Troubled, I need advice from you lovely people Please. What to do?

Enfys

Enfys

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I have a dilemma which goes like this.

I have four horses on the place, none shod, one is in desperate need of attention to her feet which probably haven't been done for a good year. Over the past two months I have phoned twenty two farriers
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, some have ignored my calls, others are not taking on new clients, others are out of area, anyway, absolutely no luck.
This evening one of todays list did call me back, can come out on Saturday (sigh of relief) except...........he's a barefoot trimmer, only been in business for a year (which doesn't bother me, everyone has to start at sometime) and I am now getting in a real state about it.

I've searched on the lady he trained under and she is fairly heavy duty stuff, which is not what I want at all.
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www.natureshoofcare.com

I have explained that all I want is pasture trims and that I do have deep reservations about anything to do with the Strasser method. What I want to do right now is phone and cancel, but poor Lola desperately needs a trim, so do I stand over him and tell him exactly what I want? Or let Lola cope (not ridden, quite sound, just very long feet) until I can find a farrier whose methods I am more familiar and happy with?

This is really bothering me, all I want is a trim, it's no wonder so many people seem to do their own horses around here.
 
Rats, ran out of edit time. I think what I am most worried about is being talked into having more done than I wanted. I've spent all evening on these Barefoot sites and really find the treatment quite drastic. www.barefoothorse.com being one

Of course, on the other side of the coin, I have no experience of this method and so how can I condemn it without talking to this chap and seeing what he plans to do?

Can't sleep either now. grrr.
 
Enfys - just a thought, as vets over here have basic farriery would it be worth contacting your vet? Wish you the best of luck - I would be as worried as you about this guy
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Enfys..I dont have time to go through the first site but I am very familiar with the second one and if this guy works as Marjorie teaches then he should not be invasive..however if he is Strasser trained then I would worry a little..however not all of those who trained in the Strasser method are invasive..some have modified things.
There are people here in the UK who have had success with the Strasser trim but the other side of the coin is those that didnt and their horses became very sore and there was even a prosecution due to this.
I am not trying to worry you more just to let you know more!
I wish you all the very best in finding someone ..i trim my own and so far have had no lameness nor sore horses and I go along with the second site you mentioned and help from Peter Laidely from Australia...we have had great success and even my "navicular" horse is now sound.
 
I would probably use the farrier, but make it clear exactly what you want (and what you don't!). I would hover round as he does each foot so you can immediately tell him if you're not happy. Or keep searching
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i would also agree with chex i think if she needs doing and you are there then he will not cut off too much if you demaan (lol) how much you want off!
 
I think in your position I would have to have the barefoot trimmer. I have thought deeply about this and looked at the websites in your links, and it would seem that the chap you spoke to isn't Strasser influenced. I admit I was alarmed though, when I read that the woman he trained with's horses were unrideable for 18 months. But she seemed to have progressed past this invasive trimming.
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On the other hand, if you don't get your mare's feet seen to quite soon, she will begin to suffer, and you don't want that. I don't think you have any choice but to get this chap in and talk to him in detail about what you want. Please let us know how it goes, I will be very interested.
I really sympathise with your situation, and I do hope you can find a good farrier very soon. Can your vets help at all?
 
when we were in the same position, we bought a book (this was pre internet days) and learned how to give a pasture trim ourselves

its not illigal to trim your own horses feet

and it isn't too hard to learn how to do it

ok it won;t be as good as an experienced farrier, but it'll be a huge improvement on nothing

also useful in future if you ever have the same problem again

if the bloke is strasser i'd be scared
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I think I would ring the farriers again, and try and pursue the ones that ignored your calls. I would be very reluctant to allow a barefoot trimmer near a horse of mine, it would be as a very very last resort. You can stand over him and tell him what to do, but you cannot actually control what he does.
 
Ditto Sooty.

Once I start seeing sites like the first one you linked to the alarm bells start to ring. You need a farrier that can trim not a barefoot trimmer. Keep persevering with the farriers Enfys.
 
Theres been a lot of debate on this here over the years, and recently, a search should bring up quite a bit of information both pro and anti.
 
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Can i just ask why everyone is so negative about barefoot trimmers and the strasser method? I havent heard alot about barefoot trimmers so any info is appreciated good or bad..

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Huge case where pony had to be put down and owner was done for cruelty - I'm sure its on ILPH site?

*goes to look...*
 
I sympathise Enfys. I was in the same boat when I came over here. Farriers are very difficult to get and once you do get them, you try to keep them.

I have a wonderful farrier and have been very lucky, but I can't help you as he lives too far away from you.

To be honest, from what I have heard over here, trimmers are often better than some farriers because their training appears more intense and is certainly longer than most farrier courses; so I'm not sure that this is the end of the world for you.

Be VERY wary of farriers if and when you find one.
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If I was you I would have the trimmer in and see what you think. So long as you are there, they won't be able to do anything undesirable and you may even be pleasantly surprised. A few friends of mine use the local trimmer and they are all very happy indeed with him.
 
If you are having difficulty getting a farrier in your area then I would contact your vet and ask him or phone the secretary of the Farriers Registration Council and see if he can help.

Farriers like regular clients but are not keen on the one off's who they do not know.

My advice would be to find a farrier that will come to you but get the feet trimmed up regularly so that you build up a relationship with the farrier.

Alternatively find a local yard which has a farrier come in regularly and take your horse there to be shod.
 
I am really shocked that you cant find a farrier. I would try friends who have good ones and ask them to have a word to get you on their books. It's usually through a bit of net working and who knows who that you get a decent farrier.

As for the farrier you have booked, I would stear well clear. To start with you mention one horse thats feet havent been touched for a year!!!! I would want an expert to put them right and would never allow anyone without a few years behind them to touch a more specialist job.

Just my opinion. Its rather worrying that these horses have not had a regular farrier and things have been left this long. Is the yard you are on "black listed" from previous owners not paying their bills?
 
There was a good idea or two in there that although they may be more suited to the UK - might work. I know Canada is huge and we don't quite "get it" what its like there, but are there any riding establishments/studs/big vet places or yards relatively local?

Like someone said would their farrier take you on if you took your horse there? Maybe then they'd do that a few times and then agree to take you on at home?

Otherwise I think for the horses sake you'll have to trust this one you have booked - the trimmer - as long as he agrees not to do anything radical just a basic trim - its better than her feet overgrowing.

Not an easy choice though... I could fly mine over to do them if you pay for the flight? I'm sure he'd love the holiday! (Plus he could bring English choccy!)
 
As Tia mentioned, it's a very different ballgame here in the New World. Finding - and keeping - a farrier, especially one who will do only trims and travel to outlying locations is VERY difficult.

I'm leery about the Strasser situation. I've never had cause to try it myself and I have some severe reservations that no one I've questioned has been able to put to rest. For horses in distress, from founder say, I'd be a little more inclined to experiment but for horses doing well I'm inclined to stick with what's working.

I presume you've contacted your neighbours and tried to set up a combined farrier visit? I find the more business is concerned, the easier it is to get and keep someone. Where are you located? For trims you might be able to get someone just starting out - some of my clients use a fellow who is apprenticed to a big local guy but passes smaller jobs off to the people who train with him.

If you feel you can talk to the fellow you've found then you will probably have to go ahead with him and just be VERY clear about what you want. So long as he is not invasive and is willing to discuss it should be workable. If he is adamant about making radical changes quickly then he is not a good farrier, regardless of whatever school of thought he is associated with.

Could you possibly pay a farrier to come out and school you on doing your own trimming? I know that's unusual but someone who can't come regularly might be inclined to do that. I'm generally not a fan of that sort of thing but if you are really miles from nowhere it might be a necessity. My farrier insisted on teaching me the basics just in case.

I feel for you, I really do. . . .
 
When it comes to feet over here, Canada seems to be a completely different ball game! There doesn't seem to be the same kind of regulation here as in the UK, anyone can trim, and possibly shoe, their own horse here.

Three of the horses here were trimmed prior to them coming to me by their owners, the mare with the long feet, well.......I bought her out of pity more than anything, she was not in good condition and was expected to winter out in a mud pen in weeks and weeks of temps below -10C fighting for her feed with a dozen or so strapping QH mares and a stallion, she's only a titchy little arab, they all had feet like slippers.

I've asked the Vet (who laughed and told me I'd be lucky) looked in tack and feed stores and phoned farriers and the numbers they passed on, I've looked up countless sites, too many horses, not enough farriers.My place won't have been blacklisted as the previous people who had the racing yard here shod their own horses........I have sacks of new racing plates in the barn loft still!

Thankyou to everyone for your comments, I have come up with a couple of new numbers to try so I'll give those a go today. If not I will have this trimmer down and have a long chat with him, he was very straight with me on the phone and didn't get shirty when I blurted out "I hope you aren't a Strasser Disciple" hardly very tactful of me and I did apologise. As I'm desperate for Lola's sake I'll give him a go, as Tia said I may be surprised.

It's not the Trimmer himself I have the issue with at all, it is my ignorance of the method , the bad publicity that has gone before, and concern for my horses' welfare that is paramount.

I'll take before and after photos too.
 
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set up a combined farrier visit

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That is an excellent idea of Cruisers! I never had a lot of trouble finding a farrier who would come and do my horses as I have so many horses....however finding a GOOD one was a bit of a trial.
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A lot of my neighbours have had to scrapple around for years trying to keep farriers and often have ended up having to do their horses themselves because no-one will come out to them with only 2 or 3 horses. They love me now though!!
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My farrier comes up here (from a VERY long way away) and does my horses and then travels onto all my neighbours and this works well for everyone.

Good luck.
 
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Gingermare! A Farrier AND English Chocolate
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Don't tempt me
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AND polos!!!!
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No, noooooooooo, not polos........I still have a packet left from my lovely Secret Santa (was it you?) and am allowed one a day, that's how bad it is.

My brother was over a week or so again and bought me some, but got bored on the flight and ate them
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Well now.... if I say did the choccy digestives survive you might have a better idea!!!

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I did post a Thankyou before, but THANK YOU again, the digestives didn't last very long at all, but every crumb was enjoyed. You are a total Star
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I know you put a return address on the packages but my OH picked them up and LIT THE FIRE with them before I could write the address down to send you a Thankyou note properly.
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I had a mad panic to Weezy when I sent them cos I didn't know about customs forms and just posted the 2 parcels as normal but with the right postage for the weight and canada! I thought they might get stopped...
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I had a great time in the shops looking for very British things to send, OH thought I was odd!!

I'll tell my farrier I need to put him in a jiffy bag and post him over then!
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