There really is no point in changing from a farrier to a trimmer if you are happy with the job they are doing and are doing it well, if the farriers I tried were like that I wouldn't have changed!
Why are some people so anti-barefoot???
- Thread starter tetleyteabag
- Start date
I think it's interesting to see that in three pages of a thread called 'Why are some people so anti-barefoot', there seems to be no one who falls into that category.
I think some people can be very evangelical about it (as has already been mentioned), but I think that has more to do with the type of person they are, rather than whether their horse is particularly suited to going without shoes.
I remember having a conversation about the 'new age' trimmers with my farrier, round about the time the first ripples were coming over from America, where the talk was of 'four point trims' and 'mustang rolls'.
His attitude was that if people wanted to go down those routes with their horses, so be it, there is plenty of room for everyone, but he did find it hard to accept that these new trimmers were being so revered by people who, up until these new boys came on the scene, had kept such faith in the abilities of the traditional farriers.
I got the distinct feeling that he was happy to work with people who appreciated his skills, and was glad to be free of those who didn't.
He was also incredulous that the 'barefoot trimmers' had only to turn up and they were accepted as knowledgeable, competent practitioners, when farriers had five years' training and certain regulatory implications attached to their profession.
It is true that farriers have, or should have, an in-depth knowledge of horse anatomy.......indeed, they are required to have that in order to pass their exams and gain registration which allows them to work.
There is no such requirement of so-called 'barefoot trimmers'.
My farriers are able to perform a range of services, from trimming to remedial shoeing, and are regularly to be witnessed working closely with vets and owners in the course of their work.
Personally, when it comes to lameness, I would sooner consult my farrier than my vet...........after all, the farrier deals with horses' feet, and soundness issues, every day of his working life. I would find it very hard to put my faith in a person less qualified than my farrier.
I guess I must be one of those 'anti-barefoot' types.
I think some people can be very evangelical about it (as has already been mentioned), but I think that has more to do with the type of person they are, rather than whether their horse is particularly suited to going without shoes.
I remember having a conversation about the 'new age' trimmers with my farrier, round about the time the first ripples were coming over from America, where the talk was of 'four point trims' and 'mustang rolls'.
His attitude was that if people wanted to go down those routes with their horses, so be it, there is plenty of room for everyone, but he did find it hard to accept that these new trimmers were being so revered by people who, up until these new boys came on the scene, had kept such faith in the abilities of the traditional farriers.
I got the distinct feeling that he was happy to work with people who appreciated his skills, and was glad to be free of those who didn't.
He was also incredulous that the 'barefoot trimmers' had only to turn up and they were accepted as knowledgeable, competent practitioners, when farriers had five years' training and certain regulatory implications attached to their profession.
It is true that farriers have, or should have, an in-depth knowledge of horse anatomy.......indeed, they are required to have that in order to pass their exams and gain registration which allows them to work.
There is no such requirement of so-called 'barefoot trimmers'.
My farriers are able to perform a range of services, from trimming to remedial shoeing, and are regularly to be witnessed working closely with vets and owners in the course of their work.
Personally, when it comes to lameness, I would sooner consult my farrier than my vet...........after all, the farrier deals with horses' feet, and soundness issues, every day of his working life. I would find it very hard to put my faith in a person less qualified than my farrier.
I guess I must be one of those 'anti-barefoot' types.
Im not sure that there are any people on here maybe who are "anti-barefoot" and if there are any, they sure as hell probably wouldnt dare say so!!
There are people who are anti-barefoot and then people who are extremely pro barefoot and think anyone who shoes their horse is cruel, misunderstands horses feet, etc, etc.
I agree with you 100% here. A woman at my yard has a horse who is not in any kind of work and is just recovering from lami. She was barefoot (as the horse is not being worked) and when the vet came, they said straight away "shoes back on". The thing is with vets (in my experience...
) when anything goes wrong with shoeless feet, they immediately tell you to have shoes on. In some cases this may be the best option, but I have read many a story about how horses have been helped to recover from lami by actually being barefoot. The same with navicular.Therefore, I would trust my farriers judgement (who probably would not immediately say that the horse needed shoes) over a vet as the farrier is the specialist in that area and therefore they are the best informed to make a decision.
She was barefoot (as the horse is not being worked) and when the vet came, they said straight away "shoes back on". The thing is with vets (in my experience...
When Belle got an abscess my vet certainly didn't say shoes back on, even when she had a huge piece of hoof missing including the front wall, but I felt happier putting front shoes on until the wall grew down again (and so I could comepete without boots while it was growing).
Y
Yann
Guest
What you have to ask is why people are consistently prepared to pay twice to three times as much for the 'same' professional service?
Personally I think it's very silly for anyone to be "anti-barefoot" or "anti-shoeing". Both have their place.
I agree 100% that whichever route someone decides to go down, they should use a professional who has invested sufficient time in their training to be competent, knowledgeable and able to actively aid the horse's welfare where needed.
For example, I would never use a trimmer who had done one of these "quickie" courses and then set up shop. Similarly, I dropped one farrier just after buying my gelding who said his hooves were "fine" when anyone could see the heels were underrun, the toes too long, the soles too flat and the hooves very flared.
For me, barefoot with occasional use of hoof boots in front has worked a treat and I'm very pleased with my horse's hooves now. It's a bit like finding the right bedding - this system works well and suits me and my horse! But I am still open-minded to shoeing and if I ever had a horse where barefoot and/or boots wouldn't work, I'd have them shod. Simple!
I agree 100% that whichever route someone decides to go down, they should use a professional who has invested sufficient time in their training to be competent, knowledgeable and able to actively aid the horse's welfare where needed.
For example, I would never use a trimmer who had done one of these "quickie" courses and then set up shop. Similarly, I dropped one farrier just after buying my gelding who said his hooves were "fine" when anyone could see the heels were underrun, the toes too long, the soles too flat and the hooves very flared.
For me, barefoot with occasional use of hoof boots in front has worked a treat and I'm very pleased with my horse's hooves now. It's a bit like finding the right bedding - this system works well and suits me and my horse! But I am still open-minded to shoeing and if I ever had a horse where barefoot and/or boots wouldn't work, I'd have them shod. Simple!
Ugh - I was going to reply to this thread earlier in a nice civilised manner but its 2am and I'm finishing a mega biochemistry assignment that my results hinge on... and a barefoot evangelist on another forum has posted and diagnosed that because my horse has an aversion to shoeing (due to a horrifc experience) that he actually has chronic low grade laminitis which I am cleverly diguising with shoes
And now that my rant is over, to raise the tone of the post, I agree with Wally
And now that my rant is over, to raise the tone of the post, I agree with Wally
I am not anti barefoot, our warmblood was barefoot until she needed front shoes. My cobs have always been shod. I would be happy to save some of my shoeing bill if it was appropriate.
I am however very anti barefoot trimmers.
Professional bodies and training were set up for a reason, to give people a minimum standard and somewhere to go if things go wrong.
You would not go to an unqualified doctor or vet.
I would also be interested to know how the insurance companies feel about it, would they pay out on a claim if something went wrong, I have seen comments about them not been keen on horse dentists.
What need to happen is the the farriers registration needs extending to cover barefoot trimmers, along with the law.
Perhaps a shorter apprenticeship type scheme for those not wanting to be able to shoe.
I certainly dont want advice on nutrition etc from an unqualified trimmer for gods sake. Nutritionalist have to train, I'm guessing at least a 3 year degree course.
I am however very anti barefoot trimmers.
Professional bodies and training were set up for a reason, to give people a minimum standard and somewhere to go if things go wrong.
You would not go to an unqualified doctor or vet.
I would also be interested to know how the insurance companies feel about it, would they pay out on a claim if something went wrong, I have seen comments about them not been keen on horse dentists.
What need to happen is the the farriers registration needs extending to cover barefoot trimmers, along with the law.
Perhaps a shorter apprenticeship type scheme for those not wanting to be able to shoe.
I certainly dont want advice on nutrition etc from an unqualified trimmer for gods sake. Nutritionalist have to train, I'm guessing at least a 3 year degree course.
Thanks Wally
I really should not come anywhere near this section of the forum.
I have just been looking at some other posts, I dare not reply as its a family forum.
If peoples vets are so bad and their trimmers so perfect, why dont they change their vets
Off to ignore this section again.
I really should not come anywhere near this section of the forum.
I have just been looking at some other posts, I dare not reply as its a family forum
.If peoples vets are so bad and their trimmers so perfect, why dont they change their vets
Off to ignore this section again.
Ugh - I was going to reply to this thread earlier in a nice civilised manner but its 2am and I'm finishing a mega biochemistry assignment that my results hinge on... and a barefoot evangelist on another forum has posted and diagnosed that because my horse has an aversion to shoeing (due to a horrifc experience) that he actually has chronic low grade laminitis which I am cleverly diguising with shoes
And now that my rant is over, to raise the tone of the post, I agree with Wally
How can someone diagnose LGL without actually having hoof in hand and horse at shoulder to assess ?
Eshh, it took me 3hrs of watching really closely and rulling out any if buts maby's and possible cases of *just out of sorts today* to be definate about one of our wee mans teetering on LGL and that involved spending 10 mins checking over each hoof multiple times a day just to 100% sure.
(he's fine now by the way, being in almost constant contact with them lets me pick up on anything out of sorts as soon as out of sorts starts to show, long dryspell followed by heavy rain was the culprit, the grass just went weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and he went Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, quick adjustment to his available grazing, regular trimming to keep the rapid growth in check, and back to normal in a few days. )
Y
Yann
Guest
Perception perhaps
Initially perhaps, but people are generally very discriminating where spending hard earned cash is involved and if there was nothing in it then it would have come and gone like so many other fads.
What if they fail to provide that?
Y
Yann
Guest
P
Painthorse64
Guest
Barefoot fan
Our Welsh section D has been barefoot since we bought him a year ago, it took quite a few months for him to get used to it and we had to go carefully, dismounting on stoney ground. He has trims performed by our regular farrier and so far so good, even with his pigeon toes. I don't trot him too often on tarmac and let him carefully pick his own way over stoney ground. One great thing about being barefoot is that they don't slip and ski their way down steep roads.
Our Welsh section D has been barefoot since we bought him a year ago, it took quite a few months for him to get used to it and we had to go carefully, dismounting on stoney ground. He has trims performed by our regular farrier and so far so good, even with his pigeon toes. I don't trot him too often on tarmac and let him carefully pick his own way over stoney ground. One great thing about being barefoot is that they don't slip and ski their way down steep roads.
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