Barefooters does your farrier/trimmer trim your horses frog? Why/why not?

[mightymammoth]

just wondering because I noticed my farrier trims the frogs in my currently shod horse. Back shoes are coming off and not sure if I should be asking him to leave the frogs alone or not. Wondered what others did? Any advice appreciated
Thanks

 

[Nocturnal]

No, no frog trimming. Doing so can make barefoot horses tender footed; they require a good thick callous on the frog, which they can't get if the frogs are always being trimmed.

 

[tallyho!]

The farrier will trim a frog because they are trained to. I don't know the why's and wherefore's. You can always ask him not to.

My trimmer never trims the frog unless there is a piece that has nearly sloughed off anyway. You sometimes get loose frog chunks and those will come off naturally anyway.

The hoof needs to use the frog, sole and hoof ideally. An ideal which shoes prevent to a certain extent.

 

[Oberon]

Farriers (from what I understand) are trained that if they allow the frog to grow and don't trim it, then it will grow and grow until it's pushing on the ground and it will make the horse sore.

They also worry that an 'overgrown' frog will become diseased.

Barefooters believe that the frog is meant to be involved in weight bearing as part of the hoof function. We believe that it will not grow and grow but will compact down and become dense and leathery and strong.

So we believe (unless there is a flap that is hanging off and covering a pocket of infection) that we should leave the frog alone.

My horse's frogs have not needed touching for at least 7 years. They live in the NW in a bog BTW

You can see from The Tank's 'hoof biscuit' how thick his frogs are.

 

[tallyho!]

I am liking the coinage of "hoof-biscuit". Is it up for adoption?

 

[horsemadelsie]

My 5 year old has never been shod and my farrier trims his frog most times- I don't know why, but my boy has never been sore from it, even on stony ground- maybe he's tougher because he's never had shoes?

 

[tallyho!]

My 5 year old has never been shod and my farrier trims his frog most times- I don't know why, but my boy has never been sore from it, even on stony ground- maybe he's tougher because he's never had shoes?

That could well make sense as having been unshod, the soles will be wider, the digital cushion well developed and probably tough lateral cartilages. Probably has good sole contact so pressures when walking are distributed well despite regular trimming. Still, it isn't necessary for him to do that as they will just adapt naturally. I can't imagine he takes much off though as the frog is really sensitive and if you go too far it will be apparent

 

[Fransurrey]

I am liking the coinage of "hoof-biscuit". Is it up for adoption?

Me too, lol! I use hoof cake and like Oberon, take piccies of them. My farrier (and I, when trimming) don't trim the frog per se, but if there is a flap creating a pocket, then it gets trimmed off.

 

[MissMistletoe]

I asked my old farrier why he takes slice down both edges of the frog with his knife.

He said that on shod horses, having a narrower frog prevents stones getting wedged between the frog and the shoe.

My trimmer only takes off flaky bits of frog if they are peeling on their own, which makes sense as there is no shoe there!

 

[criso]

I have had two reasons for trimming the frog from farriers

Farrier 1 trimmed his back frogs because they were "getting overdeveloped" Horse was bleeding and lame when he finished and I had to bandage and wrap his feet for about a month to make him comfortable.

Farrier 2 hired to replace farrier 1 trimmed frogs because "otherwise you get abscesses". Told him horse would be sore, he ignored me, horse was sore, he still thought he was right to do so and another ex farrier.

Given the number of different reasons you get I wonder if they do it because they have always done it and are used to seeing neat looking frogs after shoeing and don't actually question why they do it.

 

[PandorasJar]

I would always have frogs trimmed if ours suggest. All rehab and very good farriers around here do it if needed. Never had a soundness issue, however leaving them to it where they get flaps of skin opens up a great environment for harboring bacteria.

I would not have a farrier who took so much off it was bleeding though Our take next to nothing off, mainly a tidy up to stop loose bits of skin, not to 'make it look pretty'. If there is not loose skin it's not touched.

Ours always talk you through what they're doing and why, they also always suggest what is best for the horse, not what they favour. Never had one try to push barefoot or shod to all horses. They will push with individual horses to what their feet will work best with.

I have called into question other farriers work and would never let them near my horse though. Same with vets, they are far more qualified than me... but if my gut says not to do something I would rather question it and get a second opinion (which our vets are more than happy to accomodate).

Pan

 

[amandaco2]

One farrier trimmed my lads frogs and he bled!!!
Always tell them to leave the frog and sole alone now just in case