Farrier - WWYD?

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Arabian123

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Hi,

I do post here a little but have had to set up a new account as I know a few people who know my farrier and I don't really want conflict!
I have been using my current farrier for 2 years with no problems, he is very kind to the horses, and always on time. Most of my yard use him for their horses - all shod
My horse was originally barefoot but kept going sore on stoney ground (since the farrier starting trimming him)so the farrier suggested front shoes with pads - this solved the problem but the pads seem to make the shoes fall off. We managed to get him happy with just front shoes and no pads so that was all great.
Last time my horse was shod the farrier seemed to 'burn' (sorry not sure of technical term!) the shoe on 4/5 times when normally he only does this once or twice - my horse went very foot sore this continued for 4 days then sound again.
This time I asked him to trim 3 of my other horses (original farrier who has done them for years has now retired) He has trimmed them and now all three are really sore and unable to walk on the stoney path to the field and back without discomfort :(
To my completely untrained eye it looks like he has just cut the heels right down- whereas the old farrier would always keep a bit of heel on the back of the foot.
What do you suggest? I called him to discuss and he just said that some horses do get foot sore after trimming - but I dont really want this every 6 weeks - I am upset that the horses are in discomfort.
Does any one have any tips on what I can do to help with the discomfort?
Also what would you do regarding the farrier? give him another chance or get someone new in?
Thanks in advance
 
Ditch the farrier.

Any hoofcare professional who advises you to just accept the fact that they make your horses sore shouldn't be allowed to practice, imo. It also sounds like he took a horse that was doing fine barefoot, and trimmed him lame.

It's just a waiting game until the horses repair the damage done, though. It shouldn't last more than a week or two ime.
 
The farrier is making them sore and then you pay him more money to shoe one of the horses, but the horse is still sore straight after shoeing?

Sack him, get a better farrier/trimmer. No horse should be sore after a trim or shoeing. You never know, with a more sympathetic trim, you might be able to go back to BF/unshod with the horse that's now in shoes and pads.
 
Have him out again. Ask him not to make the heels so short. If he does as you ask, see what the effect on the horses is - all ok, use again. If he doesn't listen or they still go sore, tell him you're not sure when you are free next and will get back to him re: booking next appointment, and see if you can find someone else.
 
TwoStroke said:
Ditch the farrier.

Any hoofcare professional who advises you to just accept the fact that they make your horses sore shouldn't be allowed to practice, imo. It also sounds like he took a horse that was doing fine barefoot, and trimmed him lame.

It's just a waiting game until the horses repair the damage done, though. It shouldn't last more than a week or two ime.
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Many thanks - I thought as much :(
I am absoutely gutted as the one with shoes on I had owned for 3 years previously barefoot and was actually previously owned by a forum member who also had the horse barefoot.
I would like to keep my little arab barefoot and have had to stop working with him every night as he is now footsore which is so frustrating as he was doing so well being broken in :(
 
texas said:
Have him out again. Ask him not to make the heels so short. If he does as you ask, see what the effect on the horses is - all ok, use again. If he doesn't listen or they still go sore, tell him you're not sure when you are free next and will get back to him re: booking next appointment, and see if you can find someone else.
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im not 100% if I want him out again now - I have lost faith. I know its not important but I have already had to miss a show as my shod one went lame. It is also constantly playing on my mind that their feet are hurting them and its really upsetting me.
It has happened with one of the other girls on the yard too - he trimmed her horse she went footy so she had him back out to have the horse shod - then no problems.
I did ask about leaving the heels on and he said no - the hoof has to be level to be balanced and tbh I didnt feel like I could disagree with the professional so let him get on with it - could kick myself now!
my step dad is a retired farrier - I have just text him and he is going to pop over tonight to take a look and he has given me the number of his farrier so think I'll give him a call and maybe use him in the future.
 
I changed farrier when this happened to me. My mare is barefoot and has been for 11 years, but the new farrier (relocated) trimmed the foot too short and made her lame twice. I think some of farriers trim in preparation for a shoe, rather than trim to balance the hoof for barefoot.
 
Faracat said:
The farrier is making them sore and then you pay him more money to shoe one of the horses, but the horse is still sore straight after shoeing?

Sack him, get a better farrier/trimmer. No horse should be sore after a trim or shoeing. You never know, with a more sympathetic trim, you might be able to go back to BF/unshod with the horse that's now in shoes and pads.
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Hi Faracat - yes I had the horse shod as I had started riding a little more and the farrier put it down to that - in the 2 years I have used him my shod horse has only gone lame once which was the last time. Then as my old farrier retired (he has done the 3 other horses for years) I decided to use current farrier for them - but they have all gone sore :(
on a sidenote your arabs are beautiful Faracat !
 
Inthesticks said:
I changed farrier when this happened to me. My mare is barefoot and has been for 11 years, but the new farrier (relocated) trimmed the foot too short and made her lame twice. I think some of farriers trim in preparation for a shoe, rather than trim to balance the hoof for barefoot.
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Yup thats what my step father suspects has happened
 
Ok that's fair then. I think they think that they know everything but sometimes they do need to listen to the horse owner as they know what works best for their animals versus the masses. It does sound like rather an unfortunate recurring theme with that particular farrier though! Definitely time for new one in that case.
 
One of the (most expensive) farriers round us does this on a regular basis, simply takes too much foot off and leaves them lame. One of ours had ulcers, so was having the rest of the summer off, asked him to take shoes off and leave them off, result, one very lame pony. He had previously wintered with no shoes so we weren't anticipating a problem. He never touched another one of my horses. I find a lot of them take too much foot off, although some of the vets seem to like this. (thats a whole other story in our case!!)
I'd be changing, but as he does a lot on the yard, I might discuss it with him first, to try and head off any unpleasantness.
 
I'd sack him straight away. A trained professional saying it's normal to be sore after trimming shouldn't be working IMO.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. Just had a chat with the farrier my step father said to use - I have booked in with him.
He also said it sounds like the heel has been taken off too much and to use my hoof boots at the moment in the field to help with the soreness - apparently they maybe sore for 2/3 weeks :(
He suggested bringing them in every night on their rubber mats and bedding as the ground is very hard where we are.
So now to tell the old farrier................:( I am feeling nervous but got to do whats best for my horses
 
I'm in a similar situation as I have changed farrier recently to one recommended to me however mu horse was lame for a week after he shod him and he did not seemed concerned that this had happened and even slightly annoyed I bothered him by asking him to come back and look :(

I have decided to change farriers as after all it is alot of money we shouldnt have to pay for our horses to be made lame :(
 
Arabian123 said:
Hi Faracat - yes I had the horse shod as I had started riding a little more and the farrier put it down to that - in the 2 years I have used him my shod horse has only gone lame once which was the last time. Then as my old farrier retired (he has done the 3 other horses for years) I decided to use current farrier for them - but they have all gone sore :(
on a sidenote your arabs are beautiful Faracat !
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That's very kind of you. :)

I had a panic recently because for the first time my chestnut mare was sore after a trim (same farrier as normal). I cut her grass, but she was still footy so unfortunately it was the trim. Luckily I have a great farrier now and he will listen to my concerns and will adjust his trim next time and take less off as he strongly believes that the horse should come away from the trim sound (he will be mortified that she was footy for a few days).

Sadly the farrier I had previously never listened to my concerns and gave me a whole list of excuses that blamed the horse and not his work. Of course it was his trimming/shoeing that was the problem. The only regret I have, is not sacking him sooner.
 
Take some photos of your horses feet as a record of how he has triummed them.
Check that this farrier is registered with the farriers registration council.
www.farrier-reg.gov.uk
Get another farrier in next time to shoe your horses - ask at other local yards/other local horse riders who they use.
If you can determine that your present farrier is not registered or not shoeing correctly rhen report him to the 'Disciplinary Committee' of the Farriers Registration Council.
 
I am so glad that I posted - it seems that it has happened to a few people.
I am just feeling a bit nervous about telling current farrier as he is genuinely a nice guy and very kind to the horses.
Thinking about it , around 6 months ago another farrier commented on how flat my horses feet were trimmed and that he would do them more upright (he was just putting an emergency shoe on the day before a show as my farrier couldnt make it) I really should of listened then :(
 
If you are not happy change farrier

I had a few issues & ended up with the vet out in the end- changed farrier & no more issues - not all farriers can deal with all types of feet & hooves - the only problem is they won't all say so :(
 
ellie11987 said:
I'd sack him straight away. A trained professional saying it's normal to be sore after trimming shouldn't be working IMO.
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I agree with this , some horses are more difficult than others and the odd issue can be forgiven if the farriers attitude is good and you understand what was going on.
However as he's made all your horses sore thats not right I would find another farrier at once.
I have never had any of mine sore after a trim ( I use a trimmer when my horses are without shoes ) I recently had my TB sore straight after shoeing I called the vet straight out and the vet has spoken to the farrier in this case as we are trying to bring his toes back a bit while I would much rather it had not happened I understand why it did .
 
I have had the same problem in the past. Pony came to me barefoot and sound. First trim with the yard farrier and she couldn't walk. Pony was new to me so allowed him to trim a second time and asked for less off and she was still really lame so I refused to pay and told him I'd look elsewhere. My friends gelding also went out on loan and ended up lamed after being trimmed by the same farrier.

Pony has been self trimming at the old yard as we hacked everyday on the road. New yard has off road hacking so he now in need of a trim. When I asked around as to who everyone used, it seems the original farrier who lamed my pony is the yard farrier.

I wont use him ever again so have found my own who will be coming on Friday. I am really nervous as pony is difficult with farrier at the best of times and I have no idea how she will trim but I'll ask for a barefoot, forgiving trim.
 
It sounds like you are absolutely doing the right thing by changing farrier (even if that is going to mean a tricky conversation with the current one) :)

On a side note, I think it can be quite hard to find a farrier that is good with barefoot horses. I don't have any barefoot, but I have a good friend who does and she has had a real struggle finding a good farrier that meets her horse's needs. I think it is just that a lot of farriers are (as one might expect) unofficially prejudiced in favour of horses being shod. I think it takes a while to get good at asking the right questions of a prospective farrier and reading between the lines of what they say, so I wouldn't beat yourself up about it. Good luck with the new farrier :)
 
DabDab said:
It sounds like you are absolutely doing the right thing by changing farrier (even if that is going to mean a tricky conversation with the current one) :)

On a side note, I think it can be quite hard to find a farrier that is good with barefoot horses. I don't have any barefoot, but I have a good friend who does and she has had a real struggle finding a good farrier that meets her horse's needs. I think it is just that a lot of farriers are (as one might expect) unofficially prejudiced in favour of horses being shod. I think it takes a while to get good at asking the right questions of a prospective farrier and reading between the lines of what they say, so I wouldn't beat yourself up about it. Good luck with the new farrier :)
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Thanks DabDab - I do feel terrible at the moment I just cant stop thinking of them out in the field and being sore. Plus I am so gutted that my youngster was actually coming on so well going out for walks every night and now thats got to stop for a good few weeks and we will have to start all over again :(
I am really hoping that he will be good when the new farrier comes and doesnt associate having his feet trimmed with pain ?? :confused:
 
HaffiesRock said:
I have had the same problem in the past. Pony came to me barefoot and sound. First trim with the yard farrier and she couldn't walk. Pony was new to me so allowed him to trim a second time and asked for less off and she was still really lame so I refused to pay and told him I'd look elsewhere. My friends gelding also went out on loan and ended up lamed after being trimmed by the same farrier.

Pony has been self trimming at the old yard as we hacked everyday on the road. New yard has off road hacking so he now in need of a trim. When I asked around as to who everyone used, it seems the original farrier who lamed my pony is the yard farrier.

I wont use him ever again so have found my own who will be coming on Friday. I am really nervous as pony is difficult with farrier at the best of times and I have no idea how she will trim but I'll ask for a barefoot, forgiving trim.
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Seems very similiar to my situation! my last yard was mostly road hacking whereas this one is off road - my boy was perfectly happy barefoot previously - I will discuss with new farrier the process to maybe try barefoot again
 
I think that sounds like a good plan, difficult a conversation it will be. If anything my mare is better after the farrier has been, not worse - she is barefoot too so it sounds like he is doing something wrong.

This time I had the farrier's apprentice rather than the main man, and I have to say, I was really impressed with the trim he gave her, much shorter than normal with a mustang roll - exactly how I wanted it - the normal guy seems to be a bit more cautious with the trim.
 
I did not call my farrier to tell him, simply stopped booking him. I have found a great barefoot trimmer for now and I have never been happier, twice the price but the feet are always good and they are never rushed.
 
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