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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
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Cate
Platinum Member
Scotland
1785 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 09:48:20 AM
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I have been barefoot for a number of years now, but over a year ago came across a lady who is a barefoot trimmer. Had her 2-3 times to 6 horses so very expensive. She showed me basically how to trim and websites to look at. I looked up Jamie Jackson who studied the wild horses and how their hooves are, shape etc. Anyhow, found Nick Hill who trained with Jamie Jackson, Jamie Jackson having been an actual farrier for many years before studying barefoot. One of the websites is www.aanhcp.net Jamie Jackson has a website and so does Nick Hill @ Clover Rose Equine in Inverness.
I found nick worth the money every 6 weeks and he only does one of my horses, once he is right he will go on to the rest. Their is no reason for any horse to be lame after barefoot. I have aquaintances who went on a course by some Aussie chap Pete Laidley, and they did my Hispano mare and lamed her for a week. I have been doing my horses for nearly a year and never lamed any of them.
A good barefoot trimmer is worth his/her weight in gold. You learn from them, they answer any questions and dont fob you off with a whole load of rubbish. They take their time and if trained by the chap who started barefoot, Jamie Jackson, and where people like Strasser (sp) got a lot of her data from because he did 4 years study on the wild horse plus more then you really cannot go wrong. Another website is that of Pete Ramey, although he seems to have gone off experimenting on other things, but Jamie Jackson ...well you cant go wrong with this chap. |
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Karon
Gold Member
England
1411 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 09:57:37 AM
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Honey Monster - it was a farrier who told me about them being footy after a trim, in fact every farrier I've had to trim mine has said it's normal for them to be footy after a trim. Since going barefoot, I can trim then ride straight away and never have any problems.
Kirsty, if your horse has good feet and you're happy with the farrier then why change? If you do start having problems, then you should perhaps do some research (probably a good idea to do some anyway just in case!) and think about getting a barefoot trimmer out but if your farrier is doing a good job then that's great.
Those of you with good farriers don't know how lucky you are! Hang onto them, and hope you never end up with some like the ones I've had out to my horses......
But I should add that I 've had so much support and advice from my trimmer that I'd never have had from any of the farriers I've used and that in itself is worth the extra cost. |
Edited by - Karon on 02 Apr 2008 09:59:12 AM |
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Helen Newton
Gold Member
England
692 Posts |
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Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 3:04:05 PM
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I think I'm going to stay with a farrier! Although I do love the sound of barefoot trimmers in principal, ie going into more depth than just a trim and giving advice on preventing problems... But if there were any problems my farrier would certainly bring it to my attention... He is definately a no frills farrier... he doesn;t recommend going out and buying loads of lotions/potions/supplements when they are not needed, just your basic hoof/horse care.... I am so gullible when it comes to spending money on horses, if the BF Trimmers suggested I buy him a platinum hoof pick because it would be better for him - i probaly would!! So I think I'll stick with the good old tried and tested!
Really, thanks for all you help though!
(still smiling at honey not liking men! Great attitude!)
Vera I have sent you a little PM.... |
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maromito
Bronze Member
Wales
94 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 5:10:10 PM
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| I to would stay with the farrier,bare foot trimmers are out of the question for me,nothing can I feel take the place of a good farrier who has after all done a 4yr apprenticship to be able to call himself a farrier,its fashionable at the moment to use so called barefoot trimmers which is sad really,if you feel your horse would benefit from being barefoot Im sure most decent farriers are open to the suggestion |
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Cate
Platinum Member
Scotland
1785 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 7:27:27 PM
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Jaime Jackson was a fully fledged farrier i.e. shoes, for absolute years before studying the wild mustangs and now doing barefoot.
Not a case of being fashionable either as long before barefoot trimming came into vogue I had my horses without shoes. Years ago met a woman in London with a beautiful liver chestnut stallion aged 8 years, never been shod and could do 3 hours hacking on the roads without being sore. Her farrier said "if you dont need shoes then dont put them on". People today just cannot imagine going barefoot as they're so conditioned to thinking the horse needs steel shoes. |
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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 7:45:48 PM
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| My mare was never shod to my knowledge & we did miles & miles of road work. She had never so much as had a crack in any of her feet. Horses feet are design as shock absorbers & I firmly believe that putting clonking metal shoes on can only really be detremental. Of course once they are shod you're generally stuck with them unless you're prepared to go the trouble of trying to 'convert' them back to their natural state. |
      
Claire & Sunny x
http://sunnyandclaire.blogspot.com/ |
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Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 8:10:55 PM
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| I was really pleased that Raz has never been shod... i don't like shoes but do understand that it is needed in some cases.... I was especially pleased when the farrier suggested removing the pony that i loan shoes... they both have really nice healthy feet - it would take ALOT of persuading to get me to put shoes on either of them! |
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firstlady
Gold Member
Wales
767 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 8:55:11 PM
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Definately Definately Farrier -
if anyone isn't happy with your farriers work try discussing with them what your not happy with before enlisting the help of a 'barefoot trimmer '
Your farrier is a proffesional and should be willing to discuss any problems or fears that you have.
Ask their advice,
ask about the condition of your horse hooves,
ask if they'd like them trotted up before they trim or shoe.
Keep a good working relationship and show an interest in what your farriers doing,
ask how long before your next appointment and book it with him there and then
Offer him a cup of tea or coffee
Treat him as a valued part of your horses care and he will value you as a customer
Also people are generally very quick to blame the farrier - even when their horse is well over due for a visit and or your farrier is provided with poor working conditions and or a horse who has just been brought in from a muddy field they are expected to work miracles.
If you are really having problems with your farrier or he is unprofesional in anyway there is a farriers registration council to talk to.
on the other hand you have a barefoot trimmer -
who are generally untrained (a 2 day course isn't training)or worse still have been taught by and follow the teachings of a barbarian ,
have no professionl body to answer to and like to charge 3 times what your farrier charges and suggest visiting 3 times or more often !!!!
and also suggest that they can train you to do your own horses feet in the meantime !!!!
No contest - Farrier everytime
sorry this post has turned into a bit of rant
cheers Debbie |
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Helen Newton
Gold Member
England
692 Posts |
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Deboniks
Platinum Member
England
3776 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 10:12:26 PM
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This subject always gets heated
We should remember,it's not about us,it's about the horse.
Most horses will go well barefoot but there are exceptions where it is best to use hoof boots (best of both worlds),apply a wrap (new) or apply a shoe.
My EP is worth his weight in gold. He has studied for 7/8 years. So far this year he has been to the USA at least twice to study with KC LaPierre. He is the only EP qualified to teach in the UK (under KC)
For me the fact that he is progresive in his training is important  Much better than becoming qualified and thinking you know it all(i'm talking about farriers and EP's)
I've been on a short course and I'm capable of running the rasp over 'my horses' hooves to keep them tidy if I wanted to.But no way should or would I attempt anything else.But some do,they learn a little and think they know alot!! People like this give a good thing a bad name. There are good and bad in all trades.There are all sorts of fads about including in shod horses. I once spoke to a doting owner about her horses shod feet and she gushed about what her farrier had done for her horse. Her horse was not even being ridden and had corrective shoeing!! This horse had boxy feet to name just one of the things I noticed at the time.She was sold on the idea without even knowing anything about hooves, he must have seen her coming She only wanted the best for her horse.....
Most people I know who have gone barefoot are people who were interested in hooves in the first place.They make judgements on what they have learnt.
IMO that is the best way to go.
SO....
What is a good farrier?
He can apply a shoe correctly.
He will let you know if you don't need a shoe and do a good trim.
Advise you about the health of the hoof as a whole.
Know the annatomy of the horse in conection to the hoof.
The horse should not be lame.
The horses comfort is paramount.
What is a good EP?
He knows how the hoof functions naturally and how to balance it accordingly.
He will advise you about the health of the hoof as a whole.
Know the annatomy of the horse in connection to the hoof.
He will teach you about conditioning the hoof.
His aim is to make the hoof the best it can be.
If the horse is not suitable for barefoot because the owner hasn't the time for conditioning etc he will advise boots,wraps or even ......shoes!!
The horse should not be lame.
The horses comfort is paramount.
Surely most people would want to find out a bit more about the farrier or EP before letting them loose on there horses??? I know I would
This is also a good point to concider...
Posted by Helen
**I agree that farriers do train for long time, but none of that time is spent on learning how to trim a horses hoof in order for it to work successfully barefoot. They start with learning how to make their tools(yes, really), then learning how to make horse shoes, then how to remove horse shoes, how to prepare a hoof to take a horseshoe, then how to fit and nail on a shoe. They spend a relatively short time on hoof and leg anatomy and no time on trimming for barefoot performance. It's great however when farriers are open to the possibility that horses can do as well if not better without shoes than with and there are an increasing number of them out thankfully**
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Edited by - Deboniks on 02 Apr 2008 10:16:15 PM |
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SEZ
Gold Member
England
1101 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 10:20:29 PM
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I stopped having farriers when one of them started digging into my horse's perfectly healthy foot that had a natural indendation in it - looking for...? No-one knows and he never said a word until it bled and bled and bled. He then did the same thing to the other foot which bled and bled and bled. Then he decided to mumble something about a vascular rich area etc but the question should be what was he doing in the first place? He can keep his four years of training if that's what he's going to do with it . After even a short conversation with my trimmers it is very easy to suss how very knowledgable they are even without a four year training period. The UKNHCP hold talks and teach farriers the trim.
I certainly don't have a trimmer becuse I think it's en vogue - I do what is best for my horses and I get better results and service from my trimmers than I have had in 13 years worth of farriers.
But then Kirsty5278 - you will know what is best for your horses and if you are totally happy with your farrier then stick with him. |
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moatside
Platinum Member
England
3224 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2008 : 06:07:31 AM
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| My farrier is, as said in previous post, fab! My Sec B & Sec C have never been shod and he has always advised me that as they both have sound feet they do not need shoes. Both do a reasonable amount of roadwork and both comnpete and both have a good shape to the foot and are happy and comfortable - at least my B will be when she gets over the butcher treatment she had whilst my farrier was ill. |
www.spanglefish.com/kasanarhythmbeads/ |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2008 : 08:22:37 AM
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I have experience of using both a farrier and a trimmer for the same job. My farrier just didn't do as good a job with the barefoot trimming as the EP did so in my opinion the EP was worth the extra cost. That doesn't mean the farrier is not good, now that we're back to wearing shoes he does an excellent job and he's won several farriers awards within endurance, including for the big golden horseshoe a few years back so I'm confident about him. He does 3-day eventing himself and knows hoofcare inside out. But, for barefoot hooves the EP comes up trumphs every time (incidentally I used the same EP as Deboniks).
My experience is that the EP was much more focused and proactive about holistic care. He trimmed shah every 6 weeks, took photos on a regular basis and kept a condition score so that we could compare each time how he was doing.
I think you need to look at the work your farrier/EP does and, as Deboniks says, ask lots of questions. See how their work affect your horse's way of moving and behaving, listen to what they say about hoof care, hoof balance, how to condition your horse's hooves to make them stronger etc. and then decide which one is best for you. Some farriers are great barefoot trimmers, others aren't, that's the reality. |
West Sussex |
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lulu
Gold Member
763 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2008 : 2:20:07 PM
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| My mare was about 22 when together my farrier (brilliant) decided she was not happy being shod behind, so we left her bare behind! We also have to go up a rough track to stables and do about a mile on the roads to the Downs but have had no trouble at all with coping on all sorts of surfaces and our part of the Downs is quite flinty. I do watch her on wet hilly grass but that's all. |
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suneanarab
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1818 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2008 : 6:12:38 PM
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i have not read through all of this but i'll add my bit anyway,
firstly, lets face it, years of training doesn't make anyone good at anything. any person can pass an exam and still do a bad job. this includes instructors who are at I level and don't know the first thing about teaching, vets, and so on in any sector in cluding barefoot trimming.
my farrier recons he knows more than anyone coz he's been handling horses for years. what he forgets is that he picks the foot up and puts it down again. not experiance from y point of view. trying to get him to come out and do trims is a nightmare! they just don't want to do them unless there is a yard full. lucky for me he taught me how to trim a rescue mare i had. he still thinks he knows far more about the horses foot than i do just coz he's been to college, but forgets that i have trained to pass various exams.
when tilly came lame and we couldn't figure out what was causing it, xrays showed that she had contracted heels. we did months of heel supports to sort the problem out and the farrier was supposed to come every month to file them. did he do this? no he bl**dy well didn't. so i told the vet i would do them (baring in mind that this mare had been shod from me getting her). i did exactly what the vet told me needed doing. he could tell that i had had plenty of experience doing this and was very impressed by what i had done. he told me that if i went to the local riding school and di a before and after with him there i could do all the vets foot work for them and he would recommend me as a barefoot trimmer. he also said that farrier know alot in general but that doesn't make them good at what they do. they often are so arrogent coz of their training that they can't take critisisum of their work and admit they are wrong. while i am glad to do my own horses i didn't take him up on his offer.
trust you instinct. if you feel something isn't right you don't have to be an expert to know that! |
suzanne walsh
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Clothilde
Bronze Member
France
52 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2008 : 8:26:17 PM
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Debonicks, completely agree!
I am french and study with Dan Guerrera in Switzerland and there is a REAL farrier who has subscribed at this professional session for the whole 2008 year,
we have 6 sessions of 4/5 days each time with Dan and we have homeworks, 100 horses to trim in one year! Tough job!
there are people in England who attend this school if you are interested just go at
http://www.barehoof.com
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Maarena Arabians
Straight Babson Egyptian Horses in France |
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Deboniks
Platinum Member
England
3776 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2008 : 8:38:53 PM
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Hi
I know Dan!I haven't heard from him in ages. Next time you see him say Hi from Debbie and Flame in Bognor Regis xx
I've been to some of the clinics he did near Chichester.I met him when he first came to the UK he was at the Mark Rodney(Aus) Clinic. That must have been about 6/7 years ago now! He was the one who got me interested in the concept in the first place
What a small world! |
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lisa rachel
Gold Member
Wales
831 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2008 : 9:19:12 PM
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Exactly right Debbie (First Lady)
Lisa 
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lisa |
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Eeyore
Gold Member
1181 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2008 : 09:15:30 AM
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I have a fantastic farrier and wouldn't swap him for anybody. He is very experienced in remedial farriery but is equally happy to leave horses barefoot. He always does what is best for the horse, even if it means less money for him. When my old horse had bad arthritis he used to be so gentle with her and make everything as easy as possible for her, even though the job took a lot longer. I can't praise him enough, he is brilliant. He is also easy on the eye which is a bonus
He tells me plenty of horror stories of inconsiderate owners though who cant catch their horses, bring them in plastered in mud feet not picked out, horses have no manners or are plain dangerous, owners have no interest in their horses feet and leave them too long between trims / shoeing
If you are happy with your farrier then stick with him. If you can find someone you trust they are worth their weight in gold. |
Heléna
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Edited by - Eeyore on 04 Apr 2008 09:16:08 AM |
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Natalie M
Bronze Member
England
67 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2008 : 09:21:02 AM
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Over the years + many hoof problems with horses, personally I would never change to barefoot trimmers for ridden horses as there is so much roadwork involved in getting them fit, although have followed the advice of my farrier (aren't I lucky, he lives in my village!) and have always taken shoes off horses not in work. However, you might like to read both sides of the discussion which I have taken from the notes of the National Equine Forum held in 2007. Happy reading.
THE SHOELESS PARADIGM
K C La PIERRE PhD, RJF
Founder of the International Institute of Podiatry
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The desire to leave the horse barefoot has been in existence for hundreds of years, since man first discovered a need for horseshoes. Horseshoes then, as today, were viewed as somewhat of a necessary evil. In the beginning, it was a matter of survival. Still today, many view horseshoes as necessary for performance, others as a therapeutic tool, and still others as a means of survival. The truth be told, all these reasons still exist today. Shoes in many situations do become a necessity. What needs to be taken into account is today’s horse owner, and that the world of the horse has evolved. The advent of the computer and world communication has spurred a new era of domestication, where the horse owner’s compassion for the animal out weights their instinct for survival. Barefoot, and the move towards what is natural, is often a display of this desire. In today’s world, “Shoeing is no longer the necessary evil; it is a lack of knowledge that makes shoeing a necessity, that is the true evil.”
Over the past three decades, there has been a growing movement aimed at meeting the needs of those horse owners that wish to provide for their equine wards in a more natural way, the evolution of Natural Horsemanship. The state of going barefoot, or the act of shoeing one’s horse, should be viewed as that person’s understanding of how to provide what is best for their horse. The problem arises when a lack of education or better stated a lack of understanding exists. All too often, compassion dictates the horse owner’s actions. This in itself can lead to disaster, whether one chooses to go barefoot, or to apply the latest development in shoeing. “Compassion without knowledge and discipline is kith and kin to the wild fire; compassion alone consumes massive amounts of energy leaving little of worth in its path.” It is my belief that today’s horse owner, and their thirst for knowledge, coupled with their desire to show compassion
has brought to a head the need for a new science. Mankind has seen this occur in the past, at the turn of the century, and the birth of the industrial era. The science of that age, Static mechanics, no longer sufficed and we saw the development of a new science, Kinematics mechanics. Understanding Kinematics was necessary for the development of the faster moving machines of the time. Today, I believe we are in need of a new science of hoof care, one where a paradigm exists, where none previously existed. This new science will responsibly meet the needs of today’s horse and horse owner.
The importance of having a paradigm in the practice of any science is critical. Without a paradigm, our efforts are based on presumption and conjecture. Shoeless, not barefoot, represents a paradigm for the treatment of the equine foot, not for going barefoot. A true science is based on a model, the paradigm. There are rules and guidelines to be followed. It is based on fact, this allowing for the development of theory, model and method. There has been no true paradigm for the treatment of the equine foot. If in fact, a paradigm did exist, horse owners would not be abandoning the conventional Farrier practice for the promise of something more.
Barefoot can and does bring with it problems, with the greatest problem being that many of the barefoot practices base their practice on the feral horse. This practice cannot work for the domesticated horse as there are laws of nature that ndismiss this practice, the most obvious being F = M x A (force = mass x acceleration). The practice of using the feral horse disregards the need for the establishment of a valid science. So where do we go?
A paradigm for the treatment of the equine foot does exist, and I am certain it is only the first of many to come. The paradigm that I developed and teach is Applied Equine Podiatry. The definition of this science is: Applied Equine Podiatry is the conscientious study of the equine foot, always striving to expose it to proper environmental stimuli, making every effort to promote proper structure and function, as we attempt to achieve high performance. It is accepting that the horse has the innate ability to heal itself, provided the correct environment exists.
The paradigm of Applied Equine Podiatry finds its foundation in the following:
• Structure + Function = Performance
• The horse has the innate ability to heal itself.
• Correct pressure is the stimulus for correct growth.
• Utilize time as a dimension in the positive treatment of the equine foot.
• Do no harm.
Do no harm can only be practiced with a strong understanding of the equine foot, and the application of all principles?
Applied Equine Podiatry is a science for the treatment of the equine foot, and should not be considered exclusive to the shoeless horse. Whether to shoe or not to shoe is not the question. The question is how do we provide the correct stimulus for the development of proper structure, function, and performance while protecting and safeguarding the horses in our care
TO SHOE OR NOT TO SHOE – THE FARRIER’S VIEW
SIMON CURTIS FWCF, HonAssocRCVS
Farrier……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
IntroductionHaving been asked to give “the farriers view” on hoof trimming, I find I can only give my personal view. Simply put,horses are not born wearing shoes and therefore if they do not need them then why shoe? The subject, however, is deeper than this and therefore this paper looks at why and when it is often necessary to shoe. In the current debate it is also frequently forgotten that farriers do trim for turn-out and work.
History
It is believed that horses were first shod 2,000 years ago, the oldest horseshoe being found in Gloucestershire; from around that time is made from iron and titanium. Zenathon and Simon of Athens wrote on the subject of hoof care, 500 years earlier, but never mentioned shoes. The Assyrians 3,000 years ago, had the technology to make and fit horseshoes but never did. Their environment and use of the cavalry meant that hoof protection was not a necessity. However, Alexander’s advance across Asia Minor was frequently held up while footsore horses recovered. Horses only became shod when they reached our damp climate. Iron was very valuable and nobody would waste it on a horse unless it was a necessity.
Reasons for shoeing
The reason for shoeing horses has not changed significantly in centuries. We still need to protect hooves from excessive wear. They require extra grip and purchase because of the surfaces we chose to use them on. We can use our ability to firmly attach shoes to the hoof to bring about correction in young stock and support the limb in cases of injury.
ProtectionShoes, which are usually made from steel or aluminium, have a greater wear resistance than horn. In the damp northern European climate horn is softer and cannot cope with the abrasive surfaces that we work horses on. On rough terrain hooves may also split and crack. A shoe also lifts the sole clear of the ground which improves the soundness of some flat footed horses.
For Grip and Purchase
Grip is often needed because of the type of work we expect horses to do on surfaces which would allow to much slippage. Horseshoes allow us to attach a number of devices that improve both grip and purchase. Caulkins, road studs, and tungsten nails are examples of grip which can be added to shoes. Traditional shoes concave fullered, give extra grip just by the shoe design. Purchase is the way that a horse uses its foot when galloping, jumping, or pulling a load. Screw in studs, toe grabs and toe pieces improve a horse’s performance.
Remedial Shoeing
Horseshoes are used in a multitude of ways to help conditions and injuries to the equine limb. In these situations horseshoes are used as orthopaedic devices. Whether it is a one month old foal with a varal fetlock, requiring a lateral extension shoe, or an eighteen year old with a severed flexor tendon needing a fishtail shoe, there is a horseshoe for the job. The ability of the farrier to design, make and attach shoes is often critical to successful healing.
Trimming
There are of course many horses in a situation where they do not need shoes. If they are not wearing their hooves quicker than they are growing or if they grip adequately barefoot then why shoe? This author spends more time with unshod horses than shod. Trimming must be of a style suitable to the horse and its purpose. Care must be taken to leave enough protection to the overlying sensitive areas. The hoof needs to be rounded more when trimmed for turnout or work and the sole needs to be clear of the ground.
Current Farrier Training and Examinations
All farriers learn to trim before they learn to shoe. The syllabus for apprentice farriers in the UK is taught at 4 colleges to level 3 NVQ and the final examination is by the Worshipful Company of Farriers. The Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (DipWCF) is the technical certificate recognised by government and the Farriers Registration Council for legal registration of farriers. Both the NVQ and the DipWCF include trimming for unshod horses invarious situations.
Conclusion
In simple terms, it seems to this author, that the difference between the various “barefoot trimmer” people and farriers is the differing philosophy. Hoof trimmers, as I understand, will advise on the whole horse and ask the owner to adapt the horse’s lifestyle to enable them to be barefoot. Farriers, on the other hand, are trained to recognise a horse’s situation, type and work and shoe or trim accordingly.
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Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2008 : 10:59:43 AM
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Thank you for all the information!!
My horse is barefoot and will always stay barefoot - no question there..... I do think I'll stay with my farrier though.... at least i know that he doesn't butcher my horse, or harm him in any way!! He was the one that suggested the pony go barefoot too! So I know that what he does is in the best interest of the horse!
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Kazzy
Platinum Member
England
3335 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2008 : 11:03:32 AM
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Well my farrier told me it was 2 years before he was allowed to shoe
a horse, the first two years is spent learning all about the horses
foot and trimming.
Another lie from these *bare foot trimmers* that say farriers dont
have any experience in trimming a horses foot.
Janet |
     
Sunny Cheshire |
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Info Sponge
Bronze Member
England
182 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2008 : 11:04:28 AM
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Interesting topic!
Initially I wanted to find a farrier locally who had the right temprement to deal with my new weanling filly.
So I spoke to an International dressage rider who lives locally and asked her who she would recommend. This lady has for years kept and competed with her horses barefoot.
She recommended a fully trained farrier who specialises in barefoot trimming and says as far as she is concerned he is the best in the country.
My filly has been successfully trimmed three times now by this farrier and I also think he is great. He gives my filly the time she needs, doesn't take any nonsense but is just quietly persistant.
Last time he came I asked him if it would be ok for us to start walking out on the roads and he said it would be fine if I build up the work gradually. He went on to say whatever the surface the horse was used to most of all would be the surface the feet would be best able to cope with. So if they are out on grass all the time you can't expect them to cope with a lot of roadwork with no shoes immediately, but if you gradually build up the harder surface work the feet will gradually adapt to cope with it.
I am absolutely delighted with him as I have a very knowledeable horse behaviourist, fully trained farrier who specialises in barefoot trimming at a sensible price!
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