Why do farriers hate 'barefoot' people?

tallyho!

tallyho!

Following a strict mediterranean diet...
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Are they like the equine equivalent of hippies?

Not so? Or so so? Lots of farriers promote barefoot and many that don't.

Please, lets have the facts from the pro's.

Where do you sit on the fence? If there is a fence. Or, is it a long known tradition now having some publicity where it was once lacking.

Fact is, no one has money to prove one way or the other (there is no Merck &Co. sponsoring a trial as far as I know) so is there an end all trial to show what's best and does anyone give a sh**t?

And by the way, this isn't an I hate farriers thread. Most are well fit and pretty good at their job!! But also abit to do for the beating I got from the people from the other barefoot thread..........
 
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My boys are all hippies and proud. The Darties and Welsh have dreads, the Friesian has plaits and the old boy has no hair. :D

I think with some Farriers it comes down to cost. Shoes means they can charge you more.

My old boy has done SOOO much better without shoes, so much so that none of my other guys have worn shoes (except the Welsh who had a set on when I bought him @ 3) i decided that unless they really need it they were better off without...
 
There is the Dexter Project in conjunction with Liverpool University, tracking the outcomes of horses with navicular that have been rehabilitated with barefoot trimming and exercise.
 
Starbucks said:
I'm bored of barefoot talk.
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I know starbucks, but it's time to stop the bullshit and start giving some boring scientific facts!!! So come on have you got any or what? I'm asking.

And c'mon, what else is there? Name my horse and lets talk about bling tack? (except Starzaan stuff ok)
 
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No hard facts from me!!

All I know is my horse has shoes, is sound and always has been and we are happy. If some people want their horses shod then great, if other people don't, also great!

People have so many different methods and ideas of how to care for there horses.. think it just needs to be accepted that there will not be a definitive answer on this kind of thing.

Would have thought it's pretty obvious why farriers aren't so keen for everyone to go barefoot! ;)
 
Starbucks said:
No hard facts from me!!

All I know is my horse has shoes, is sound and always has been and we are happy. If some people want their horses shod then great, if other people don't, also great!

People have so many different methods and ideas of how to care for there horses.. think it just needs to be accepted that there will not be a definitive answer on this kind of thing.

Would have thought it's pretty obvious why farriers aren't so keen for everyone to go barefoot! ;)
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hear hear! >.<
 
My farrier actually advocates unshod horses if their feet can stand up to the wear and tear.

He was rather upset when I asked for front shoes for my Welsh Cob this spring. Only reason I wanted them was she slipped about so much when I rode her in the field, it was getting dangerous. Front shoes helped immensely.

Had back shoes put on recently, and now they're all off again, and he's happy!

He charges £15 for a trim.... thinks people who pay £50 + are bonkers. :)
 
My farrier is fab. He suggested I take the shoes off my mare after vets wanted remidial shoes at £90 just for two fronts. They didn't help so my farrier said take them off and let see how she goes. Well she's sound now and I have my farrier to thank for that.

My farrier isn't against barefoot BUT he is against people who go round charging £25 or more for a 'barefoot' trim when they are just not qualified to do so. Farriers train for years learning about the horses foot inside and out and then someone who's done a few weeks training comes along and thinks there an expert.

My farrier charges £12 for a trim. Think i'll stick with him.
 
FAB_FERN said:
My farrier is fab. He suggested I take the shoes off my mare after vets wanted remidial shoes at £90 just for two fronts. They didn't help so my farrier said take them off and let see how she goes. Well she's sound now and I have my farrier to thank for that.

My farrier isn't against barefoot BUT he is against people who go round charging £25 or more for a 'barefoot' trim when they are just not qualified to do so. Farriers train for years learning about the horses foot inside and out and then someone who's done a few weeks training comes along and thinks there an expert.

My farrier charges £12 for a trim. Think i'll stick with him.
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My farrier is the same, most are, they don't have a prblem with 'barefoot' people at all, they are generally knowlegable people who want the best for the horse.
I have spoken to several farriers about the issue, and the thing that pisses them off is unqualified people who have done a little course charging twice as much as them and generally doing a rubbish job.
Can we please stop all this barefoot talk now?? pleasseeee?!

(I say 'generally' a couple of times as obviously not all are the same :) )
 
My farrier takes his job very seriously. He does not want to waste my money or his time. The two that can go barefoot do so but the big boy is in so much pain if he goes with out even in his retirement that neither of us want him to suffer. He doesn't like barefooters because he has had to sort out some horrific problems that can be classed as nothing other that sheer neglect and creulty and it breaks his heart to see creatures being put through so much pain and agony by people who are obsessed with "alternative" methods rather than what is best for their horse.

I also know of a woman who would complain to me all the time about her horses being lame and going lame. I suggested she ask her farrier for advice only to be told that they don't know anything so she trims herself. She admitted to having no training, no qualifications etc but she had read a book on barefoot. How do you answer that? I read my Hayes manual and still managed to muck my car up so badly it had to be scrapped and she is doing this in the "best interests" of her horses? Come on.

As Starbucks has said. Every horse is different.

My horse has given me the most fantastic years. He owes me nothing and I owe him everything. If I can't give him decent foot care then what sort of owner would I be. I am happy to pay £50+ (it actually costs alot more as my old boy has them specially made for him) for my horse to be sound and happy. Its the least I can do for him after all he has done for me over the years.
 
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