DIY hoof trimming.

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Willza

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Just wondering if there are many of you who DIY hoof trim?

Considering doing it myself after reading a few books, watching a few lessons and getting some advice from other friends who also do it. Planning on starting on my yearling who's been given the Barefoot/natural hoof care system already for a few months now.

Any thoughts on the good the bad and the ugly of DIY trimming would be appreciated!
 
Imo definitely get some supervision from your Trimmer to start with!! You do need supervision from a Trimmer even if it's only to check you're doing it properly.
I take it you have looked into the holistic barefoot approach... diet, movement,environment etc. these things are crucial too for good strong feet.

Mta... preparing the foot for a shoe and applying the shoe would be illegal without Farrier training.
Lantra are currently involved with Trimming Organisations in this Country drawing up training and practice guidelines I believe.

 
Why? what makes you think you will gain enough knowledge to do it correctly?

Whats wrong with getting a farrier to do it? If it's the cost then you shouldn't have a horse. It makes me cross when people like you think you can replace a person who has trained properly to do a job. You are being irresponsible IMO and could damage your horse irreparably.

Just because I can stick a couple of bricks together doesn't mean to say I can build a house!!
 
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If it's the cost then you shouldn't have a horse. It makes me cross when people like you think you can replace a person who has trained properly to do a job. You are being irresponsible IMO and could damage your horse irreparably.

Just because I can stick a couple of bricks together doesn't mean to say I can build a house!!

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I do agree with most of this. Cost well there have been tons of debates on the cost of a Trimmer as they are much more expensive than a Farrier for a trim.
I don't care what Farriers say ime the majority of them are not trained in how to produce a performance barefoot horse. Of course there are Farriers who can, there are also some Farriers who have completed Barefoot trimming courses!
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Are they mad you ask? Well I believe they have done so to gain more knowledge and are responding to a demand.

I have a strong belief that all owners should learn more about horses feet, how they function and how to keep horses comfortable and sound. Which ime is not just about slapping a shoe on or doing a trim!! Horses are living breathing animals and how they are managed fed etc. all has a bearing on their general wellbeing so learning about this has got to help us care better for our horses surely.

Mta... books on Farriery often recommend a period without shoes each year... why? To allow the horse to grow good enogh feet to shoe.
 
I personally wouldn't want to trim mine all the time but I have a rasp (at the suggestion of my farrier) and I rasp my ponies hooves every couple of weeks to keep them tidy and have him every now and then to make sure they are balanced and correct.
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i wouldnt do it myself.

I have a lot of horses and yes, it would save me £20 per horse every few weeks (8 horses....) BUT... i would rather a specialist do it!

I did actually call about a horse that was for sale not too long ago, and from talking to the owner, it seems the hooves were stopping people from buying her, why? well it seems she had been trimming them herself, obviously they were not right.
 
I just thought I'd better clarify a few things here just for the record.

-Its not illegal as its a non invasive procedure, your only removing old horn.

- I will be doing my first trims alongside a qualified natural farrier to ensure I'm not doing anything wrong. Until he says that I'm doing it perfect I wont do it on my own.

-My horse's wellbeing is paramount, I am not doing this as a money saver but in fact as I would prefer to be more involved and knowledgable in its upkeep.
 
Troll !!!

And if not a troll, you are nuts. Nothing wrong with being more knowledgable, but leave the trimming to a proper farrier who trained for years to know the function and the science of the foot. What if you get it wrong, poor horse will be in dreadful pain.
And if any barefoot trimmer calls himself a natural farrier, he is kidding you on. Unless he is actually a farrier of course.
 
Apart for the general argument, I'd be very leery of practising on a horse that young. His bones are still forming and good skeletal balance is essential for his correct development. If you do go a little bit wrong and it goes on for any time you could do him long term damage in the form of splits (seriously - I've seen young horses blow out splits from one uneven trim), uneven muscle development etc. Also, he will change rapidly over the next couple of years and without more experience it will be very tricky to adapt your attentions accordingly. An older, stable horse might be a better initial experiment if you're bound and determined to do it yourself.

I do know people who live in very remote areas who do their own trimming successfully. BUT they usually have lots of horses to practice on AND in all such cases the environment is quite tough so the horses wear their feet down naturally to a large extent, what's needed is more in the line of tidying up and it's pretty obvious how the feet *should* look from the horse's natural pattern of movement. Trimming one horse every however many weeks, with little or no wear down in between is not really comparable.
 
I've never done it but I do know two YMs who do - one runs a stable were nearly every pony has thrush, (probably not related but demonstrates general standard of foot care), the other has some which look great and some oldies who don't.

If you are really set on doing this perhaps you could start, as you say, under supervision and work your way up to doing, say, every alternate trim? That way when you first start doing it by yourself at least every other trim will be good and they will be able to pick up if you're going off-course before it gets dangerous?
 
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foot trimming isn't illegal, but shoeing is...

however, i wouldn't touch it with a bargepole! esp when my (excellent) farrier only charges 5quid for a trim.

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THAT CHEAP??? I can understand why people want to trim their own if they feel they know how, because I get charged £20 for less than 5 min work. My horse's feet only need bit of rasping so if you do get shown what and how to do it correctly by a farrier, I don't see why one could not do it themselves. Especially in the current economic climate saving £20 does make a difference.
I would not recommend doing anything else but the little rasping with the feet though. I would be too worried I'd do more damage than good.
 
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alongside a qualified natural farrier



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Well, that's a new one!!

I learn as much as I can about every aspect of horse care, including hoof care, my animals health is paramount for me too, hence I would not consider foregoing a £10 trim by an expert to do it myself.
 
In the US, this is quite normal.( Farriers are often only called out once or twice per year.) As is doing all your own vaccinations (apart from Rabies) and all sorts of other things.

My mare is retired and has very bad arthritis in her knees. She cannot be shod as she just can't bend her legs up high enough or for long enough. I wasn't prepared to have a farrier knocking her about for "misbehaving" so I rasp her around myself. I use an old small traffic cone as a tripod. Some days she can tolerate it, other days she can't so I usually do a few minutes on them every weekend. If she is comfortable to lift her legs up then I try to get a bit more off in one session. I've been doing her myself for 4 years now and haven't noticed any problems.
 
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Troll !!!

And if not a troll, you are nuts. Nothing wrong with being more knowledgable, but leave the trimming to a proper farrier who trained for years to know the function and the science of the foot. What if you get it wrong, poor horse will be in dreadful pain.
And if any barefoot trimmer calls himself a natural farrier, he is kidding you on. Unless he is actually a farrier of course.

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Don't think I have anything else to add to this!!

OP - is this a wind up??
 
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