Should my farrier trim the frog of my barefoot horse??

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sophiebailey

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New to barefoot and Bailey is coping very well (barefoot on all four since April, barefoot on the back since sept 2012) however at his first trim since being barefoot my farrier trimmed the frog as he usually does. Never thought anything of it until I tried to take bailey on the road a few days later and he was so footsore we turned straight back to the field.

A few weeks later and he's fine again but got me wondering, should the frog be trimmed or left as it was?? Seems like he trimmed away all the 'tough coating' for lack of the professional term!!!

Thank you :-)
 
I think you already know the answer, as he was obviously sound before the trim!
This leads on to the big issue that is being discussed on another thread.
Although I am a farrier, I had to go back to school when I decided to become a barefoot trimmer, as I realised I did not have enough knowledge about diet, conditions and trimming for barefoot.
Farriers are not taught barefoot methods, they are only taught maintenance trimming or preparing a foot for a shoe.
Please, please, I beg all owners thinking of taking their horse barefoot, discuses with your farrier first as to what training he/she has had before you both experiment on your horse
 
Hmmm that is interesting.. I would think having been barefoot with my horse that it would be unnecessary to trim much frog away at all. However at the moment I am back to being half shod on the fronts and despite never having been shod at the back with my horse now 10 years starting to slightly brush at the back. I have asked the farrier if this could be a balance issue of he is slightly too long now on his hinds as his hooves have been allowed to grow longer as it was felt that they were far to short previously?, however he did not have this problem and seemed to be functioning fine at work xc and hunting...? Even being slightly close in gate behind. I often wonder if i should have a barefoot farrier for hinds and a farrier for fronts? It would be lovely to have someone with the knowledge to cover both it would be lovely if the two diciplines could stop arguing and get there acts together to train for the good of the horse....
What areas do you cover in the South West Heelfirst out of interest?
 
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