I think barefoot trimmer may have conned me!

well, tbf you did say 'now i'm wondering whether she is a trimmer'. She might be, but just one with poor business savvy. being crap at business, doesn't make her a bad or fake trimmer. I'm in Scotland-there are a couple of trimmers here who travel all over the country at regular intervals-hopefully this will happen in Ireland too at some point. starting a thread titled' my trimmer conned me' was also guaranteed to get the haters in.

I over measured for my set of back countrys as well-despite having successfully measured for other boots in the past but was able to send them back as I also used bags etc. she should take them back but like I said, if it came to it you wouldn't lose money on them.
 
Not read all the replies, but this sounds VERY familiar - a brand new pair of hoof boots were left with a fellow livery by a "barefoot trimmer", just 2 months ago. . A nice sideline, me thinks. Unnecessary and unwanted in the first place. never used, returned unwanted. A CON. Trimmer in N.E.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - a farrier has done a 5 YEAR APPRENTICESHIP in hooves - how long has a so called "barefoot trimmer" trained for ??
 
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The main problem here is that the is no legal protection of the term 'barefoot trimmer' and no registration organization that monitors quality and strikes off if there is a problem. I can buy myself the kit, call myself a trimmer and set up - and seeking expensive supplements and boots is a good little sideline.

Yes, yes there are crap farriers, but it's a lot less likely with 5 years quality controlled training.
 
is that not where owner research comes in though Paulag? I wouldn't employ any horse care professional without first 1) checking they were in some way qualified/registered with an appropriate body and 2) asking around and getting references from other people i trust. The same applies to farriers as much as trimmers.

Shysmum are you in Ireland too? Rowreach I was wondering whether the OP might have had farrier difficulties given what you have said previously about farriery in Ireland
 
Just to add (sorry I do get ranty on this), there is a "barefoot trimmer" in the legal process at the moment, according to my farrier, for causing unnecessary suffering. Apparently if this case is proved, things could very well become much more formal for these people.

Oh and don't get me started on illegal, unregistered farriers...
 
shysmum said:
Just to add (sorry I do get ranty on this), there is a "barefoot trimmer" in the legal process at the moment, according to my farrier, for causing unnecessary suffering. Apparently if this case is proved, things could very well become much more formal for these people.

Oh and don't get me started on illegal, unregistered farriers...
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Last I read on the case its been proved he didnt cause unecessary suffering but theyre now trying to turn a wrap into a shoe so farriers can pee all over them as their own territory.

Amazing how farriers can keep up to date with a controversial barefoot case but arent willing to be further educated about a working barefoot horse and how diet/environment effect all this
 
Erm, the trimmer I am thinking about did not once mention diet to this client... in fact, it was me who supplied the info on diet. And diet is EVERYTHING. I was stunned tbh.

I am sure there are some good trimmers out there, but I would still opt for a "barefoot friendly" farrier.
 
OP relax don't let them wind you up, sell them on eBay, however I can't use my only used 3 times boots because they fitted when he first had his shoes off, now he has been barefoot so long his feet have expanded due to the sizing of the frog etc, so I also have wasted boots, see how big they really are, you can put a pad inside to take up space and they might just fit her perfectly when she has gone for a good 6 months without shoes, you will be happy then because you will be riding her further and using the boots more.
 
It won't be proved because iirc he admitted liability and paid up, so no precedent has been set.

Fwiw that was for a hardened wrap qualifying as a shoe and afaik only used by the jamie jackson school of barefoot.. and the small screw used to support it .. which then caused an abscess when it became loose. Many other trimmers just use boots and I suspect no screws will be used in future.
 
ester said:
It won't be proved because iirc he admitted liability and paid up, so no precedent has been set.

Fwiw that was for a hardened wrap qualifying as a shoe and afaik only used by the jamie jackson school of barefoot.. and the small screw used to support it .. which then caused an abscess when it became loose. Many other trimmers just use boots and I suspect no screws will be used in future.
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WHOA WHOA WHOA!!! Get your facts rights - its KC La Pierre's lot who use them, not JJ's!
 
shysmum said:
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - a farrier has done a 5 YEAR APPRENTICESHIP in hooves - how long has a so called "barefoot trimmer" trained for ??
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Mine trained for 3 years,and still does ongoing training now,she's UKNHCP.Not sure what other organisations practices are,but I suspect they have similar time frames.

Hoof boots are a great tool to help with transition,and invaluable if you have difficult terrain.Not much good if they don't fit though.
Speaking from experience getting a perfect fit is nigh on impossible,and it can be a bit trial and error,BUT the trimmer should at least know how to measure properly if she's selling that service,so absolutely stick to your guns OP.

My trimmer has a wide selection of boots she keeps for clients to trial,is there another trimmer in your area that might offer this??

I'm very sorry to hear of your bad experience and I hope you can find a way to resolve it,but please don't be put off using a trimmer in future,most of them are excellent and dedicated to horse hoof health:)
 
OP whether your trimmer is qualified or not, it doesn't change the fact she is running a business. She is operating as a retailer and has sold you boots that don't fit. You bought them on her advice. They are clean and unused/undamaged. She should take them back. If she can't afford to take them back that's her issue, same if she can't get a refund from her supplier. If she wanted 'sale or return' terms with the manufacturer, she should have negotiated them, its not your problem. You're due a refund. Whether its worth taking her to court though is another matter.
 
I am in my final year of equine and human sports science and it is to investigate the difference in foot balance between shod and unshod horses. Will also look into lameness history ect. I am just interested in the difference as barefoot people think barefoots best yet shoeing can help balance out any issues ect.
 
OP you would be covered her under the " Sale of Goods Act" - threaten small claims court if you get nowhere... Ireland is a SMALL Country as you know & am sure with the threat you will get your money back.
 
i would never use a barefoot trimmer again.. totally messed his feet up.. i have pics and x rays to prove.... said person has had 3 horses taken out of her care, and someone is taking her to court... also know of a few people that have had simular problems... my boy is trimmed by a farrier now, oh and his shoes are going back on..
 
badgermyers said:
I am in my final year of equine and human sports science and it is to investigate the difference in foot balance between shod and unshod horses. Will also look into lameness history ect. I am just interested in the difference as barefoot people think barefoots best yet shoeing can help balance out any issues ect.
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thankyou-good luck in your studies :)
 
badgermyers said:
am just interested in the difference as barefoot people think barefoots best yet shoeing can help balance out any issues ect.
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In what way does shoeing balance out any issues? And why is putting an artificial aid on the bottom of the leg a better option than allowing the body to sort itself out?

Maybe another example of humans wanting a quick fix? hmmmm
 
OP does your horse definitely need boots? If you can get away without using them then the horses as long as they are exercised (ridden or in hand) on roads they will start to self trim and eliminate the amount of times you will have to pay for someone to travel a long way to you . And to the people who keep saying get a farrier to do the trim they most likely dont realise a barefoot trim and a farrier trim are two different things. Barefoot trim is suitable for all terrain, a farriers trim is suitable for grass terrain or in preparation for a shoe to be applied. Unless of course farrier is barefoot friendly of which i would say they are few and far between.
 
badgermyers said:
I am talking about corrective shoeing. Raised heels to help with pedal bone rotations ect
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Wedges do nothing long term but crush the heels even more and contract the ddft.

It is far better for a horse with negative pedal bone rotation to be given the stimulation which it needs to build a stronger external and internal back half of the foot of its own accord, which will right the rotation.
 
badgermyers said:
True but i am personally happier with shoes than boots. Sadly i cant look into everything so am just looking and barefoot and regulary shod horses
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If your horse is shod with wedges then I doubt if he is, or if he is I doubt he will stay that way over time. There are plenty of farriers who think that wedges do more harm than good.
 
weebarney said:
a barefoot trim and a farrier trim are two different things.
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I do not agree with this and I am a fully paid up member of the barefoot taliban. There is a good trim and a bad trim. There is no such thing as a barefoot trim or a farrier trim. There is no "right way to trim", either there is only the correct trim for one foot on any one particular horse.

Many farriers know how to trim hardworking barefoot horses and did before the term "barefoot trim" was ever coined.
 
shysmum said:
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - a farrier has done a 5 YEAR APPRENTICESHIP in hooves - how long has a so called "barefoot trimmer" trained for ??
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No, they do an apprenticeship in making shoes and putting them on horses - they do not do a 5 year apprenticeship in HOOVES.

I have nothing against farriers if they do a good job, but after having had two horses lamed by different farriers in my area, then excuse me if I don't want to use them! We do have another two farriers in this area who are good doing barefoot trims, but unless my trimmer ballses up then I'll continue to use him. The farriers, one in particular would be my next port of call though.
 
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