I would like to open up a debate

Do you prefer cadburys or Galaxy chocolate

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TheFarrier

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jamesthefarrier.co.uk
Now this is not a barefoot versus shoes debate because as a farrier i give the owners what they want, be it shoes or barefoot and i have never suggested shoes where they are not necessary.

There seems to be some misconceptions about barefoot trimmers especially as so far i hear a lot of bad stories and they way they seem to get work is by bashing farriers. Personally i do not feel that this is quite the way of going about things. But some of the reports i have heard about these tactics is that not only do they insist shoes are evil, but farriers are as well for insisting all horse owners have shoes etc.

There also seem to be varying methods on the type of trim done but what bothers me is on one hand people say it is no different to what we do and if this is the case why call what we do 'just a pasture trim' i trim for correct form and function.

If the trim is exactly the same why use a trimmer over a qualified farrier? Is it a work ethic issue? People who move to trimmers quoat bad farrier attitude as the reason for changing to trimmers.

I am interested to hear all the stories, the stories of bad farriers, those of bad trimmers and the good for both too please.

ETA if your horse is barefoot i would like to know why as well
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I cant add another poll so just give me your own reasons, but commonly a) doesnt need shoes b) i believe shoes are evil c) its cheaper than shoes
 
i cannot praise my farrier enough.
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we have used him for over 20 years and before that used his brother.
he has never let me down
i have had all shapes and sizes,some shod and some unshod,he is very patient with youngsters and a few difficult ones we have had in the past and they have always come good.
 
I use a farrier as I have always had good sevice and he does a good job. Farrier trims are also a lot cheaper than EP ones.

I don't like the way that EPs market themselves and the potential lack of experience or qualifications you need to be one. As long as you can afford the tools you can start practising as an EP.
 
At the moment our horses have to wear shoes, they're doing carriage rides on gravel tracks and roads 4hrs a day 6 days a week and theres no trim that would leave them ok with that. They do have their shoes off in October though when they go on their hols and get a "pasture trim" from our farrier. Only once can I remember having a problem where an apprentice was over zealous with the trim on the 3/4 shire (classic 3 toes too so not brilliant feet) and he got an absess. Farrier admitted that he probs wouldn't have got it with a bit more hoof there.

Anyway, all the barefoot horses I've come across it's been hit and miss, either the best thing in the world ever or total unmittigated disaster! If I were to try it with a horse I owned I'd go for whoever could do the best work, if the farrier wasn't great at the trim I wanted/ horse would suit I would look for a trimmer but I hate organising new things and if the farrier can do it, why change!
 
I would use a farrier (and one that is registered) because as I understand it they undergo years of training and working alsongside other farriers and the training involves much more than knowing how to yield a rasp etc! It may be my misconception but a 'barefoot trimmer' does not have the same depth of training. Also what if my horse was being barefoot trimmed but did actually need shoes for whatever reason - a bare foot trimmer cant offer that service but a Farrier can offer both shoeing and trimming and understand that complex relationship.
 
i love my farrier i cannot praise him highly enough
and now we are in spain i would pay to bring him over
but hes scared of flying
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he always went above and beyond his duty to help whenever
needed.
i had him for nearly 20yrs
and he only "forgot " me twice lol ........not bad going.
i have found a nice farrier here too.
so i am very lucky
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Mine have no shoes and are trimmed by farrier.
I choose him rather than a 'barefoot trimmer' as I know he will tell me honestly if they needed shoes, or they have a problem, I trust him.
 
I would never use anyone other than a farrier to shoe or trim my horses. I can't see a reason for using anyone else.
 
I've been very lucky to have always had fantastic farriers. I have and have had a selection of shod, part shod and unshod horses right down to a driving pony that has never had shoes on in her life and will happily go out for miles on the roads. We used to to compete our Welshies up to 3' XC shod just in front, the AA mare started her eventing career at intro having never had shoes on, she has needed studs so is now shod though.

I've never used a barefoot trimmer, my farrier has always dealt with the unshod horses and they've been fine for whatever they were needed to do, whether beautifying the paddocks or out competing. No need to change IMHO
 
The way i see it is i use a qualified vet, physio, saddle fitter so i would also use a qualified farrier. I trust my farrier completely and would always follow his recommendations because he knows more that i do.
 
I use a farrier, my pony has previously had laminitis and is now shoeless due to one bad farrier taking toe away and hardly any heel, so my current farrier (who in my opinion is one of the best) is re-shaping his feet and has done a fantastic job with them.

IMO i would never use a Barefoot trimmer, dont agree with them personally and wouldnt change from someone who is fully qualified and works wonders for my ponies feet.
 
I would only use a farrier as I can be confident they have had all the necessary training and experience. One of my horses is shod, one is barefoot and one just has shoes on in front - he's retired but due to tendon probs needs raised heels.
 
I use my farrier for the shod/unshod horses.

He trims/balances where necessary and I trust him to look after my horses feet...

He has never pressured me into having them shod.....we discuss workload and way of going and decide between us. I feel he's best qualified to advise me on all aspects of foot and hoof care....

He's a star...he's coming on saturday to do my 3 and another 2 and we keep him plied with tea, biscuits and on occasion fish and chips.
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ETA.....the pony was barefott when we got him and farrier said he had good feet and was fine, but to see how he went with an increased workload...I found he was being a bit footy and aiming for the verges rather than the track so he now has shoes on the front only and that seems ok. If farrier feels, or I notice pony isnt happy...then he will have backs on also. My horse is fully shod as he needs them. OH's mare could go barefoot according to farrier and he would happily takes the shoes off and trim when needed, but OH likes her shod so thats his choice
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I can't thank my farrier enough he is alway on time and lets me know when running late. He has alway advised me on what is best for my horses. I use a farrier as I feel that with the years of training they under take they know far more than I on the shaping and trimming of the hoof than I ever would. I currently have 2 with and 4 without shoes. The 2 with shoes will become one next time round as the mare is off to stud. 1 is only 2years old. 2 are broodmares, and the last is 24 and a retired and now a lawn mower for her final days.
 
At the moment my horse has no shoes on as he doesn't do enough work to justify wearing a set. However my farrier sees him regularly and trims and tidies them up whenever necessary.
Personnally I would always use a registered farrier in preference as they have been properly trained.
I am not saying all barefoot trimmers are bad but I think it is a poor attitude to have if the only work they can get is by slagging farriers off
We have all been there waiting for the farrier for him not to show up - nobodies perfect !
Now expected to be slagged off by people who support barefoot trimmers
Each to their own if it suits you and the horse it doesn't matter what I think !!
 
farrier but mine are shoe, I am also of the opinion that there is some not so good farriering going on in my area, I would say mostly due to rushing through. Mine is great and am sure he would do a good job barefoot if I wanted him to. I have never had a bad farrier, but partly cos if I have seen a job done on another horse which I don't like I wouldn't even try them.

but recently heard of a 4 year old pone who has collateral ligament damage due to poor trimming as a youngster. was trimmed regularly by a farrier, apparently he was almost 2cm off balance.

Is now having remedial farriery but shouldn't IMO have happened in the first place. I would of hoped if it was me I would have noticed some unbalance I am always looking at my pones feet but we trust the people that have done the training.
 
Im finding it interesting that there are three votes for why people are using trimmers but only one voter that actually admits to using a trimmer over a farrier.

I am also intersted to hear trimmer stories both good and bad.

so far nothing bad on the farrier side
 
I use a farrier who I can only say is an angel, I have had bad exp in the past, I can trust my farrier now and will even leave him on his own if I cannot be there and that for me is a massive deal, I have both un shod as they dont need shoes at the moment, if they need them then they would have them, and one has shoes last year, I use a farrier as they have done the training, I have nothing again barefoot trimmers but my personal preferance is to use a farrier.
 
I have a great farrier. My two boys were barefoot over winter in light work, however they both have flat feet and need front shoes in summer, hard ground. The pony is now being worked harder too.
 
i use a farrier, and have had a number of farriers. good and bad.

even if my horse went barefoot, i would continue with a farrier.

i'd prefer to have a bad farrier than a bad barefoot trimmer. i may be wrong, but i was under the impression anyone could market themselves as a barefoot trimmer, and i think that is dangerous.
 
I love my farrier, hes been fab and always used him and so have my parents, hes had to deal with all types of horses we've had and always been very good, horse with navicular etc
My coblet is unshod because I dont do enough riding and his feet are hard enough, but I trust my farrier 100% and if he ever felt coblet needed shoes then I would take him up on his advice.
I remember being in pony club and wanted my arab to have front shoes to look 'cool'
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farrier flatly refused as her feet were rock solid and didnt need them. Hes always on time, even turns up early sometimes, he doesnt even call to say hes early just he brings the horses in and gets on with it
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just want to add that I wouldn't use a barefoot trimmer but would always have someone I thought of as a good farrier, if that makes sense?
 
My 2 are both unshod and trimmed by my farrier, who I trust to do a good job and treat my horses as I would like them treated, he also knows the problems the horse has had. Pony is unshod as she just hacks along grass tracks a few times a week and I can't justify the expense. Horse has low heels, inbalance, sound in pads and gel and competed successfully, but found pads were crushing heels more, changed to NB shoes and was ok walking and trotting out in winter on soft ground, went lame when ground came hard, even when out of work and put out to grass stayed lame for months until we took the shoes off she came sound within 2 days and has been so since.
 
My farrier is brilliant and I would never change him, he knows me, knows my horse and is great at his job. He may not be the easiest to get hold of or the cheapest, but the job he does is second to none
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Clipcloppop you are correct

Anyone can pick up tools and call themselves a trimmer and they are not monitored or governed by any extrenal body (like the FRC/WCF) and if something goes wrong who would you turn too?

There is no training regulations/standards either
 
You've already seen my post on the other thread but basically these are my reasons for using an EP trimmer instead of a farrier:

The reason I converted was mainly because of a lot of bad experiences with farriers. I have owned my mare for 13 years and have tried about 7 or 8 farriers in that time, most recommended by vets, and they have all (barr one) been extremely rude, extremely unreliable and are always in a rush to finish the job and move on to the next horse. I've also had a farrier whack my horse with a rasp for leaning on him a bit.

The one who wasn't like that was absolouetly lovely but was a really bad farrier and made a mess of my mare's hooves. I don't think I should have to compromise - I want a reliable service, someone who is calm and patient with my horses (who are both extremely well behaved) and someone who spends the time to make sure my horse's feet are perfectly balanced.

My trimmer also gives me lots of advice on how to keep my horse's feet in the best possible condition.

I am definitely not anti shoes, and I'm not anti decent farriers. I also know there are a huge number of awful trimmers out there. I would only use a registered and qualified EP as I know that the training they go through is very good and ongoing.

My vet is very pleased with how my horse's feet look. Only a few years ago she had feet which were totally out of balance and causing her to be lame. Which considering she's an Arab and has always had "good feet" according to every vet and farrier that's ever looked at them, I find quite appalling.

The EP works for me - I would never go back. I honestly believe that all horses could be barefoot unless they have a deformity or injury which means they have to have remedial shoes on to keep them balanced. Having said that I also believe that horses should only be taken barefoot if the owner is committed to learning about the process and about how to look after feet correctly.

My horse was never lame or sore during her transition period, it took a while for her to be happy to walk over stony gound but she's now quite happy to do any pace on any ground.

My youngster has been trimmed by my EP since he was 6 weeks old and I intend for him to never wear shoes. But if a time came when he would be better off wearing them then I would obviously have some put on for his benefit. But I would probably still have my EP look at his feet every now and then to make sure they were still in good shape and condition!
 
can i ask "pro-barefooters" what exactly they think a Farrier is doing when he prepares a foot?
 
I can't imagine letting an unqualified person loose on my horse's feet! My horse competed without shoes for a while and my farrier trimmed him every four weeks to maintain hoof balance.

I think a lot of this argument stems from the USA where farriers are NOT regulated and any clown can take a correspondence course and start butchering feet. Here, thank God, we have laws that prevent such abuses. Hence - no need for unregulated "barefoot trimmers". Or whatever they call themselves (equine podiatrists - LOL).
 
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