Cost of barefoot v shod

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FlashHarry

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Interested to know what people think of the costs of going barefoot v costs of shoeing. Initially I would think that barefoot would be loads cheaper, but I guess trimmers aren't cheap either, plus most people feed supplements (which I don't think are too expensive). But if restricting grazing means more hay, I guess costs add up.
 
It's as cheap or expensive as you want it to be.

You don't HAVE to use a trimmer. Many people have wonderful farriers and some people (with the knowledge and skill) trim themselves.

The diet is individual to the horse and owner.

Not all of us restrict grass.
 
I have one horse with front shoes and one pony barefoot
The horse costs about £45 every 5 weeks
The pony costs £20 for a trim at the same time, he could go longer but I'm in a remote location and lucky farrier comes at all so I just go with the regular trims.

They share a bag of farriers formula and it costs about £37 for four weeks. (pony eats about 3/4 of this and horse gets a little only.

So for me they cost about the same! I could try without the supplements or a cheaper supplement but as they are happy/sound I don't want to change things.

For barefoot I guess it depends on the pony and what you do with them. My friend just gets a trim every four months and doesn't feed supplements but only hacks lightly. I compete and do a lot of roadwork.
 
I used to pay £65 for a full set.

My farrier charges £22 for a trim. He's AWCF and most excellent....

The horses diet has not changed- they were on a fibre only feed anyway.

So...for me....much cheaper.

But if you want to pay through the nose for a 'trimmer' rather than a farrier....thats up to you.
 
Farrier charges £20 for a trim.

Diet wise, mine don't get anything special and are out 24/7, don't wear hoof boots, so pretty cheap to keep.

They're straight forward horses, -good grass and lots of exercise keeps them happy and healthy.
 
Trim costs £20-25 so a lot cheaper. I don't feed any particular supplements or oil their hooves but if your going from shod to barefoot you might need it. Mine are on restricted grazing anyway so I'm not sure!
 
I think cost depends to a large extent on your individual horse and how many changes you might have to make in diet, management or professional input.

For me whatever hoof/horse care costs is somewhat irrelevant if it is what the horse requires to be healthy and capable. I manage on a very tight budget but I have no livery fees.
 
Don't do forage analysis either which is another expense we don't have. The horses and the grazing speak for themselves.

Grazing varies from field to field and in different areas, its surprising the effects of a change of pasture can make, which is why its such a priority for us when moving yard.
 
Learn to do it (Trim) yourself on a 3 min course. No cost apart from the angle grinder and blades (if you can't borrow your OH's)
 
ArcticIce said:
Learn to do it (Trim) yourself on a 3 min course. No cost apart from the angle grinder and blades (if you can't borrow your OH's)
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You're forgetting training in the correct and safe use of an angle grinder. :(

Hoof care is NOT about trimming. :rolleyes: Trimming is a small part of it. ;)
 
amandap said:
You're forgetting training in the correct and safe use of an angle grinder. :(

Hoof care is NOT about trimming. :rolleyes: Trimming is a small part of it. ;)
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Yes but with BF trimmers charging so much, DIY trimming is such a cost saver.
3 minute course sounds good. Can I do it on the internet or do I have to attend a course in my tea break ?
 
horserider said:
Yes but with BF trimmers charging so much, DIY trimming is such a cost saver.
3 minute course sounds good. Can I do it on the internet or do I have to attend a course in my tea break ?
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In the end it's down to you what you choose to do. If you deem that as suitable then God help your horse is all I can say I'm afraid. :p
I'd go for the trolley model in your circumstances... just chop off the legs and put him/her on a trolley. No more hoof care required. Problem solved. :eek: :rolleyes:
 
amandap said:
In the end it's down to you what you choose to do. If you deem that as suitable then God help your horse is all I can say I'm afraid. :p
I'd go for the trolley model in your circumstances... just chop off the legs and put him/her on a trolley. No more hoof care required. Problem solved. :eek: :rolleyes:
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Don't think my horses are saying their prayers just yet.
Despite my apparent neglect and farrier's lack of performance trim and life style advice, they're sound, thrush & laminitis free and even manage to remain oblivious to stony ground.
Must have been down to luck all these years.
 
For me

Barefoot Trimmer £30 about every 10 weeks
Shod Full set £65 every six weeks plus shoe replacement at £15 a time when he pulled them off. I was lucky if he lasted a fortnight without pulling one off, sometimes it was a couple of days.

Supplements work out about the same as I was already feeding a range of potions in a desperate attempt to improve his feet, now i just buy separate minerals and mix my own. Definitely more effort in terms of time though.

Forage analysis about £100 for both analysis and feedplan however as long as I don't move yards again will last a while.

Feed very little difference as he was already on a high fibre diet, he's a tb and can react to sugar in interesting ways.

Horse is on 5 day full livery so hay and straw is included so no difference there and before he was barefoot always seemed to be on box rest for some injury or other or was in as he was crippled because he'd pulled a shoe.

I think what some people do is put the horses on a track around the field in the summer and take a hay cut so it evens out again.
 
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horserider said:
Don't think my horses are saying their prayers just yet.
Despite my apparent neglect and farrier's lack of performance trim and life style advice, they're sound, thrush & laminitis free and even manage to remain oblivious to stony ground.
Must have been down to luck all these years.
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Glad to hear you wont be going down the "tea break" grinder course. ;)
 
horserider said:
Don't think OH would let me after giving his hair a trim with the horse clippers. He's working in Canada this week with a bald patch on the back of his head.:D
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lol.gif
 
Lol at horserider I can imagine the questions your OH is getting about his strange looking hair cut.

For me its cheaper for him not to have any shoes on as he doesnt require any special treatment to keep him comfortable and he very rarley needs trimming.
 
BF trim 30 every six to eight weeks
Changes to diet come out cheaper but not a lot of difference
A pair boots where about £120.
Shod
£80 plus vat plus share of travel every five weeks
Trim from farrier £ 20 plus share of travel.
BF is saving me a money.
 
My horse has a trim every 6 weeks which costs £20, he is fed a feed balancer but that wasn't specifically for his feet, more because he struggled to keep weight on.
I don't restrict his grazing.
 
Farrier trim £20 every 8 weeks, little pony every 12, probably longer over summer. Years since she had shoes on but was £55 last set she had. No special methods, boots or supplements. Though I really want boots so I can refer to them as hipposandles.
Cost of angle grinder so I can look the part in front of friends.
 
littlelegs said:
I really want boots so I can refer to them as hipposandles.
Cost of angle grinder so I can look the part in front of friends.
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Haha! I like the name 'hipposandles'!

I think my dad has an angle grinder amongst other things, maybe I should carry it around with me in case of trim :-)

P.s. why would you need to restrict grazing if not wearing shoes? because their feet are more sensitive? x
 
Horserider I must know you in real life! Carry it round saying 'check this mother ****er'
Mandwhy- i'm no expert so someone else can explain it better. But the basic thinking is that for some horses shoes can disguise mild laminitis so without them its just a case of it showing up easier so you can be aware of limiting the sugar intake.
 
Even with a full set of boots ( Cavallo's £82 a pair off ebay ) a year and £40 a trim every 8 weeks, its still a lot cheaper that having shoes at £65 every 5/6 weeks; I think locally some farriers charge £80 :( My friend has heart bars on her horse at a cost of £120 every 6 weeks OUCH!

I only supplement with magnesium I did that before they were BF.
 
I trim for myself and I save £800 per horse per year. I keep a third from the money I save not shoeing the first two. I only used to be able to justify the cost of two.
 
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