Barefoot trimming

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MrStevo

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Long one sorry but I thought Id better get it all in!

Im Just looking to sound a few people out, Ive been trimming my own horses for the last 7 or so years, two of which have never had shoes on and 3 I have transitioned from shoes because of problems and are now sound and competing.

I show jump two of the youngsters and they and the others hack out for about an hour a day on average apart from my brood mare. I was taught by a farrier and spent years "talking about doing it" and eventually 3 weeks on the road with him watching learning etc. Ive done alot of research and even some disections on cadaver legs (not pleasant but interesting) before i decided it was the right thing to do for me.

Ive never had a problem with any of mine and I keep getting asked to trim other peoples (I have a show pony and get approached regularly at shows but always say no)

My question is - should I start trimming other peoples (i know I need to look at insurance etc) ?

Would you rather somone had official qualifications eg a farrier or would experience be enough? - Ive looked at all of the other trimming qualifications and although they offer training their qualifications are simply the use of their company name for the fee of the training programme.

I was thinking more of maintenance trimming, im not claiming to want to cure laminitis or anything - thats vets teritory as far as im concerned.

People just seem to be approaching me more and more often commenting on the way my horses move and the quality of their feet, And asking who does them / will I take them on etc it would just be a big step to do other peoples precious pets.

Wouldnt have a clue what to charge either - knowing me I would end up costing myself money!
 
I would not have any one except a qualified farrier trimming my horses feet, not a 'barefoot' trimmer with a qualification from a none regulatory body, or some-one well intentioned but amateur. we have had horses barefoot, but they have been trimmed by the farrier.
 
I will not let anyone ever trim my horses feet unless they are a qualified, experienced and decent farrier who I know or who I have had several solid references from!
Anyone would be mad to let someone who isn't qualified trim their horse's feet imo!
 
I have a qualified EP trim my horses feet and I am always being asked by people at shows etc who trims her as she has such good and well balanced feet. Her feet were totally wrecked by farriers in the past, I find the vast majority of them rude, arrogant and useless - the ones who don't fall in to that category are booked up to the eyeballs and can't take on any more customers.

I judge by what I see, my vet is more than happy with how my horse's feet look so I am happy too.
 
i wouldn't have a so-called Barefoot trimmer within 50 miles of ANY of my horses TBH...

a farrier, who has been apprenticed and passed exams....

or...... someone whose been on a non regulatory 3 day course..and gained a non regulatory "certificate"???

uuum...difficult one, i know.
 
You need to go on a proper barefoot trimming course, which is NOT a 3 day course at all, it is several weeks of supervised practice and theory and with exams at the end of it. And you will get to be part of the relevant governing body with insurance and proper guidelines, etc.

I had a qualified barefoot trimmer and my horse's feet had never been better, I think going barefoot has prevented him developing navicular, which I am pretty sure he was on the way to.

He is back in shoes now, having found a "sympathetic" farrier, who has advised that I have his shoes off for the winter and ride him on the road in boots until the spring, when his shoes can go back on again.

I wouldn't employ anyone to trim my horse's feet unless they were properly certified and trained.
 
JM07 each to their own but a qualified farrier who was high up in the farrier council lamed my horse so badly he ended up being LOU - the vet confirmed his lameness was due to a farriery issue.

I wish everything was so black and white eg qualifications and apprenticeship guarantee a good end product!

Needless to say both of mine are barefoot - including the one who was LOU who is now back in full work and is so far ok (touchwood). However, I wouldn't have just any old trimmer do their feet. One EP made a terrible job of one of my boys feet and the other who I have used for 3 years now is fantastic.
 
[ QUOTE ]
JM07 each to their own but a qualified farrier who was high up in the farrier council lamed my horse so badly he ended up being LOU - the vet confirmed his lameness was due to a farriery issue.

I wish everything was so black and white eg qualifications and apprenticeship guarantee a good end product!


[/ QUOTE ]

That's really interesting. I'm amazed bad shoeing was allowed to go so far that the damage seemed irreparable and the horse was LOU. Was the horse MRI'd? What was actually wrong? Did any qualified farriers attempt to correct the damage with any success? I'm not one for trusting experts, but that said I'd rather use a farrier questioningly than one of these new barefoot trimmers. You must have been pretty disillusioned with farriers to go in that direction.

To OP, most people prefer to have their horse trimmed or shod by someone qualified, who comes recommended and then who they can see with their own eyes doing a good job.
 
[ QUOTE ]
JM07 each to their own but a qualified farrier who was high up in the farrier council lamed my horse so badly he ended up being LOU - the vet confirmed his lameness was due to a farriery issue.

I wish everything was so black and white eg qualifications and apprenticeship guarantee a good end product!

Needless to say both of mine are barefoot - including the one who was LOU who is now back in full work and is so far ok (touchwood). However, I wouldn't have just any old trimmer do their feet. One EP made a terrible job of one of my boys feet and the other who I have used for 3 years now is fantastic.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOU??

You allowed it to go that far???

i find that hard to believe, TBH
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[ QUOTE ]
JM07 each to their own but a qualified farrier who was high up in the farrier council lamed my horse so badly he ended up being LOU

[/ QUOTE ]
Gosh, how was it allowed to get so bad?
shocked.gif
 
I wouldnt dream of letting an unqualified person anywhere near my horses. I dont think there is anything to stop you doing your own horses, but not other peoples.

Just as a matter of interest the Farriers registration Council states:

<font color="blue"> To qualify for registration as a farrier, which is a highly skilled profession, persons must, amongst other things complete a four year and two month apprenticeship with an Approved Training Farrier and pass the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers Examination.

</font>


Thats good enough for me

Finally, a question, why is it called Barefoot Trimming. Whats wrong with unshod? Its a bit like saying Pan Fried on a menu....uh yes I expect they did use a pan to fry it!
 
Yeah long story - vet's fault too he recommended the farrier..... Hindsight is easy - I should have sacked the vet and the farrier but I assumed they were the experts. Hence if only everything was so black and white life would be much easier.
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In short, I wouldn't. I've been trimming mine for 7 years, too and after training along similar lines as yours (with farriers, plus Equine Podiatry courses), I was asked by a senior member of the IIEP to take on some clients in 2005. I hadn't qualified as an EP, but was planning to at the time.

What shocked me was the lack of support should anything go wrong, although I found it very easy to get insurance, through NFU.

I did take on about 5 clients, but I ended up firing all but one of them. What you will find is probably what many farriers do. Some people have no idea that horses should be TRAINED to lift their feet. Some will believe that they can leave an unshod horse in bedding soaked with p155 and expect their horse to perform on stony tracks straight from the stable. Others will think that 16 weeks in between trims is perfectly adequate on an unhandled 3 yr old and then are all apologetic when said 3 yr old rears up and slams a foot on the back of the trimmer's head. I gave up after about 4 months, immediately after that incident. It was the straw that broke the camel's back!

My current farrier and an old farrier friend both asked me to go out on the rounds with them, as they thought my ponies' feet were fabulous (Henry is normally shod in the summer, hence the farrier input!) and even the vet complimented my shettie's feet last month. You know what though? They're welcome to their profession! I found the owners nothing but bloody strife and take my hat off to any farrier that works with these people!!! When I told my farrier about the rearing pony he was very sympathetic and said he's had it many times. It's no wonder some farriers lash out, after years of that!

My advice is to continue to say no. Chances are, you put in the work to keep your horses' feet nice. Others are not so keen. Trust me. I was also shocked at how trusting people were in someone they'd never met and they KNEW wasn't qualified (as an EP or otherwise) trimming their precious horse.

p.s. I don't know of any 3 day course that claims to qualify anyone. The only 3 day course that used to exist is the S***sser one and I'm not sure they still run (at least, I hope they don't!).
 
thanks for the advice, thats prety much the conclusion I had come too - As for the management side ive over 900 acres of hills and a few concrete yards for them to put into for a few hours if the ground is wet, I feed magnesium and pro biotics. I know the trim itself is only a small part (if its done right) its the management thats the hard part and as you say other people may not be prepared/able to put the work in!

Think Ill stick to my own - I still find it odd everytime I come out of the ring or off a xc course and people say, that jumped well and it hasnt even got shoes on!
 
I agree with Fransurrey, far too much hassle!
Incidentally Fran, what about your last client, did they sack you?
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