Barefoot without a barefoot trimmer

MiniMilton

MiniMilton

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I want to go barefoot with my horses, but in the absence of a barefoot trimmer (Serious shortage in Ireland!)

I did a barefoot trimming course about 10 years ago where we did a lot of work on cadaver hooves and then some real trims. I wasn't impressed as I thought the trims were aggressive, and the only mention of diet was to add green blue algae. So I shelved the barefoot idea.

Roll on 10 years and I discovered HHO and a strong barefoot support element. Less aggressive trims and talk of diet and track systems. So I want to go BF again but I will either need to do the trims myself or instruct my traditional farrier.

Will it be possible to succeed? And any recommendations of books/dvd's? 3 of my 4 horses are now without shoes (one only unshod in the last 2 weeks). I trim my mini and my farrier trims the bigger ones but I noticed he was removing a bit of frog and sole. Not sure if I'll ever go fully barefoot with the 4th horse as she has very problematic feet. She is unshod behind so if I ever get those looking good I may consider it.
 
Do enough work with them on surfaces and they will pretty much self trim, I have a farrier trim two of mine which are not in work and the other two I just touch up with a file, but they self trim (if for some reason they don't then the farrier can help out, but I prefer him not to).
 
MiniBlitzen said:
And any recommendations of books/dvd's? 3 of my 4 horses are now without shoes (one only unshod in the last 2 weeks). I trim my mini and my farrier trims the bigger ones but I noticed he was removing a bit of frog and sole. Not sure if I'll ever go fully barefoot with the 4th horse as she has very problematic feet. She is unshod behind so if I ever get those looking good I may consider it.
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Feet first by Nic Barker and Sarah Braithwaite and Pete Ramey's 10 disc DVD series Under the Horse, which is on offer now and your farrier will find very useful if he's interested.
Do note the diet advice in Feet first has moved forward ie. don't feed seaweed.
 
I'm hoping to train my farrier to leave frogs and soles alone. I cancelled the last (7 weekly) appointment to see how mine go, and in the 8 weeks since his last visit they have grown a tiny amount of excess wall, very little. I walk them across a hardcore yard every day and into concrete floored barn with bare concrete floors in the stables (they live out except for this daily trip in for a feed and a check and aren't working due to the weather). A friend suggested a light covering of sand in the stables which I am working on but so far they are self trimming to a degree.
I'll be interested to know how you get on if you decide to train the farrier - mine is a friend but has a typical farrier ego :(
 
amandap said:
Feet first by Nic Barker and Sarah Braithwaite and Pete Ramey's 10 disc DVD series Under the Horse, which is on offer now and your farrier will find very useful if he's interested.
Do note the diet advice in Feet first has moved forward ie. don't feed seaweed.
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Thank you. I'll check them out
 
JillA said:
I'll be interested to know how you get on if you decide to train the farrier - mine is a friend but has a typical farrier ego :(
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My farrier throws his eyes up to heaven at the mere mention of barefoot! But he's a nice guy so if i persevere through the looks and comments he'll try to please me eventually. I just want to know what i'm talking about first!
 
MiniBlitzen said:
I want to go barefoot with my horses, but in the absence of a barefoot trimmer (Serious shortage in Ireland!)

I did a barefoot trimming course about 10 years ago where we did a lot of work on cadaver hooves and then some real trims. I wasn't impressed as I thought the trims were aggressive, and the only mention of diet was to add green blue algae. So I shelved the barefoot idea.

Roll on 10 years and I discovered HHO and a strong barefoot support element. Less aggressive trims and talk of diet and track systems. So I want to go BF again but I will either need to do the trims myself or instruct my traditional farrier.

Will it be possible to succeed? And any recommendations of books/dvd's? 3 of my 4 horses are now without shoes (one only unshod in the last 2 weeks). I trim my mini and my farrier trims the bigger ones but I noticed he was removing a bit of frog and sole. Not sure if I'll ever go fully barefoot with the 4th horse as she has very problematic feet. She is unshod behind so if I ever get those looking good I may consider it.
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Having gone down the barefoot journey with a barefoot trimmer for a good trial time. Now I would only get a farrier to do my horses 2 are barefoot one was barefoot now shod all round.

My farrier was told that I had a barefoot trimmer before, he rolled his eyes then in started to do my boy.
 
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I have had the opposite experience to Leviathan. The trimmer I use is highly trained and competent, but I can think of only one local farrier that I would trust to trim a hoof. I think as in any trade, you need to look at the individual and his or her background and record of working with unshod performance horses or rehabilitation cases.
 
Whereabouts in Ireland are you? Mine are all unshod, I do the regular trimming myself and my farrier is very good at listening to my insane ravings when he comes to tidy up my efforts. According to him, it's really just about rolling the edges rather than leaving a flat surface when a preparing the foot for a shoe. Oh, and he touches the sole and frog on pain of death!
 
MiniBlitzen said:
I want to go barefoot with my horses, but in the absence of a barefoot trimmer (Serious shortage in Ireland!)

I did a barefoot trimming course about 10 years ago where we did a lot of work on cadaver hooves and then some real trims. I wasn't impressed as I thought the trims were aggressive, and the only mention of diet was to add green blue algae. So I shelved the barefoot idea.

Roll on 10 years and I discovered HHO and a strong barefoot support element. Less aggressive trims and talk of diet and track systems. So I want to go BF again but I will either need to do the trims myself or instruct my traditional farrier.

Will it be possible to succeed? And any recommendations of books/dvd's? 3 of my 4 horses are now without shoes (one only unshod in the last 2 weeks). I trim my mini and my farrier trims the bigger ones but I noticed he was removing a bit of frog and sole. Not sure if I'll ever go fully barefoot with the 4th horse as she has very problematic feet. She is unshod behind so if I ever get those looking good I may consider it.
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I feel your pain, I'm hoping to go on a course this year for a barefoot trimming course on Clare Island. So far I rasp my retired mare's feet to keep any flare off (she is out on grass). My youngster has a small paddock and a concrete yard and although I'm keeping a close eye on her feet and it's winter and they look good I'm too scared to touch them. They are looking good for the moment, I've no chance where I live for a barefoot trimmer.
 
Cortez said:
Whereabouts in Ireland are you? Mine are all unshod, I do the regular trimming myself and my farrier is very good at listening to my insane ravings when he comes to tidy up my efforts. According to him, it's really just about rolling the edges rather than leaving a flat surface when a preparing the foot for a shoe. Oh, and he touches the sole and frog on pain of death!
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I'm in Dublin. My horses feet are not great and I live in a hilly rocky area so the issues I would encounter most would be lumps of hoof missing rather than long bits!

The trimmer I did the course with was a qualified farrier who chose to go down the barefoot route. He was a bit too keen to hack the foot right back to get the growth to start from scratch. He saw it as removing any diseased or deformed hoof, I saw it as extremely painful for the horse.


I have one slightly off on a tangent question... When people mention horses jumping barefoot, the accompanying photos are always of horses jumping on sand surfaces. Can a horse be safely jumped on a grass surface where studs would otherwise be needed if the horse was shod?
 
doriangrey said:
I feel your pain, I'm hoping to go on a course this year for a barefoot trimming course on Clare Island. So far I rasp my retired mare's feet to keep any flare off (she is out on grass). My youngster has a small paddock and a concrete yard and although I'm keeping a close eye on her feet and it's winter and they look good I'm too scared to touch them. They are looking good for the moment, I've no chance where I live for a barefoot trimmer.
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I only see your reply now, somehow I missed it earlier! I heard about the course in Clare Island. If you do go on it please let me know how you get on. I'm off to order books and DVD's on trimming
 
MiniBlitzen said:
I'm in Dublin. My horses feet are not great and I live in a hilly rocky area so the issues I would encounter most would be lumps of hoof missing rather than long bits!

The trimmer I did the course with was a qualified farrier who chose to go down the barefoot route. He was a bit too keen to hack the foot right back to get the growth to start from scratch. He saw it as removing any diseased or deformed hoof, I saw it as extremely painful for the horse.


I have one slightly off on a tangent question... When people mention horses jumping barefoot, the accompanying photos are always of horses jumping on sand surfaces. Can a horse be safely jumped on a grass surface where studs would otherwise be needed if the horse was shod?
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If it would be helpful to talk to someone who trims their own, I would be happy to meet up for a coffee next time I'm in Dublin (probably end of the month). I've been DIY for 5 years now, and learned a lot. Where I am is also a trimmer desert (nearest trimmer about a 120 mile round trip), and the competent farriers are well booked up so won't visit to trim a single horse, and the others I wouldn't let near my horse with a rasp, let alone nippers :D

Oops saw the last part there - I don't jump (bar the occasional log while out), but I do know from friends who event that jumping barefoot is fine, but there's a process of education for both horse and rider during the period where you're getting used to it - you need to start off taking things a bit steadier on grass than you would if horse had e.g. studs. I do know someone who has been successfully eventing for about 6 years now with no slippage problems, including SJ rounds.
 
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spookypony said:
I have had the opposite experience to Leviathan.' The trimmer I use is highly trained and competent, but I can think of only one local farrier that I would trust to trim a hoof. I think as in any trade, you need to look at the individual and his or her background and record of working with unshod performance horses or rehabilitation cases.
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Same here. Farriers made my horses sore when trimmed, then told me it was because they would never cope without shoes however I've now used 2 wonderful trimmers who have dealt brilliantly with the different needs of my 4 horses and are far more able to discuss the management aside of keeping them sound than any farrier. I know there are barefoot friendly farriers out there, just as there are horses who can cope with a farrier trim. As with everything horsey you need to deal with each horse, person and situation individually - there is no black and white.
 
I've used various different barefoot trimmers before and I would never again.

Much happier with farrier's work.
 
Just call it "pasture trim", supplement the diet, and use a tarmac road for self trimming.
Ask the farrier not to trim the frogs as he is not [yet] ready for shoes.
Your friend is a proper farriers rasp, use it every two weeks.
No farrier should leave a horse in pain after trimming, what does that say about his skills?
 
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Mine is having a break from shoes ATM although he's coping well enough that I'm hoping I won't have to put them back on again. They have been off about 8 weeks I think now. Haven't made any changes to his diet (but then he doesn't get a high sugar diet anyway). He is working the best he ever has in the arena, fine on all road and grass hacks (he'll hack out happily for a couple of hours). He has to walk to the field and back over a stony hardcore track which he doesn't notice. If we hack on stony tracks he feels the odd stone a bit, but nothing major and I certainly don't think it is cause for concern. Farrier has looked at him twice (farrier believes all horses should at least have a break from shoes each year). First time did nothing at all. Second time just tidied up - rolled the edge of the walls as they were getting a bit long and starting to crack to the nail holes. Didn't touch the sole or frog, didn't nip anything off them. Horse was as sound after as he was before.

Don't discount using your farrier, OP :)
 
Less is more with trimming in my view. I do my own. As far as farriers go, it depends how good the individual is. Any eye rolling would see the end of him as far as I'm concerned. It's too serious for prattish behavior like that.
 
MerrySherryRider said:
I've always used a farrier for my unshod, in work, horses and it hasn't been a problem.
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This. Infact, I was so impressed the other week, I wanted Ben checked and trimmed because as a rule he only really gets done a couple of times a year as he is predominantly self trimming, but I always like to have him checked. I changed from my old farrier last year as he became so flipping unreliable, a good farrier but never answered calls and rarely turned up on time, having put up with it for 11 years I was at the end of my tether. I was doing a lot of handling and non ridden work in the run up to the county show and because I couldn't get hold of my farrier bens feet started to splay, I bit the bullet and took him to my yo's farriers yard to get tidied up before the show. He did a lovely job - this was in June, then I missed the farriers last visit before Christmas so when friends farrier turned up early, having seen his work before I asked him to trim Ben. I was really impressed, he did a lovely job, didn't touch the frogs, took the bare minimum off and just ran a rasp around them. He infact commented on how good a condition they were in and said his white line was really nice and tight (result!). He then said how he is strongly against taking too much off and always works minimally on barefoot horses. For that I paid £10! This is half what I would normally pay, so I said he could come again :D. I simply can't argue with a tenner for an excellent service twice a year :). We don't have many bf trimmers down here and only really one worth their salt, whist I get that they advise on diet etc too, I have bens diet nailed, and a good farrier can do everything that a good trimmer can with the bonus of not charging through the nose!
 
I will be honest, I would prefer to pay a bit more for a good job, if farriers realised they could make a good living from barefoot horses they would be more likely to encourage it!
 
MiniBlitzen said:
I have one slightly off on a tangent question... When people mention horses jumping barefoot, the accompanying photos are always of horses jumping on sand surfaces. Can a horse be safely jumped on a grass surface where studs would otherwise be needed if the horse was shod?
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One of many from my eventing days. And no-one studs to hunt.

Scooby+Jump.jpg



It was no problem.
 
ellie11987 said:
Slightly off topic but is it you on the cover of Feet First too? I was having a chat with my trimmer about it the other day :)
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Yes it is, well spotted. Did you see the splint on my broken arm :D ??

The horse is called George, and ironically after I sold him he became a victim of insufficient work and turnout and was sent to rockley as a rehab.
 
cptrayes said:
Yes it is, well spotted. Did you see the splint on my broken arm :D ??

The horse is called George, and ironically after I sold him he became a victim of insufficient work and turnout and was sent to rockley as a rehab.
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I didn't notice that haha! We actually just went off on a tangent as per usual :D

What a shame... can't stress how important movement is - stimulation, stimulation, stimulation!
 
I use a farrier for my unshod horses, would be wary of a barefoot trimmer, as i'm not convinced they have enough education, although i'm sure there are some excellent ones. My farrier is amazing and very happy to trim my unshod horses, i've had vets comment on what a good job hes done, and xrays (for an unrelated problem) and foot balance has been perfect.
 
Unshod ones on our yard are all done by farriers, as above farriers study and train a lot longer than a trimmer.

a trimmer

To become a qualified EP (equine podiatrist) you have to do

23 days in the classroom
12 days practical training
Approximately 200 hours home study
Conducting 8 mentored case studies
4 days shadowing a senior EP


And then let loose to trim no way, been down that route not again..................
 
Leviathan said:
Unshod ones on our yard are all done by farriers, as above farriers study and train a lot longer than a trimmer.

a trimmer

To become a qualified EP (equine podiatrist) you have to do

23 days in the classroom
12 days practical training
Approximately 200 hours home study
Conducting 8 mentored case studies
4 days shadowing a senior EP


And then let loose to trim no way, been down that route not again..................
Click to expand...

As opposed to farriers, whose syllabus contains not a single hour of learning how to manage hard working barefoot horses.
 
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