jules9671
Well-Known Member
Hi I read in one of the posts about a book that was reccommended for doing barefoot trimming yourself, i cant find it though could someone give me any advice, if you do this yourself or can recommend a good book.thanks
barefoot trimming yourself
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BigRed
Well-Known Member
I do not believe you can learn how to trim your horse from a book, or from a weekend course. Get a professional to do it.
CrazyMare
Well-Known Member
I've known my farrier since he was at school, through his training and into qualifying. Thinking about people using a book or a weekend course to learn to trim their horse makes me uneasy.
However people using books and doing research to understand what their farrier does is to me, a good thing.
However people using books and doing research to understand what their farrier does is to me, a good thing.
Mrs_Wishkabibble
Well-Known Member
teabiscuit
Well-Known Member
i don't know what the fuss is about
it isn't rocket science and its infinately preferable to trim your own horses feet if you can't get hold of a farrier or trimmer
the OP is in North Scotland, maybe she can't get a trimmer out?
which do you prefer? neglect case long hooves or taking a rasp and filing a bit off as and when necassary?
i tried shutting up but failed
my brother is a farrier btw and he has the same views
it isn't rocket science and its infinately preferable to trim your own horses feet if you can't get hold of a farrier or trimmer
the OP is in North Scotland, maybe she can't get a trimmer out?
which do you prefer? neglect case long hooves or taking a rasp and filing a bit off as and when necassary?
i tried shutting up but failed
my brother is a farrier btw and he has the same views
Nailed
Well-Known Member
Im not even going to comment because im sure some offense will come of it!!!!!!!!!
Ass .. i think that considering your brother is a farrier.. then your very very mistaken and very very deluded about trimming!!!!!!!
And there are enough farriers in north scotland to get one out to trimm..
Going before i start ranting! Ignorance annoys me so much!
Lou x
Ass .. i think that considering your brother is a farrier.. then your very very mistaken and very very deluded about trimming!!!!!!!
And there are enough farriers in north scotland to get one out to trimm..
Going before i start ranting! Ignorance annoys me so much!
Lou x
teabiscuit
Well-Known Member
who is ignorant is a matter of opinion Nailed
lets just agree to differ?
because i feel just as strongly i can assure you
otherwise i'd have just let it go over my head!
lets just agree to differ?
because i feel just as strongly i can assure you
otherwise i'd have just let it go over my head!
celia
Well-Known Member
I'd have to agree with asspantio that if I was ever without access to a farrier I would rather trim a foot myself than let it get too long and, done sensibly, I do not believe this would be 'cruel' or would cause problems to the horse. Long term, however, I would always prefer to have my horses feet done properly by a qualified farrier.
teabiscuit
Well-Known Member
thankyou celia, it seems like common sense to me
it's very important to be exactly precise when dressing a hoof to take a rigid shoe, but if the horse is barefoot it is more important not to let the feet get overgrown.
it isn't always that easy to get hold of a farrier, that is the reason my brother became a farrier. we could never get our horses shod or trimmed.
it wasn't for lack of trying i can assure you Nailed
life isn't always peachy roses do the correct thing as laid down by the books
sometimes we have to improvise for our horses good!
now i will shut up
it's very important to be exactly precise when dressing a hoof to take a rigid shoe, but if the horse is barefoot it is more important not to let the feet get overgrown.
it isn't always that easy to get hold of a farrier, that is the reason my brother became a farrier. we could never get our horses shod or trimmed.
it wasn't for lack of trying i can assure you Nailed
life isn't always peachy roses do the correct thing as laid down by the books
sometimes we have to improvise for our horses good!
now i will shut up
slingo1uk
Well-Known Member
I quite often tidy up my lots feet ( they are all barefoot) with the rasp in between farrier visits as long as you feel confident and are sensible about it and dont interfere with the angle i think its fine .
I would think twice before actually trimming underneath with a knife tough.
I would think twice before actually trimming underneath with a knife tough.
Nailed
Well-Known Member
Tidying and trimming are two very diffrent things, rounding up with a rasp is a hell of a lot diffrent from taking a cutting.
And yes i think we shoudl agree to disagree.. i didnt call you ignorant.. i said ignorace annoys me.
And im sorry but its a load of of rubbish that a 'barefoot' (OH by the way?!!! there hooves not feet!?) horse needs a less quality trim than a shod horse.. just as much damage can be done trimming as can be done shoeing..
Farriery is becoming a rich mans career or I think there would be a hell of a lot more quality farriers available..
Noone said it was cruel?! I think if your not competent trimming then you shouldnt be doing it..
Oh and shoeing a horse? The trimmings the hardest bit. Get the trim wrong, the foot balence wrong.. and the shoe wont go one..
Lou x
And yes i think we shoudl agree to disagree.. i didnt call you ignorant.. i said ignorace annoys me.
And im sorry but its a load of of rubbish that a 'barefoot' (OH by the way?!!! there hooves not feet!?) horse needs a less quality trim than a shod horse.. just as much damage can be done trimming as can be done shoeing..
Farriery is becoming a rich mans career or I think there would be a hell of a lot more quality farriers available..
Noone said it was cruel?! I think if your not competent trimming then you shouldnt be doing it..
Oh and shoeing a horse? The trimmings the hardest bit. Get the trim wrong, the foot balence wrong.. and the shoe wont go one..
Lou x
kickandshout
Well-Known Member
if it was that easy then training to be a farrier wouldn't take so long.
seems a good way to ruin a horse
No foot No hoss !!
thought it was illegal to do any farrier work unless qualified anyway ??
no doubt someone will tell me otherwise.
seems a good way to ruin a horse
No foot No hoss !!
thought it was illegal to do any farrier work unless qualified anyway ??
no doubt someone will tell me otherwise.
hussar
Well-Known Member
Taken from the Worshipful Company of Farriers website:
"Can I trim and shoe my own horse?
Under the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975, as amended, only: Registered Farriers, Approved Farriery Apprentices, Veterinary Surgeons or Practitioners, trainee vets working under supervision or persons giving first aid in case of an emergency to a horse, may practise farriery. You may only practise farriery on your own horses if you fall into one of these categories. For others to do so is a criminal offence which can result in a fine of up to £1000, plus legal costs and a criminal record. Farriery is defined within the Act as "any work in connection with the preparation or treatment of the foot of a horse for the immediate reception of a shoe thereon, the fitting by nailing or otherwise of a shoe to the foot or the finishing off of such work to the foot". This means in practice that trimming which is not going to result in the application of a shoe to the foot of an equine is not covered by the Farriers (Registration) Act and is therefore not regulated. However, horse owners should be aware that although, simple trimming and rasping of horses feet is allowed by lay persons under the Act to permit maintenance of foals and other unshod horses feet, it should not be attempted by anyone who is not qualified. Where more radical trimming and reshaping of horses feet is contemplated there is the potential for creating severe lameness. Experience has indicated this is particularly so where such 'therapy' is not undertaken by qualified farriers or veterinary surgeons. It is recommend that owners should only carry out minor work on feet of a cosmetic or emergency nature and that any significant trimming should be carried out by a Registered Farrier or a veterinary surgeon, who will have been properly trained and strictly regulated by a code of conduct."
Hope that helps!
"Can I trim and shoe my own horse?
Under the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975, as amended, only: Registered Farriers, Approved Farriery Apprentices, Veterinary Surgeons or Practitioners, trainee vets working under supervision or persons giving first aid in case of an emergency to a horse, may practise farriery. You may only practise farriery on your own horses if you fall into one of these categories. For others to do so is a criminal offence which can result in a fine of up to £1000, plus legal costs and a criminal record. Farriery is defined within the Act as "any work in connection with the preparation or treatment of the foot of a horse for the immediate reception of a shoe thereon, the fitting by nailing or otherwise of a shoe to the foot or the finishing off of such work to the foot". This means in practice that trimming which is not going to result in the application of a shoe to the foot of an equine is not covered by the Farriers (Registration) Act and is therefore not regulated. However, horse owners should be aware that although, simple trimming and rasping of horses feet is allowed by lay persons under the Act to permit maintenance of foals and other unshod horses feet, it should not be attempted by anyone who is not qualified. Where more radical trimming and reshaping of horses feet is contemplated there is the potential for creating severe lameness. Experience has indicated this is particularly so where such 'therapy' is not undertaken by qualified farriers or veterinary surgeons. It is recommend that owners should only carry out minor work on feet of a cosmetic or emergency nature and that any significant trimming should be carried out by a Registered Farrier or a veterinary surgeon, who will have been properly trained and strictly regulated by a code of conduct."
Hope that helps!
teabiscuit
Well-Known Member
i think it's expediant for horse owners to be able to remove a shoe themselves and be capable of performing a basic trim, which can be accomplished with a rasp
because of difficulties getting hold of a farrier i learned to trim from Hickmans Farriery, and i'm proud of it
much prouder than if i'd just left my horses feet until the local farrier had a dry day and decided he could manage a trim
but then i'm not a prissy sanctimonious prune about horses, i'm more concerned in getting it as right as i can for them
because of difficulties getting hold of a farrier i learned to trim from Hickmans Farriery, and i'm proud of it
much prouder than if i'd just left my horses feet until the local farrier had a dry day and decided he could manage a trim
but then i'm not a prissy sanctimonious prune about horses, i'm more concerned in getting it as right as i can for them
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't mind having a go at trimming myself, although I'd leave any 'proper' work to the farrier. It helps that I'm not an idiot and have a good eye for symmetry
Tia
Well-Known Member
I totally agree with you Asspantio.
I was taught by my wonderful farrier many years ago, and over a fair stretch of time, how to perform a basic barefoot trim. I know how to remove a shoe. I feel this should be something that every horse owner should have knowledge of. They don't necessarily have to be able to perform a correct trim, however they should definitely know how to remove a shoe correctly, and how to rasp/trim up a raggy horn.
I too live in an area where my farrier lives a very long distance away from me. I have 20 horses of my own and another 20 or 30 livery horses here who are in my full care. My farrier can only come to my farm every six weeks for regular routine visits. He is too far away to be able to come out of this routine to sort out just one or two horses, therefore I do this when necessary.
I see knowledge of how to trim and rasp as an important part of horse ownership. Even if you never have to do it, you should still know HOW to do it.
I was taught by my wonderful farrier many years ago, and over a fair stretch of time, how to perform a basic barefoot trim. I know how to remove a shoe. I feel this should be something that every horse owner should have knowledge of. They don't necessarily have to be able to perform a correct trim, however they should definitely know how to remove a shoe correctly, and how to rasp/trim up a raggy horn.
I too live in an area where my farrier lives a very long distance away from me. I have 20 horses of my own and another 20 or 30 livery horses here who are in my full care. My farrier can only come to my farm every six weeks for regular routine visits. He is too far away to be able to come out of this routine to sort out just one or two horses, therefore I do this when necessary.
I see knowledge of how to trim and rasp as an important part of horse ownership. Even if you never have to do it, you should still know HOW to do it.
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
Whilst I would not attempt to do a trim - ie removing actual horn myself, I am capable of taking off a shoe, tidying the foot with a rasp. I also know how to cut back excess frog with a knife.
Cairo grew excessive frog and this needed to be taken back every three/four weeks. Also as he got old and very pottery behind, he needed to have his feet rasped for a few strokes then rested and then picked up and a few more strokes.
My farrier showed me how to do all the above, I paid him for his time. With Cairo, although at the end of his life I did tidy his rear feet myself, my farrier did the fronts and monitored the backs to make sure that I was not screwing up.
Nothing wrong with tidying feet, but actually cutting of hoof, getting angles correct etc should be done by someknow who really knows what they are doing.
I think most farriers, given payment are happy to show tidying frogs, basic rasping and removing shoes.
Cairo grew excessive frog and this needed to be taken back every three/four weeks. Also as he got old and very pottery behind, he needed to have his feet rasped for a few strokes then rested and then picked up and a few more strokes.
My farrier showed me how to do all the above, I paid him for his time. With Cairo, although at the end of his life I did tidy his rear feet myself, my farrier did the fronts and monitored the backs to make sure that I was not screwing up.
Nothing wrong with tidying feet, but actually cutting of hoof, getting angles correct etc should be done by someknow who really knows what they are doing.
I think most farriers, given payment are happy to show tidying frogs, basic rasping and removing shoes.
Hollycat
Well-Known Member
There are a few books I like. The Chosen Road by KC La Pierre is my fav - its interesting and gives a step by step guide to trimming. A good trim with the foot in proper balance on one hand isn't rocket science and on the other can be very difficult indeed! I'm not advocating people buy a book and proceed out to the stables armed with book and rasp, but I think all horse owners have a duty to educate themselves on basic hoofcare. At least then they can tell if their farrier has done a good trim or not.
For anyone genuinely intersted in trimming I would talk to your farrier and get him to teach you to trim then trim for a while under his supervision. There's also some good courses on trimming you can attend, but again I would get my farrier to supervise for a while if possible
For anyone genuinely intersted in trimming I would talk to your farrier and get him to teach you to trim then trim for a while under his supervision. There's also some good courses on trimming you can attend, but again I would get my farrier to supervise for a while if possible