Post by mandal on Aug 2, 2011 12:28:53 GMT 1
I have never studied Strasser's theories or method but of course have heard many horror stories about horses being 'butchered' and made extremely sore etc. etc. so I have always remained with the methodology I first discovered and that my horses tell me is right for them aka a Natural trim and very slight variations on it. That trim is described by Jaime Jackson and taken forward by Pete Ramey et al.
Two days ago I was a witness to a set up trim performed by a person trained by Hiltrud Strasser. I wish to urge everyone to think very, very carefully before employing someone trained in the methodology as the impact on the horses was devastating. All the horses had problems, flat over grown 'dinner plate' hooves but they were getting around ok and were comfortable and had always been comfortable after Pete Ramey type non professional trims. After this 'Strasser trim' they were devastated, unable to walk on surfaces they were comfortable on immediately prior to this trim and were constantly lying down. One mare could hardly walk with pads on all four feet. Luckily they are comfortable and safe now in a sand arena and only time will tell how they are in future.
This trim was performed with NO mention of any special care afterwards of any need for hoof protection or comfortable, conformable surfaces or pain relief. No mention was made of the sole that was left so thin abscessing is a major risk. NO mention was made that the heels and bars would be slashed so hard that the horses cannot stand in comfort under their own weight or that their whole bodies would be subjected to a sudden and very drastic change in angles, hoof function and stride which no doubt will have impacted on the muscles and ligaments not prepared for this extreme change.
Please, please EVERYONE out there DO NOT allow this trim to be performed on your horses unless they are in a specialist environment under Veterinary care with all support systems available immediately. I personally wouldn't even allow a Vet to do this to my horses...
I consider doing this to horses and owners with NO advice about post trim comfort and support unethical and cruel on both horses and owners. I seriously think this trim should not be allowed to be performed in a home environment and I shudder to think of horses that may have been trimmed in this way and left to suffer...
I am writing this everywhere I can and will no doubt come up with a much better argument over time, I certainly feel there are serious horse welfare issues that need urgent consideration in regards to this trim and the overall support and advice in aftercare.
Modified because after speaking to the owner I had misunderstood and the horses were not walked on grass immediately post or since trim, pads were applied asap and they were moved to a sand arena. We have no way of knowing if they would have been comfortable on grass post trim. They were off grass in an attempt to control symptoms in their hooves and results of hay analysis are in the pipe line.
Two days ago I was a witness to a set up trim performed by a person trained by Hiltrud Strasser. I wish to urge everyone to think very, very carefully before employing someone trained in the methodology as the impact on the horses was devastating. All the horses had problems, flat over grown 'dinner plate' hooves but they were getting around ok and were comfortable and had always been comfortable after Pete Ramey type non professional trims. After this 'Strasser trim' they were devastated, unable to walk on surfaces they were comfortable on immediately prior to this trim and were constantly lying down. One mare could hardly walk with pads on all four feet. Luckily they are comfortable and safe now in a sand arena and only time will tell how they are in future.
This trim was performed with NO mention of any special care afterwards of any need for hoof protection or comfortable, conformable surfaces or pain relief. No mention was made of the sole that was left so thin abscessing is a major risk. NO mention was made that the heels and bars would be slashed so hard that the horses cannot stand in comfort under their own weight or that their whole bodies would be subjected to a sudden and very drastic change in angles, hoof function and stride which no doubt will have impacted on the muscles and ligaments not prepared for this extreme change.
Please, please EVERYONE out there DO NOT allow this trim to be performed on your horses unless they are in a specialist environment under Veterinary care with all support systems available immediately. I personally wouldn't even allow a Vet to do this to my horses...
I consider doing this to horses and owners with NO advice about post trim comfort and support unethical and cruel on both horses and owners. I seriously think this trim should not be allowed to be performed in a home environment and I shudder to think of horses that may have been trimmed in this way and left to suffer...
I am writing this everywhere I can and will no doubt come up with a much better argument over time, I certainly feel there are serious horse welfare issues that need urgent consideration in regards to this trim and the overall support and advice in aftercare.
Modified because after speaking to the owner I had misunderstood and the horses were not walked on grass immediately post or since trim, pads were applied asap and they were moved to a sand arena. We have no way of knowing if they would have been comfortable on grass post trim. They were off grass in an attempt to control symptoms in their hooves and results of hay analysis are in the pipe line.