Clive meers

AmiRobertson

AmiRobertson

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Ok so after my googling and left answer phone messages I spoke to this chap. He is obviously passionate about what he does! But he explained that with the goal being natural balance shoes to start with to lift her pedal bone an open the blood flow. We had a very long conversation and he told me to have a think and do some reading over the weekend and also to speak to other farriers/barefoot trimmers as he explained I have to make the right decision. He also said that I do decide to go with him he expects us to behave as a team to solve my horses problems. I did like him but I am finding all this information a bit overwhelming. Can anyone give a recommendation of him?
At the end of the day I just want my young horse to be sound and comfortable for the rest of her life and that will be personal to her needs but how do I know which is the right way?
Sorry for double posting!
 
Hi Amy

Wanted to post quickly as I have just taken my horse barefoot due to farrier messing up my boys heels and I know a really good podiatrist who may be able to help you. He is very quiet and gentle with the horses and although quite young has been doing a fabulous job giving me advice and takes a huge amount of time to check foot balance etc etc. Have a read up on podiatry as opposed to basic barefoot/pasture/mustang trim.

If you want to chat to me please post as I live in the Sevenoaks area not a million miles from you and have learned a fair bit about barefoot in the last few weeks!! I am not pro one way or the other, the only interest I have is that I think each horse should be looked at as an individual . This was a huge step for me, as my boy had a Kissing spines op a few years ago so I would have rather left things as they were with him sound and well shod, but I have ended up having to take him barefoot and he is doing well, I am sure in part because he has always had a basic diet with no sugar but also because the podiatrist has trimmed him very carefully and non-invasively. I don't know if you need an experienced farrier to help you with your horses issues but it may be worth you chatting to this chap just in case he can help you.
 
Hello Beth thank you so much for that I would love to chat to you! And would love to speak to your podiatrist. I am open to anything that will help her and bring her right. Thank you! Feel free to pm me etc
 
If you mean Clive Meers Rainger then I cannot recommend him highly enough. Passionate about what he does, dedicated and highly knowledgeable and very barefoot friendly.
 
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Ah he invited me to that! Would of loved to of gone! However it's my OH's birthday and he gets to decide what we do.
 
Thank you guys he said he can not say what she needs until he sees her but he said he thinks shoeing her to push her pedal bones up to increase blood flow as the pedal bone is likely to be blocking the main artery would probably be the first step. But the over all goal would be for her to go barefoot
 
He is running a day at the end of June where they will be x-raying, doing backwork, shoeing / trimming and re-xraying. Perhaps speak to him about whether your horse would be good subject to take to that?
 
Hi Ami

Have sent you a pm but not convinced it went properly can u let me know if you didn't get it!
 
Hi,

I have used Clive for my now 28 year old TBx for the last 15 years and I think he is a fantastic farrier. He is indeed passionate about his work; he is always interested to learn more and takes himself off to the USA to study with those at the forefront of hoof and shoeing research. As you have discovered, he can talk the hindleg off a donkey, and he puts some people's backs up because he is outspoken and not afraid to tell someone if he thinks they are wrong!

Clive is the reason my boy is still here and in work after a diagnosis of ringbone and navicular changes 16 years ago. Clive pays great attention to foot balance and alignment and keeps my horse's feet functioning correctly. He will see your horse move before and after shoeing and take the time to measure the foot as he is trimming to make sure he places the shoe correctly in relation to the internal structures of the foot.

Clive is so patient with my old boy and takes his time to make sure my horse is comfortable. I can't recommend him highly enough.

Edited to add: Clive will also help you to take your horse barefoot. He trims a barefoot pony on the same yard as me and just does a trim every 12 weeks, every other time he comes to shoe my horse.
 
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Another vote for Clive here! And I'm yet another who went to him to sort out the mess another farrier had made of my horse's feet. The difference after just the initial shoeing was amazing.

As Garnet said, he is always looking to increase his own knowledge but he also believes in sharing this knowledge. I have learnt loads over the time he's been shoeing for me, and also attended the amazing dissection day yesterday.

He's not the cheapest but you get what you pay for. In my case, I paid my money and I got my horse back.
 
Oberon said:
What areas does he cover?
Click to expand...

He's based at Edenbridge and covers West Kent, Surrey and parts of East Sussex but also travels to France on a regular basis.

The dissection day that Clive, Tom Haplin and other members of the Equine Lameness Prevention Organisation ran on Saturday was brilliantly informative and really got across the message that by increasing their knowledge and understanding of how the foot works, horse owners can make informed choices and drive improvments in their horses hoofcare.
 
I've also used Clive for years, and can't recommend him enough. As others have said, he's extremely passionate about what he does, can be rather outspoken, but at the end of the day, is there to do his best for your horse. He will always take the time to explain things to you if you don't understand as he sees owners having knowledge as a good thing, whereas I have so many friends who don't have a clue why their farriers do what they do (or, don't do!)
And he's not just there for the top end horses, or those who need remedial shoes. I've got 3 equines (just lost my 4th a few weeks ago, who had remedial shoes that helped her no end), one has front shoes and the other two are barefoot. One of those is a donkey who he basically saved (with the vet) after a horrendous bout of laminitus.
One thing people need to remember is that all farriers are trained in trimming, as Clive will explain, trimming and hoof mapping is probably the most important part!
I'm also in Biggin Hill, so shout if I can help at all!
 
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