have a conversation with them via phone/text/email etc. Possibly even ask if you can shadow them for a few hours (you can get to know a lot that way)Finally check them out when they get to your yard. Do they seem like they know what they are talking about? Are you comfortable with them? Is your horse comfortable with them?

If any of these things do not check out ok. Thank them, explain you do not require their services, settle up and send them on their way.

That might all sound a little daunting, but any true professional worth their salt will not have a problem with any of it.

No foot no horse remember. I am constantly amazed that owners are not much more careful about how the choose their footcare provider.
 
jaimep said:
and for the sake of a balanced view it should be said that there are barefoot trimmers and barefoot trimmers... Some extremely well trained and experienced... and some not. The later are a problem for the bf industry and do it no favours at all.

Whilst we now have a recognised National Occupational Standard and many of us work to or above it, not all do.

We (and by that I mean at least three of the trimming associations) are working towards unified nationally recognised regulation and registration, the truth is it takes a very long time to organise these things and there are many hurdles (least of all getting people to agree standards and who sets them, for instance the WCF seems to think it should be in charge of this!).

In the meantime my recommendation would be in the first instance for people to check out the qualifications/experience/association with professional organisations/references etc of anyone they are considering working on their horse. Then have a conversation with them via phone/text/email etc. Possibly even ask if you can shadow them for a few hours (you can get to know a lot that way)Finally check them out when they get to your yard. Do they seem like they know what they are talking about? Are you comfortable with them? Is your horse comfortable with them?

If any of these things do not check out ok. Thank them, explain you do not require their services, settle up and send them on their way.

That might all sound a little daunting, but any true professional worth their salt will not have a problem with any of it.

No foot no horse remember. I am constantly amazed that owners are not much more careful about how the choose their footcare provider.
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Brilliant post.

Someone who is fully trained in anything can still be bad at their job - assess each individual and how they can help you. Speak to a few, see if you can have a consultation where they come and see the horse and discuss the situation and how they can help you achieve what you need to achieve.

FWIW my old farrier caused my mares foot issues with poor shoeing, after her diagnosis my vet looked at my other horses and gave me a stark warning that they were all going the same way. I tried getting farriers to trim them as, after all they are the ones that have the better education, my horses were lame after the trims, I looked into trimmers, found one that understood my situation and what lifestyle I was able to give my horses and I've had no issues since and if I showed you the before and after pics of my horses feet you'd gasp...

As with everything you have to find the professional who is right for you and that can take time and work.

Good luck OP, I'm sure you will have a few to choose from.
 
Finding a 'good' professional is important of course but trimming alone cannot help horses, the work with diet, exercize program and support if required is down to the owner. The owner has to be comitted do doing this and it can be a slog for months.

Good luck op.
 
Whichever way you look at it, putting shoes on and trimming hooves are both things I'd rather not have to do. Shoes I think are particularly detrimental both in the long and short term. Trimming is a necessary evil because the lifestyle of the horse doesn't promote self maintaining feet. You cannot trim good feet into a horse, that only comes from a proper diet and a high level of movements over varied surfaces.
Until people decide that the way we keep horses should mirror the way they live, we will struggle with horses in poor health, particularly where their feet and digestion are concerned.
 
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