Strasser - should I leave well alone?

[lucemoose]

Cutting a long story short- have decided best thing for some typical TB feet is to go barefoot, with view to if it works great, and if it doesn't- it's no big deal to re shoe.

Had a trimmer recommended to me and she came out last week- but I didn't realise she was a strasser trimmer and my heart went dolt! She made me listen , read and watch about 40 mins of video, images and hoof cadavers, I did try to get through this without eye rolling.
The trim seems to be quite a large change to the hooves, especially for the first trim? And she has already booked in my next visit although I said I wasn't sure if the horse would require it that soon ....

Any advice? I'll happily put off the trim, but I'm concerned I've definitely met the evangelists!

 

[TwoStroke]

Imo big change = big trouble. Obviously it's hard to comment without knowing the particulars, but if I were you I would cancel and find a less aggressive sounding trimmer or farrier.

 

[cptrayes]

Don't touch her with a bargepole. If she is an unreformed Strasser trimmer she is part of a movement which has been the subject of the only succesful prosecutions for trimming in this country.

What's more, the trim can draw blood and if it does then it is completely illegal.

Lastly, whatever they think, you cannot cut functionality into a horse's foot.

I would try to find a trimmer by recommendation who has a reputation for the horses under their care becoming quickly capable on bare feet.

 

[thatsmygirl]

Sorry I would stay well clear. In my mind strasser = bad news.
A tiny trim sent my lad backwards.

 

[Chestnuttymare]

OMG leave well alone. Remember that old saying...no foot, no horse! have a good farrier who comes recommended come and do it.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

*Run for the hills*

 

[amandap]

How is the horse? Were you given diet advice?

Some Strasser trained trimmers have moved away from the more radical trim which can be devastating to horses at home.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Wouldn't touch with a bargepole, sorry...

 

[Nic]

There's a reason farriers spend 7 years training. No one but a fully qualified & time served farrier will ever get near my horses feet.

 

[cptrayes]

There's a reason farriers spend 7 years training. .

They don't.

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

I'd run. And to be honest this is what I thought bare was all about and hence my not even wanting to know. I saw too many trimmed this way and it was horrific.

Terri

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

The main thing is, was the horse sound unshod before trimmer came and is horse sound after trimming? If the answer to both is yes then I don't see a problem. If she has lamed your horse or made existing lameness worse then it could be down to her trimming style, so I wouldn't take the chance and would use someone else next time. And I'd have someone out when you feel the horse needs it, not because they wanted regular bookings.

 

[amandap]

Regular trims can be important with some hooves. Leaving it too long isn't always considered the best way to manage hooves that need help to change shape. Better to take a little more often than a lot now and then.

 

[Tinypony]

I trusted a trimmer who had a good reputation and looked after my friend's horses for years. I didn't realise that he'd been off Strasser training. When I watched the trims were pretty OK. After a few trims I relaxed as I thought he was doing fine and he butchered my mare's hooves. I'm sure someone here can recommend a decent farrier or trimmer that won't have been educated in this radical approach.
Your horse has had one trim - is he sound?

 

[YorksG]

The first thing that struck me when I read the OP, was did you not research who was coming to trim your horses feet?

 

[amandap]

I think Hiltrud Strasser must be a very powerful personality. Her theory and training takes some shifting from the minds of her students. I think many of the more radical ideas are at the back of their minds and many are itching to trim to her 'clinic' trim standard.
She teaches a ground parallel coffin bone position (at rest) is the aim but this is not accepted by many (any?) other trim schools to my knowledge.


ps. Reading between the lines op, I suspect the fact that you are asking on here means you have reason to doubt this trimmer. Listen to your gut.

 

[lucemoose]

Im in a new country and cant find a good farrier at all, Ive been asking for personal reccomendations on trimmers and most werent available for weeks.

I just wanted someone to trim my horses feet!

I was going to try to have the horse self trim on tarmac but now she finds tarmac sore whereas before she was absolutely fine on it. Last week she was even jumped barefoot on an arena surface and fine.

She has been on a hoof friendly diet and managed as well as you can on livery yard grazing since I got her

I wish I was back home with my enlightened farrier.

 

[Tinypony]

Your profile says London-ish, where are you?
Are you saying your horse is sore on tarmac since this trim? If so, that's a reason not to have the trimmer back maybe?

 

[weebarney]

If she has made the horse sore please don't let them back

 

[lucemoose]

Thank you.

I am really not in any way shape a numpty about hoofcare or horse care either and Im so gutted that I cant find a professional to assist me.

Im in NZ now.

 

[Tinypony]

I see the problem, and sadly we don't have many people from NZ on here. The only horse mate I have in NZ is Scott: http://www.scottomalley.co.nz/
I don't suppose he's anywhere near you.

 

[amandap]

Try here. http://www.hoofnz.org.nz/ I'm not sure about the training.

There are a lot of Strasser trained trimmers in NZ.

 

[lucemoose]

Can anyone suggest a better form of action I should take? Is it sillyto think that I can expect a horse to self trim or have trims as and when required still?

I just want to do things for the good of the horse. If she does need shoes in the furture then at least she will have a good hoof to put them on, and if she can stay barefoot then she will be giving herself good hooves.

 

[lucemoose]

and its all my fault as I couldnt get any of the "normal" trimmers out soon enough so I just went on a recommendation. More fool me.

Thank you Amanda, Ive met 2 of them and will get in touch again and hope they can come out before 2014!

 

[lucemoose]

Been out to her today. She was jumping happily last week with no shoes. Today she is like walking on coals. Brilliant. Back to finding a farrier just to relieve her of pain

 

[Alyth]

I'm in New Zealand!! We have lots of people trimming over here - it's probably less frowned upon than in the UK!! Some are Strasser trimmers and some of them are very good - not too extreme!! I know of one endurance horse that is trimmed by the main Strasser trimmer who also conducts clinics, who (the horse!) has done many miles barefoot!! We also have other style trimmers....so whereabouts are you? Scott O'Malley is more of a horse trainer than a trimmer!! And he lives in the South Island, north of Christchurch....

 

[Nosey]

There's a reason farriers spend 7 years training. No one but a fully qualified & time served farrier will ever get near my horses feet.
As per nic....when we have the best farriers & training system in the world why go elsewhere.

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

Seriously, I'd try and find the best farrier you can and go with that. My farrier does my bare horses.

If your mare is that sore as you describe then please get her seen by a vet for proper pain relief. Even if you wanted to go back to shoes those feet are gonna have heal first. Maybe look into getting her some boots with gel pads to help her.

Terri

 

[tallyho!]

Please look on the UKNHCP website or EPAUK. THESE ARE THE ONLY TRIMMERS I WOULD TRUST.

http://www.uknhcp.org.uk/

http://www.epauk.org/

WWW.facebook.com/equinepodiatrytraining

 

[elsielouise]

I have sent this via PM also as feel so strongly about this technique.


Ten years ago I became interested in NH methods and was advised by so called called experts, this technique was in the best interests of my then young horse.

Nine years ago, with her lame and developing frequent abcesses I was advised by vet and farrier (when I removed her from the NH yard following some fairly appalling treatment) the trim was so incorrect it could and was beginning to cause pedal bone rotation; my mare was lame and needed extensive remedial farriary work.

Last month she was diagnosed with changes in the navicular bone possibly as a direct result.

I did much research as a follow up but vet hospital, large bills and a lame horse became pretty clear indicators this technique is unsatisfactory to say the least.