What can a barefoot trimmer do that a farrier can't?

Bossdog

Bossdog

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 August 2006
Messages
739
Location
Central Scotland
Visit site
Just curious to know why someone would use a specialist barefoot trimmer over a regular farrier? Our cob has been shoeless for about a year now and has amazing feet, they are strong, healthy and look just like the diagrams you see in the BHS books (i.e correct shape, heel length, hoof/pastern axis etc).... all this has been done by a regular farrier and I have never considered using a barefoot trimmer. I just wonder what the USP of a trimmer is?!
 
I think (though i could be wrong!), that farriers tend to tidy the foot, trim away any bits that are too long and rasp the edges to make it look neat etc, whereas Barefoot trimmers tend more to shape the foot, rounding the toe to improve breakover etc and generally influence the hoof more? This is from what I have seen anyway.
 
Their USp seems to be that shoes are evil and that farriers dont know how to trim a hoof.

Let me tell you that I will trim a hoof correctly i dont just ''trim off the excess''
 
Answer: A barefoot trimmer (here anyhow) can attend a two day course and then set up for business and butcher horse's feet.



A good farrier knows what he is actually talking about. Well, mine does anyway.

I wouldn't use a barefoot trimmer to cut the dogs claws.

Just my personal opinion based on experience of course.
 
Bugger all.
Except make a mess of your horse...
Farriers trim the foot, balence it, make it do its job.. not just trim off the excess..

Barefoot trimmers are unqualified to give most of the advice they give. make a mess of horses feet and generally dont do all they are cracked up to be!

Oh and they charge a fortune for a trim..

Lou x
 
Charge an extortionate amount of money.
tongue.gif


My farrier does not just trim off excess and rasp, he shapes, balances, etc, for WORKING not just a so-called pasture trim.
mad.gif
 
Oh and farriers can trim donkeys.. where as barefoot trimmers usually take it back too far or not far enough because they dont understand there feet!

Lou x
 
I heartily disagree. My barefoot trimmer makes a fab job of my horses feet. He trots up before and after which I've never seen a farrier do. He's very patient and handles the horses in a very pleasant manner. I did used to use a farrier for my previous unshod horse. I had no complaints about her, she did do a good trim and the horse never had any problems with his feet, but for me the all round service from my current trimmer is better.

I don't think shoes are evil and or that farriers don't know how to trim a hoof, and nor does my trimmer. But for me the barefoot trimmer provides a better service.

I think its horses for courses. There are good and bad trimmers and farriers just as there are good and bad in all professions. To slam them all, with no data, is not helpful.
 
That sounds good, you aren't in Cornwall by any chance? My farrier is nearly 70 and thinking of retiring. We have had ponies who drove and a shod horse or two also
grin.gif
 
I like trimming donkeys too Farrier, Very intelligent and very rewarding work.

Ali.. explain this to the barefoot fraternaty and they would find they would be accept by farriers, but there constand slagging off of the profession gets pretty tedious..

Also, any farrier will trot your horse up.. if you want them too.. However, sometimes they do this for show.. not much else.

Lou x
 
Some farriers can trim a horse to work barefoot, but most do a pasture trim.
This "barefoot trimmer attends a two day course" is RUBBISH and anyway what idiot would allow someone to trim their horse who had only been on a 2 day course? The trimmers I know are intelligent, educated, horse owners and most people come to barefoot as a desperate last resort from the results of previous farriery. And barefoot trimmers DO NOT rubbish farriers, they respect their skills (or at least the skilled ones).

Although the barefoot trimmers I have used have mostly used a rasp and not a hoof knife. They have walked and trotted the horse both before and after the trim, and have a great deal of in depth knowledge and improved my horse's feet. I know that if my horse hadn't been barefoot he would now be suffering foot problems, despite being shod by an excellent farrier.

I would have preferred to use a farrier to go down the barefoot route, but mine just laughed when I suggested it. Pity he didn't see my horse going across country and showing barefoot.

If you use a barefoot trimmer you will get an in depth inspection of your horse's foot and progress every time. If you are happy with your farrier's work, then feel very very fortunate.
 
Works both ways though. Farriers are happily slagging off BFTs too. For my part, I've never heard either party slag off the other, although I'm sure it goes on in both directions. I think evangelical owners have a lot to answer for too!

There was a working Group get together with members from all interested parties quite recently which I believe went quite well.
 
A pasture trim a grass turn out trim it is no different to a working trim. As long as you have the right shape and levels and angles etc (dont want to get technical
laugh.gif
)

I am in Hereford but cover a wide area, from wales to midlands to gloucester/ross-on-wye/worcester. a wiiiiiide area
smile.gif
 
It appears that barefoot trimmers buy some books & watch a dvd & then off they go to have a go at horses feet. That woman Strasser who taught many trimmers & who crippled so many horses with her methods is a barefoot trimmer.
crazy.gif

Then have a look at the 5 years of training that a farrier goes through to trim & shoe horses......I know who I would allow near my horses.....& who I wouldn't.
wink.gif
 
I charge 15 for a trim myself and most farriers wont charge much above 20-possibly25 in other areas.

I have heard of BT's charging anywhere from 25 to 50

just for perspective i charge 50..... for a SET of shoes
 
the barefoot trimmer i have seen at work wasn't too good, all the horses trimmed by this person looked footsore and uncomfortable, and the feet looked terrible...i wouldn't let one near my horses. I am pleased with my farrier, one is barefoot and she is sound and happy more than can be said for the ones done by the "podiatrist" plus the barefoot person charges £45 for this so called trim, and my farrier charges just £15 and has a whole lot more experience....

The barefoot trimming industry needs very strict regulation. IMHO.
 
I think anyone can trim horses hooves, so the only legislation to cover it would be cruelty to the horse. The barefoot trimmers aren't preparing the hoof for a shoe so the regulations that cover farriers do not apply....I stand to be corrected, but I believe that's right.

Oh, if the trimmers are 'self regulated' I know that self regulation never works properly because nothing can happen to you if you go against the non existant regulations
frown.gif
 
you are correct. this is a loophole in the law that allows not only barefoot trimmers but also owner to trim their own or anyone elses horses. without training and without regulation

thye need to at least have some sort of standardised training and regulation! this would be a start i guess
 
Oh it's a deja vu thing, we had this conversation last night.
Just to add my tuppence worth again...
I wouldn't let anyone other than a qualified, registered, professional farrier near my horses feet.

also, to answer the op's original question...
Absolutely Nothing
 
Only going off the ones on my livery yard, but,

Farriers trim feet quickly, tidily, with no fannying about and the horses carry on as normal.

Barefoot trimmers chat bollox for a minimum of half an hour whilst pointing at the hooves, trim the feet painfully lob-sided and permanently knacker horses.
mad.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top