thought on the whole shoes/barefoot thing

horserider said:
Barefoot people who frequently criticize farriers for crippling their horses or just shoeing to make more money, never seem to acknowledge the existence of bad trimmers.

A vet quite recently remarked about the number of cases being referred that were damaged by BT's. I don't know if they were qualified and insured, I didn't ask as I was busy holding a rather opinionated horse at the time.
Do stories of bad trimmers remain a well kept secret in Barefoot circles ?
Click to expand...

No it's no secret and it's often mentained in threads IMO no horse should be left sorer ( not sure that's a word) by a trim from a farrier or a trimmer except in exceptional cases when they should be under veterinary supervision or for that matter from a shoeing I am horrified that people I know expect their horses TB's in this case to be lame after shoeing .
There are very bad farriers very bad trimmers very bad doctors very bad lawyers etc etc.
You need to educate yourself as a horse owner all the time throughout your life never trust anyone professional or otherwise with your horse question research all the time .
Now my horses are ready and I am off me riding one shod , groom riding one BF leading one boots in front what I am doing is following all the trends at once can't go wrong there. !
 
horserider said:
Barefoot people who frequently criticize farriers for crippling their horses or just shoeing to make more money, never seem to acknowledge the existence of bad trimmers.

A vet quite recently remarked about the number of cases being referred that were damaged by BT's. I don't know if they were qualified and insured, I didn't ask as I was busy holding a rather opinionated horse at the time.
Do stories of bad trimmers remain a well kept secret in Barefoot circles ?
Click to expand...

No, I think you will find lots of posts that refer to 'good and bad everywhere' - farriers, trimmers, vets, nutritionists etc. etc. When I chose my trimmer, I went out with her for a day to watch her work before I let her near my horses. I'm now lucky in that I can cope wtih them myself because they need so little help with their feet.

PS Is anyone going to answer my earlier question about how people who shoe regard the amount of damage shoes do to feet?
 
horserider said:
Barefoot people who frequently criticize farriers for crippling their horses or just shoeing to make more money, never seem to acknowledge the existence of bad trimmers.

A vet quite recently remarked about the number of cases being referred that were damaged by BT's. I don't know if they were qualified and insured, I didn't ask as I was busy holding a rather opinionated horse at the time.
Do stories of bad trimmers remain a well kept secret in Barefoot circles ?
Click to expand...

See, that is just completely made up.

All the barefooters I know of on HHO recommend qualified trimmers (which do exist) and are fully aware of bad trimmers. Thats why I try and help.

We are all too aware of bad jobs done by self-proclaimed trimmers and actively seek to promote barefoot trimming that is regulated.

My friend has a yard of barefoot horses, all trimmed by a great farrier who I am still on good terms with because I think he is good and he has done some training with Nic and UKNHCP - he thinks qualified trimmers do a good job and is also helping to try and merge things but knows it takes time as everyone has a day job.
 
TwoStroke said:
Now you're really scraping the bottom of the barrel! The phrase 'of course there are good trimmers and bad trimmers, just like good farriers and bad farriers' is repeated so often on here that it's become cliché.

Now, I say you are apes and maggots, the lot of you.

Someone rudemetre me :D.
Click to expand...

That was rude and gross too. But I like apes.
 
Now you're really scraping the bottom of the barrel! The phrase 'of course there are good trimmers and bad trimmers, just like good farriers and bad farriers' is repeated so often on here that it's become cliché.

Now, I say you are apes and maggots, the lot of you.

Someone rudemetre me .

Astute but very rude, lol.
 
Pale Rider said:
Now you're really scraping the bottom of the barrel! The phrase 'of course there are good trimmers and bad trimmers, just like good farriers and bad farriers' is repeated so often on here that it's become cliché.

Now, I say you are apes and maggots, the lot of you.

Someone rudemetre me .

Astute but very rude, lol.
Click to expand...

Your metered too.
 
Now my horses are ready and I am off me riding one shod , groom riding one BF leading one boots in front what I am doing is following all the trends at once can't go wrong there. !

Hold on Goldenstar, 'now my horses are ready'
'Groom'

What's all that about, lol.
 
tallyho! said:
See, that is just completely made up.
Click to expand...

What is ?
I've heard many times people on here specifically stating how a farrier lamed their horse but never once have I heard of an example of a trimmer laming a horse and yet it happens. I've heard local farriers remarking on some shoddy trimmers but thought that was probably their bias, but hearing my vet mention this out of the blue and then since hearing more incidences, it seemed that the barefoot people with their involvement in barefootery would be better informed than me.

So, none of you know of any bad trimmers then ?
 
pines of rome said:
To call barefooters fanatics is just ignorant, I have found they are just ordinary folk trying to do what,s best for their horse!
I have chosen this route as shoeing my horse was crippling him, as for farriers, they are good at shoeing but when it comes to trimming I prefer to use a good trimmer who trims sympathetically to the horse,s needs and supports you with every aspect of a barefoot rehab, I have found this invaluable!
I do also feel that Tallyho has taken a very unfair bashing on this thread, I have had friendly not at all pushy advice from her!
Click to expand...

Thanks POR and Goldenstar for vote of confidence :)

Actually, all I wanted was to stop the hurtful comments about particular individuals. I did get a tad emotional though, but there you are, I'm a 'wear your heart on your sleeve' kind of gal.

I did find it funny in the end to be labelled as a fanatic given I ride both shod and barefoot horses :D:)

I'm just a hoof geek really and staring at foot cadavers is a favourite pastime. As long as the horse has great hooves, I'm a happy bunny.
 
horserider said:
What is ?
I've heard many times people on here specifically stating how a farrier lamed their horse but never once have I heard of an example of a trimmer laming a horse and yet it happens. I've heard local farriers remarking on some shoddy trimmers but thought that was probably their bias, but hearing my vet mention this out of the blue and then since hearing more incidences, it seemed that the barefoot people with their involvement in barefootery would be better informed than me.

So, none of you know of any bad trimmers then ?
Click to expand...

Specific statements are just that. Based on personal experience no doubt, but not sure how you can control that?

Perhaps no-one on HHO has mentioned bad trimmers is because they have followed advice about where to find excellent ones and excellent farriers too.

What you hear in your village/town/county I cannot control I'm afraid.

There is absolutely no bias. You dream it up all your own horserider.
 
horserider said:
Barefoot people who frequently criticize farriers for crippling their horses or just shoeing to make more money, never seem to acknowledge the existence of bad trimmers.

A vet quite recently remarked about the number of cases being referred that were damaged by BT's. I don't know if they were qualified and insured, I didn't ask as I was busy holding a rather opinionated horse at the time.
Do stories of bad trimmers remain a well kept secret in Barefoot circles ?
Click to expand...

I can only go by my own experience which is I have used 2 farriers to trim my horse since the shoes came off and an additional 3 previously when he was shod. All came highly recommended by other people including my vet and were in some cases specialised remedial farriers.

He has never been sore after a trim from a barefoot trimmer.

He had ongoing foot problems when shod hence why he was taken barefoot and was frequently sore with new shoes. Vets and farriers never commented on this and seemed to think it was normal for a sensitive horse to have this reaction. Lots of shaking heads, sucking teeth and mutterings of "tb feet". The implication was the problem was my horse's feet.


I think if he had been sore after a trim from a barefoot trimmer then the same vets and farriers would have been very quick to say the problem was with the trim.

There are sensitive types out there that are very easy to tip over the edge with a bad trim and my experience has been that farriers are as likely to do this but how the professionals interpret it this when it happens varies.

People should use whoever they are happiest with but I won't accept that a farrier is automatically better and think you should do your own research to find the person with the best track record in the area.
 
howverydareyou.jpg
 
horserider said:
Barefoot people who frequently criticize farriers for crippling their horses or just shoeing to make more money, never seem to acknowledge the existence of bad trimmers.
Click to expand...

Nonsense. We say all the time that there are good trimmers and bad trimmers and good farriers and bad farriers.
 
I'll keep asking this until someone answers:

WHAT DO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SHOE THINK ABOUT DAMAGE TO FEET BY SHOES?

See earlier post for a bit more explanation.
 
horserider said:
What is ?
I've heard many times people on here specifically stating how a farrier lamed their horse but never once have I heard of an example of a trimmer laming a horse and yet it happens. I've heard local farriers remarking on some shoddy trimmers but thought that was probably their bias, but hearing my vet mention this out of the blue and then since hearing more incidences, it seemed that the barefoot people with their involvement in barefootery would be better informed than me.

So, none of you know of any bad trimmers then ?
Click to expand...

Do some searching horserider. There are plenty of threads where people say that they have seen barefoot trimmers lame horses. Get your facts straight before being so critical, please.
 
Goldenstar said:
You know fanatic is not a nice word to call someone in this modern world I have both shod and unshod horses working but I have to say I see more name calling from the shod lobby than the BF who yesterday where supposed to happy ignore being call hysterical being lifestyle horse owners what ever that means and following ideology .
This morning we had invoking god to get people to use farriers and now they or we if you put me in this group are fanatics .
I just don't get it.
Click to expand...

Ok, I am certainly not invoking God to get people to use farriers, I frankly couldn't give a toss about what people do with their horses feet providing the horse is happy and healthy. It's the closed mindedness ON BOTH SIDES that really gets to me.

Also, I accept the use of the word fanatic was perhaps unfair, perhaps I should have said "barefoot enthusiast" and in MY own experience, which I am entitled to write about, I have met more closed minded barefoot enthusiasts than I have shod enthusiasts.

and again I am not against barefoot, I have a tb mare who is barefoot and who is on loan to an extremely knowledgeable barefoot person who is working very hard to get her feet right
 
Last edited:
I've only ever used one BT Trimmer, I've used her for two years now and I'm very happy with her work, and more imortantly so are the ponies :) I personally don't know any bad trimmers.

One of the farriers I used to use years ago was very good, never had a problem with him while the ponies were shod, their feet always looked good and they moved well, heel first. but he wasn't good at the trimming lark, within a couple of months they had underun heals and were landing toe first as well as little frog left!

Ben was petrified of farriers and had to be sedated to be shod( I only had him shod twice I found it quite upsetting that he would quiver in the corner of the stable )

With my trimmer he nods off
 
Wow can't believe this is still going.
My vet suggested a trimmer to me after seeing the horses being turned around under his care.
My lad will be PTS if barefoot don't work for him due to un going lameness in shoes. Strides out lovely without. X rays etc are all done. My farrier is great for shoeing but tried going bare foot under his care which was never going to work ( trims frogs, soles) each time he came out and said he needs shoes as he won't cope barefoot. So I seeked advise from a trimmer who talked about diet, and trims him in a totally different manner and is coping great so far. My farrier which I still use for my other horses won't even start to understand barefoot and tbh I think he's missing a trick. He also states that I'm being conned as I pay £40 a trim and he's £22 BUT the trim DONT make him sore and he was with me on my 1st visit for hour and half talking though loads of stuff so actually I think £40 is pretty good instead off 10 mins and a sore horse.
IF I hadn't contacted a trimmer my lad would be dead by now so thanks to him he's got a 2nd chance.
If he continues going the way he is I may just consider taking off all shoes end off. Iv already got 3 bare who have never been shod and self trim so only a set let to go.
Iv found barefoot ISNT cheaper and makes you more aware of what's going on with your horses feet. The feed mine are on boosts the price up but tbh it's a healthy diet so even if they were re shod I would continue the diet.
All the people who completely dish bare foot are lacking knowledge ( sorry my spelling but I'm on a I phone with the sun blinding me) and have a closed mind. A year ago I was completely anti barefoot and barefoot trimmers WELL!! Don't get me started BUT with a years worth off learning and actually seeing results for myself my mind has changed. And the trimmer is def better than my farrier who has iv said has a very closed mind. Scared off the way things are changing maybe? Keeping making horses sore by cutting off the frogs etc to thing they need shoes? Makes me wonder.
 
skint1 said:
Ok, I am certainly not invoking God to get people to use farriers, I frankly couldn't give a toss about what people do with their horses feet providing the horse is happy and healthy. It's the closed mindedness ON BOTH SIDES that really gets to me.

Also, I accept the use of the word fanatic was perhaps unfair, perhaps I should have said "barefoot enthusiast" and in MY own experience, which I am entitled to write about, I have met more closed minded barefoot enthusiasts than I have shod enthusiasts.
Click to expand...

That's a shame. Thankfully on HHO for the most part, you will find open mindedness.

Just would like to point out without disturbing the rude meter, that you were being closed minded yourself by writing insulting comments like you did.
 
No offence to anyone but this thread is hilarious. Cant believe people are actually insulting others about if thier horses have shoes on or not.

On our yard there are about 45 horses (about 35 are riding school horses/hunt hirelings and comp horses owned by the YO), various conconctions of shoes, no shoes, shod in front, special shoes, whatever is required. Basic starting point no shoes, then fronts, then shod alround depending on foot quality, work type etc. All sorted by same farrier. If they are competition horses most are shod as they need studs etc for eventing and SJ and also the hunt horses who are unshod during their months turned away in the summer and shod for the season.

Personally my horse is shod, he needs studs for jumping so requires shoes. He happens to have poor feet (breeding issue) which i have managed to improve over the years but he would never manage without, he has only ever lost a shoe once and he pulled it off whilst SJ, you would think his leg was broken the fuss we had and the hopping lame. Shoe back on, perfectly fine.

It seems if a horse cant manage without shoes barefooters state you should do everything possible to help it manage and this includes for example not allowing access to grass. I fully understand the need to restrict grazing for lamanitics etc and this is life threatening but just to keep shoes off, why? Our horses have all day all weather turnout with hay in winter and are stabled at night and come March are dying to get out on the grass. I just couldnt to do that to my horse all year round just to keep shoes off unless that was the only way to keep him sound full stop with or without shoes.

Surely the overall well being of the horse is the most important and from my experience if the horse is sound and healthy whether it has shoes on or not is really not that important.
 
Last edited:
SplashofSoy said:
No offence to anyone but this thread is hilarious. Cant believe people are actually insulting others about if thier horses have shoes on or not.


It seems if a horse cant manage without shoes barefooters state you should do everything possible to help it manage and this includes for example not allowing access to grass.


Surely the overall well being of the horse is the most important and from my experience if the horse is sound and healthy whether it has shoes on or not is really not that important.
Click to expand...

LOL!!! You have in one post managed to criticise, insult and contradict yourself. That's really good going :D

I thought it was only me that was capable of that... hats off :)
 
tallyho! said:
That's a shame. Thankfully on HHO for the most part, you will find open mindedness.

Just would like to point out without disturbing the rude meter, that you were being closed minded yourself by writing insulting comments like you did.
Click to expand...

How was I being closed minded?
 
cptrayes said:
Do some searching horserider. There are plenty of threads where people say that they have seen barefoot trimmers lame horses. Get your facts straight before being so critical, please.
Click to expand...

What facts have I not got straight ? Do correct me. Haven't found one on here, have you ? That's why I'm asking , it could well be that in all the years I've been on here, I've missed them and that is quite likely judging by the speed that threads shoot down the page.


Google has a list of incidences, but can't see any on this forum.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top