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Post by june on Dec 27, 2005 19:44:46 GMT 1
Another mad one here - 20 polo ponies all barefoot! Some are trimmed by the farrier who does a good barefoot trim and any that are slightly more complicated are trimmed by a KC trimmer. Several of them are TBs and everyone knows that TBs have such thin soles they can't possibly go barefoot! So far, we haven't found one that can't manage barefoot.
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Carole2
Grand Prix Poster
IH Member
Posts: 1,401
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Post by Carole2 on Dec 28, 2005 22:12:55 GMT 1
I cannot believe how narrow minded and downright rude some people are! Go for it Gilly. My farrier cannot believe that so many people insist on shoeing when it is totally unnecessary and can in itself cause problems. Mine are all barefoot and happier for it.
Carole
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natalia
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,103
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Post by natalia on Dec 28, 2005 23:13:53 GMT 1
I would hate to meet your farriers as the two I have used in the past couple of years have been very encouraging as to keeping horses working barefoot. One going so far as to discourage putting shoes on my 14hh new forest as he siad his feet were far too tough! (he was right, i had fronts put on him and they dropped off 4 weeks later, the nails simply couldn't hold) mine have all been good at trimming and leave on more foot than a standard grass trim,they are good at recomending products and supplements to try and help whenever possible. There is no reason that a normal farrier can't do a decent barefoot trim, providing they understand that more foot needs to be left on. A worked barefoot horse should only really need a tidy up, unless the horn is in really poor condition.
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Post by gilly on Dec 29, 2005 21:37:07 GMT 1
To be honest, I haven't sat down and fully discussed the barefoot trim with my farrier. Although he has been very good so far with looking after Ginger's back feet and going along with my ideas with taking fronts off, I just felt it was maybe time to move on. They are really very good farriers but their booking system is an absolute nightmare and we never know when they are coming til the day before so it just suits me all round to have someone where I can make an appointment from one visit to the next and know where I am! And Ginger's feet do look loads better over 2 weeks after his barefoot trim than they did a week after he had his shoes off and a farrier trim...even though the nail holes are nearer the floor so I would expect the hoof wall to break off easier! He is sound as a pound so far so keeping fingers crossed. Everyone at the farm thinks I am either a complete loony, or doing it to save money (?!?!?!?!) but what the heck....Ginger is happy, I am happy, sharer is happy...that's all that matters isn't it?
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