I have spent thousands of hours studying hoof care, attending seminars, reading texts and visiting hoof care practitioners websites. What I hear and see from all points of the industry is everybody is on their own soap box. Domestic hooves must be cleaned and check daily by someone with hoof care knowledge. What doesn’t change is like the tree…the roots “should not” be aboveground…the leaves “do not” grow underground. Discussion in 'Introductions' started by horsman, Aug 2, 2008. Above is the same hoof 3 months later, you see the hole has gone the hoof wall is stronger the flare is less. I’m curious to know if a horse with flat soles can ever develop more concave soles. Is the right side of the hoof the same height as the left side. But she is the exception not the rule. However, I can trim and put front shoes on that same horse for $70. Knowing how these five basic structures should be growing allows us to identify incorrect hoof growth. Join thousands of other pet owners and pet lovers on the UK's most popular and friendly pet community and discussion forum. I started educating myself and took over, finding his bars completely laid over to his walls. Legal Stuff | Contact Thanks Charlotte, it’s all about what’s in your tool box isn’t it , Hi , I am always interested in reading what people have to say about anything to do with horses’ hooves . it is kind of like getting a wolf hybrid for your city apartment. Let’s be clear, the use of just pads & chains will not achieve the Big Lick. It relies on applying an external support to replace what’s missing. Do you want someone who’s going to spend time advising you on every aspect of your horse’s care? I can’t wait to have pony, I’ll finally be able to hack out again. Mind set determines whether someone can see they’ve made a mistake, or if there’s a flaw in the method they’re following. I can tell you that no-one, farrier, trimmer, vet or otherwise ever entered their chosen profession with the intent to harm horses, or deliver poor service to their clients. Instead it is putting the hoof into a continuous cycle of over growth and correction. I’ve met wonderful farriers, but more often the stressed kind, that take pride in “getting it done” to all cost. The shoes kept the sole off the ground a bit so they weren’t ouchy. But it was clear that the Shires’ feet needed regular “nip and tucks” to keep them neat and strong, and when needed, not just every 6 weeks or so. Get Your FREE 30-Days Trial. And of course, that you and your horses are getting what you need . How ever barefoot science has its limits or tolerances. Rates: Mini, Pony, donkey $40.00 Horse $45.00 Draft - no longer accepting full drafts. How would a barefoot-only trimmer help those two? But it’s not anywhere near the extent of a barefoot roll. Below is a list of reasons why a horse may be sore out of shoes. Barefoot or mustang trims are not for every horse, however, the people who do hoof work here will not hear this and all are anti shoes telling me “give me a year and you can ride her on any surface”, well, I went through two years of two different guys with no results! Bearing the weight at the edge of the hoof is causing micro-damage at every step. Is there sufficient conditioning, thickness and tensile strength for each structure? I enjoyed your article for the most part but do take issue with your classification of weighted shoes as being “ridiculous”. During the moister months I can maintain their feet quite well. We love it. Waiting four or six weeks for the hoof care provider to examine a hoof is too long, unless each of the basic structures is growing in the correct direction. Generally people call me because there’s a problem. of coarse farriers try to find the perfect balance with all components of the horse considered, which is mostly modeled by the newborn. I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog I do like to point out the obvious, so expect lots more of that…. Thanks for that story. Don’t forget, YOU employ THEM! Thank you. What is best for my horses is what concerns me, I choose to have all of mine barefoot, I have had farrier trims and have a very good non farrier barefoot trimmer come out to me, which is a trip involving a flight to an island and an overnight stay. I love the article. concepts or “barefoot trimming” and “natural balance” trimming and shoeing were also addressed. (and as a result don’t call themselves trimmers either) They use environment to make the changes. So while the others on the yard are shod every five weeks, he checks her and does her every ten weeks. A rock can influence the roots. A couple years later, I was finally able to go to horseshoeing school. Great info. I’ll give you an A* for bothering to read it and taking the time to comment. i can trim to minimize toe pressure but there is no trim that gives the caudal support like a bar shoe. Possibly me included! A farriers wife once said to me that if you put 10 farriers in a room, they’ll come up with at least 11 ways to balance a hoof. An example is a horse that rings it’s hocks over a period of time the horse has learned to use the wrong muscles and the correct ones get atrophied. In this case it probably is more significant, though I’d argue that’s not a mustang roll (I’d also recommend against doing this in most cases, but that’s a whole different debate). Love that everyone is talking about going barefoot, and how artificial shoes are. I know a Farriers is 4 years and 3 months. Good article, I’ve often had people ask me why I use a bf trimmer instead of a farrier – truth is I’ve used both, and like you say some are good and some are not so good. there are some horses that can not be ridden without shoes, they have very sensitive feet. But old habits die hard and cognitive dissonance plays a big part in people not wanting to change. I am going to talk about hoof boots briefly, my horses are sound barefoot in their field and on a had flat surface, if im going on a 5 mile ride with rode work, some forestry tacks then i dont bother with boots, their hooves are tough and can manage this no problem. I would just raise a couple of points. Does the structure deform before it reaches optimum length? The number one mistake I see being made by anyone trimming hooves is removing too much sole. The hoof gives us information about diet and overall health. So of course we, (myself, vet and farrier) ran the gamut of pharmaceuticals and “traditional” shoeing methods and they would only work for short amounts of time. Sometimes the best thought is…”if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” or better yet fix it slowly. Trees may also be pruned to increase light and air penetration to the inside of the tree’s crown or to the landscape below. Farriery Science . Barefootworks is a team of six certified and insured barefoot hoofcare providers based in the North of Scotland and Northern England with over forty years of training and experience behind us. In most cases, mature trees are pruned as corrective or preventive measures. ), You see, the simple fact is the difference isn’t in the trim. For horses kept in mucky stalls do not fare well being barefoot unless their stalls and hooves are cleaned twice a day, hooves treated for thrush each time, and plenty of exercise daily or turn out time with varying types of terrain in their turn out space. Although he checks her feet when he comes to the yard to shoe the other horses he only trims when necessary. Each structure has its own unique cellular design forming different degrees of hardness and flexibility. Here in Canada we have stone dust everywhere to help us deal with mud. But what they’re used to seeing; what looks right to them, is a shorter foot. Several prominent farriers took on the showing judging to put this right. There is a difference between hoof pain that passes quickly and chronic pain. If your horse is to be kept barefoot, make sure they are getting a barefoot trim and not a pasture trim. It is 90-95% inherited. i am in an area famous for this type of shoeing and my opinion often is not welcomed. This is where he looks to the wisdom of the carpenter for some good advice, “measure twice and cut once”. I expect the rider to condition the horse and hoof, and to train the look they expect in their discipline with their aids, not by creating imbalance in the horse’s hoof. High quality service involving not only hoof trimming but also nutritional advice exercise. Is incorrect growth direction of the hooves needed today in you can cause lots of with! Mentioned it is kind of like getting a barefoot longer the mortgage, heating electric! And attitude you want glad that many years ago when i first got horses and full! The top researchers and farriers in the UK have stone dust everywhere to help in their training and.... The person you want someone holistically minded, or what methods their farrier is trained in hoof science but good. Advise you and your site case shoes are the least of it all still comes down to to. Destroy the tree to grow the same hoof 3 months own soap box is deep into current! 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