shod in front, bare behind (another farrier moan)

noblesteed

noblesteed

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My horse was shod all round until last September. After missing weeks of riding on and off due to various thrown shoes and a bruised sole as a result, my farrier and I decided to try barefoot behind.
My horse previously had remedial shoeing on his hinds with 'trailers' fitted? Little hooks. These were to straighten up his action. THe farrier claims that my horse twists his foot on the ground and shears his shoes off, which is why he kept losing shoes. I got fed up of calling him out every 2 weeks! So barefoot was suggested.
Anyway horse is happy enough, a little footy on gravel tracks but otherwise fine and I think his action is straighter. I just got him some Boas so we can go on long summer hacks.
HOWEVER I am now getting no feedback from farrier on back feet. SHould I expect him to care for the back feet too even though I am only paying for front shoes? He came today while I was at work - I left him a message saying I was worried about his back feet as they are not symmetrical at all any more and what did he think? And did they need any trimming? But no reply at all from farrier. I did the same thing last time he came - I was there at the time, he lifted one foot up, looked for a second and said 'fine' and that was it.
What should I do? I feel like I am being fobbed off!
 
your horse is probably doing his own trimming behind and if the farrier took anymore off there would be no more foot to take off, if they are not symmetrical it is because of the way the horse has worn them down, how it moves it feet, so would be careful that you are not doing too much work on an abrasive ground to trim it down anymore could end up where you are trimming them quicker than they can grow to keep a level.
 
If he feels they are fine and your horse is sound and willing I would leave it alone or ask him outright what do you think about them.

My old boy is bare behind and he just gets a trim and foot rolled and hes good to go :)
 
noblesteed said:
My horse was shod all round until last September. After missing weeks of riding on and off due to various thrown shoes and a bruised sole as a result, my farrier and I decided to try barefoot behind.
My horse previously had remedial shoeing on his hinds with 'trailers' fitted? Little hooks. These were to straighten up his action. THe farrier claims that my horse twists his foot on the ground and shears his shoes off, which is why he kept losing shoes. I got fed up of calling him out every 2 weeks! So barefoot was suggested.
Anyway horse is happy enough, a little footy on gravel tracks but otherwise fine and I think his action is straighter. I just got him some Boas so we can go on long summer hacks.
HOWEVER I am now getting no feedback from farrier on back feet. SHould I expect him to care for the back feet too even though I am only paying for front shoes? He came today while I was at work - I left him a message saying I was worried about his back feet as they are not symmetrical at all any more and what did he think? And did they need any trimming? But no reply at all from farrier. I did the same thing last time he came - I was there at the time, he lifted one foot up, looked for a second and said 'fine' and that was it.
What should I do? I feel like I am being fobbed off!
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If you feel you are being fobbed off that is unsatisfactory regardless of whether or not the feet need attention.

Is your horse wearing the foot straight across in one section - is this what you mean by not symmetrical? If yes the 'corners' should be rolled out by your farrier.
 
Yes, to a point, your horse will trim his own feet - but they will grow unsymmetrical to each other, his balance and his movement will be affected.

Would be worth searching for a barefoot trimmer/expert in your area.

To me, your farrier sounds 100% complacent about the state of your horses back feet now they are not shod. It may be a money matter, in that he feels they are not his problem as he does not shoe the back feet any longer. Or he may feel unqualified to do anything with them hence the attitude.

Barefoot hooves need filing and trimming and proper care just the same as shod hooves do.
 
I think I will get some photos of the feet and put them on here, see what people reckon. Looking at them from the front, they are almost vertical on the inside and slope more on the outside. They are nicely angled and small, as if freshly trimmed. When I lift the foot the frog is wide and flat. The hoof is not circular, it is flatter on the inside and more curved on the outside. I am worried about the groove starting to appear between the hoof wall and the sole - although it is not deep I read this is what happens when the hoof flares and can become separated? Is that right?

I just wanted the farrier to look at it that's all - I just want an educated opinion! Is that too much to ask?
 
There may be a reason why your farrier has left them BUT there is no excuse for not talking you through it.

My farrier is brilliant, we discussed taking Indie's back shoes off at my request and she went well, he warned me if I was hunting alot this year I may need shoes back on but I wasn't planning on doing so. Turned out I went to two hunt meets both which involved ALOT of road trot and canter, she became very footy and sore. Talked to farrier who agreed back shoes needed to go back on, he explained he coudln't take much off the foot as she was sore and had worn down alot, he's also left her a little unlevel due to this reason which i'm fine with and will be sorted next time. There are reasons but no excuse for not returning your calls and questions.
 
He should definitely be picking them up to have a look. My mare is barefoot behind and my farrier always checks them and trims/ tidies as necessary, although she is obviously self trimming to a certain degree. Sometims he doesnt take anything off.

I think you need to voice your concerns about your chaps feet with your farrier directly.
 
My son's pony is barefoot as is the loan pony, farrier trims both accordingly, loan pony is trimmed so he has natural lateral extensions behind as recommended by physio. My WB has just gone barefoot behind yesterday for the first time since he had shoes on as a youngster, farrier is coming back next week to check how the foot is holding up.

I feel my farrier pays just as much attention to the feet of the unshod ones as the shod ones and personally I'd suggest you find a new farrier as this one seems to be fobbing you off.
 
I think your farrier is being rude by not replying...I mean, i would understand if you were texting him everyday but a couple of questions since his last visit and he can't be bothered to respond is just rude and unprofessional.
If your not happy with the service he is providing both to you or your horse than I'd get another farrier in, even if it's just to have a look.
Just make sure you call a farrier that has been recommended by other people.

I changed farrier because he would get his apprentices to do my horse because he was a trim only. I would ask for feedback after his trim as i was always at work when he was being done and i would just get back "fine" when my horse developed large chips and cracks a couple of days after his last trim i took time off work and confronted him about the sate of my horses feet. He admitted that his apprentice didn't manage to trim two of his feet as my horse wouldn't stand still and his legs were too heavy!!!! Admittedly i had a Clydesdale but he was dead from the ears down and as for not standing still was a joke...He'd probably have lied on his back with his feet in the air if you had asked!!!!

I asked around the yard and got the number of a wonderful farrier who came out the same day for a consolation before he took me on as a client and he couldn't believe my horse had been trimmed only 3 days before he had arrived.
I never looked back and after every visit i would get a text explaining what he had done and if there were any issues.

My farrier also spotted the laminitis from 2 strides of my horse coming out of his stable...3 weeks after 3 different vets (from the same practice) misdiagnosed him and all though his treatment even making special shoes for him he was fantastic.

My farrier recommended Formula For Feet or Farriers Formula when my horse has lami and Kevin Bacon hoof moist.

I can't comment on your horses feet but i would recommend getting another farrier in, even if it's for another look.
 
My farrier doesn't bother with Ed's back feet either. His apprentice had a look and tidied them up last time, but otherwise he doesn't touch them.
 
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