Looking for a very good farrier for barefoot in Kent

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Fat_Pony

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Had my farrier out the other day to put some new front shoes on my mare. She is an ex racer and for a TB has quite good feet. She is bare behind since I got her and has no problems on any surface type. I'd like to have her bare in front as well, but my farrier was very negative about this (his reasoning is that TBs don't do well barefoot - nothing specific about my mare). He also trimmed her frogs and sole behind even though I asked him not to. So, am thinking of changing to a barefoot friendly farrier - want one who'll do a very good trim and actually watch the horse move, and support my decision to try her barefoot. Her front feet are not a great shape and she sometimes lands toe first - I'd like her foot shape to correct itself and prevent any future issues. If it really doesn't work, I'll happily stick front shoes back on. Can anyone recommend a farrier in Kent that ticks those boxes?
 
No shes a very highly qualified barefoot trimmer who would be able to give you a very experienced view on taking your horse barefoot, having done the same with many others, unlike your farrier from the sounds of it!

She can also help you with how diet affects the hooves, how it contributes or causes footiness which is key for making the transition work.

Im not against farriers trimming bf horses, my own is a farrier, however if you are new to the barefoot thing and are lucky enough to have a fount of knowledge like lucy in your area you should take full advantage!

If you wanted to put shoes back on at a later date that would of course be your choice.
 
not sure I'm 100% comfortable with using a "trimmer" - i know, just like farriers, there will be good and bad, but there is no governing body to control them like there are farriers - anyone can call themselves a trimmer. Plus they seem more expensive. Not sure...
 
That's absolutely your decision and I respect that.

I would say that no one on this thread has suggested using just anyone.

They have only recommended a well known and respected trimmer (no need for " " marks - that is what she is;)) that you are fortunate enough to have in your area.

Or looking for a farrier on a list, who has taken the time to do additional study in BF and registered with a trusted trimming organisation:)
 
Fat_Pony said:
Do any of you use her?
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Fat_Pony, I use her! She's great, explains everything. A few more people on my yard have started using her now.

I bought my 4 yr old mare barefoot, and after looking into it a bit more, found it very interesting and something I would like to do. I contacted Lucy Priory through her website with a query. Few emails back and forth later and she came out (Surrey) to look at my mares feet, pointing me in the right direction and generally helping me to feel a bit more confident about my choice. Her blogs are great to read too.

Regarding price, it has worked out cheaper for me so far as my mare self trims, you're also paying for knowledge rather than just a trim. My farrier, who I'd used couldn't answer a couple of my queries, whereas I never really have to ask as Lucy explains everything!
 
Fat_Pony whereabouts are you in Kent? I struggled in vain to find a farrier who gave a good performance trim in the area I am, and therefore have been using trimmers for years. Alicia Mitchell trims for some of my friends and has a good reputation. I use Fiona Varian, who is absolutely brilliant, but you need to have quite a lot of committment to maintaining the hooves yourself between trims to use her (she comes from near Birmingham).
As you'll know from many of the "barefoot" threads here, taking the shoes off a working horse is about a lot more than the trim, so you'll need someone supportive who will advise on hoofcare and diet as well.
 
My pony has never been shod, I just use the yard farrier, who seems nice to trim her. Never had any problems. I think I am rather ignorant about barefoot and not really sure of the difference between a barefoot trimmer and my farrier trimming :confused:
 
I use Lucy, she is a fantastic trimmer and VERY knowledgeable. She trained with Jaime Jackson (actually WITH him) and I would be happy to recommend her to anyone. She trims my cob and my TB and does a super job xx
 
debsg said:
I use Lucy, she is a fantastic trimmer and VERY knowledgeable. She trained with Jaime Jackson (actually WITH him) and I would be happy to recommend her to anyone. She trims my cob and my TB and does a super job xx
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Do you have any pics of your TBs feet?
 
Millie82 said:
My pony has never been shod, I just use the yard farrier, who seems nice to trim her. Never had any problems. I think I am rather ignorant about barefoot and not really sure of the difference between a barefoot trimmer and my farrier trimming :confused:
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I've come to the conclusion that the difference comes if a horse needs something more than just getting a basic trim. If they are a bit footy, if the hoof doesn't develop a good shape, then regardless of whether it's a farrier or barefoot trimmer, us barehooved riders need someone who will think outside the box a bit, and not just decide it's impossible and that shoes need to go on. So it could come down to how the horse is cared for, it's often down to diet, it may mean that more regular trimming is needed for a while or that the owner needs to learn to do some basic maintenance in between trims. It could be about advice on hoof boots or temprorary remedial pads or wraps. Basically, I never got that advice from any farrier, yet when I found a good barefoot trimmer some longstanding problems that I'd sort of been told I needed to accept got sorted quite easily.

I tend to pause when people say that whoever trims their horse says they can go long periods without being trimmed. That certainly is the case with some horses that have well balanced hooves and self-trim. However, in my experience it was more about the farrier just being too lazy to do a trim that didn't make him much money when he could be moving on to the next set of shoes. With more knowledge and experience I now know that my lot did need trimming when he said they could "go to the next visit".

Having said all of that, I don't think the important thing is whether or not they are a farrier or a trimmer, it's finding the right individual that counts. I'm speaking of my experience with farriers in an area of Kent, of course there are some out there who have really got their hooves round these working unshod horses and do a great job.
 
Hiya, I cannot recommend for your area as I'm further up north, but I would definitely recommend a barefoot trimmer who is registered with uknhcp, my farrier took my boys shoes off and my farrier is brill and wonderfully supportive but he did take some of the sole and frog off, and took my horse a little longer to transition because of this. Now use a trimmer and she is so nice and so knowledgeable, both my horses feet looked absolutely brilliant after she did them and they have been since. The trimmer will also like has been said give you such good advice on diet and management and mine was also very supportive about me keeping on top of them in between, helping to show me how she did things and explaining everything!! Similarly though if you find a farrier with a knowledge of barefoot who is supportive they can be fab too! Good Luck.
 
I recommended lucy because I had trouble with a different trimmer, and there arent many up in the north (!) and had posted about it on IH and Lucy took a lot of time to look at pictures of the problem and advise me.

Reading her blog demonstrates what a wide range of hooves she has come across and how well informed she is. I also like that she trained with Jamie Jackson, whose school of thought I prefer to KC La Pierre's (he produces the DAEPS)

As Oberon said, i wouldnt recommend someone I wouldnt be happy to trim my horse, and id chew somebodies arm off to have her move oop norf!
 
Whereabouts in Kent are you?

It's hard to recommend a good farrier if that's what you prefer as they tend to cover a small area within a County.
 
I would like to point out that Lucy Priory also has one thing in common with many farriers -
she can be really grumpy when she's been kicked once too often and is always open to bribery with cups of tea :-) make that lots of cups of tea :-)
 
LucyPriory said:
I would like to point out that Lucy Priory also has one thing in common with many farriers -
she can be really grumpy when she's been kicked once too often and is always open to bribery with cups of tea :-) make that lots of cups of tea :-)
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Shhh - we're talking ABOUT you. Not TO you....
jive.gif
 
Lol @ lucy priory :)

I use alicia mitchell, she's fab and is very patient with my big lad who has a serious aversion to picking his feet up.
Used to have a farrier do them but not one ever picked up that my big lad had serious thrush and wld ( came to me like it and barefoot) , he was tripping and falling due to his toes being kept long and frog pain .
 
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