Barefoot trim disaster?

[Ruth0552]

I’m sorry… why did hubby meet with farrier and have shoes pulled? Was this a new farrier? Who’s been doing them since March? I think I would find a different farrier and make sure you are there when they come until you know you can trust the person.

[Guilherme]

@stb

I use a barefoot trimmer, trim every 3 to 4 weeks, and my horses have excellent feet. The problem isn’t barefoot trimming style or the trimming interval - it is the trimmer. In my area, I have been unable to find a traditional farrier that does a good job of trimming bare hooves. Most tend to leave toes too long and let heels get underrun.

There is a Facebook group called Hoof Rehab Help. It’s a great resource for information, and they could also help you find a GOOD barefoot trimmer. It’s a closed group, so you will have to join to read or post.

Actually, maybe the problem IS the idea of “barefoot trimming.” The very concept tells you that the person doing it has a limited education, limited tool set, and limited view of a most important aspect of equine husbandry. Whether you’re talking about Dr.Strasser or any other “barefoot advocate” you talking to a person who has determined that there is One, True Way to do something and that all other ways are false and cruel. Rarely in life is this EVER true and in equine husbandry it’s almost always demonstrably false.

The Golden Rule of Equine Husbandry is that you give the horse what it needs, when it needs it, and in appropriate quantity and quality. Be ye talking about hoof care or feeding programs or hay quality the rule is EXACTLY THE SAME!!!

The “need” standard is the physical needs of the horse not the philosophical, moral, ethical, logical, or theological needs of the owner.

The barefoot trimmer has a very limited tool box and a very limited skill in the use of the tools that they have. When I hire worker to accomplish a task I want someone who will correctly identify the problem, propose practical solutions, competently carry out the solution that is chosen, and charge me fairly for their work. In world of hoof care, the barefoot trimmer is lacking in much of this.

G.

[merrygoround]

^ Well said…

Sometimes the most dangerous phrase is “I always”. With people, horses, dogs, cats, etc., there is no always.

[Calvincrowe]

There aren’t many OTTBs with feet able to go barefoot. I am no expert in shoeing, but I’ve owned many, many horses and not one of the TBs I’ve had or I’ve known could be barefoot and be truly comfortable. (Some could behind, with front shoes). You’ve gotten good advice here from more knowledgeable folks than me. I’d for sure have the vet out to get her comfortable and most definitely find an actual farrier with real training. Poor mare…

[Palm_Beach]

@Guilherme

Actually, maybe the problem IS the idea of “barefoot trimming.” The very concept tells you that the person doing it has a limited education, limited tool set, and limited view of a most important aspect of equine husbandry. Whether you’re talking about Dr.Strasser or any other “barefoot advocate” you talking to a person who has determined that there is One, True Way to do something and that all other ways are false and cruel. Rarely in life is this EVER true and in equine husbandry it’s almost always demonstrably false.

The Golden Rule of Equine Husbandry is that you give the horse what it needs, when it needs it, and in appropriate quantity and quality. Be ye talking about hoof care or feeding programs or hay quality the rule is EXACTLY THE SAME!!!

The “need” standard is the physical needs of the horse not the philosophical, moral, ethical, logical, or theological needs of the owner.

The barefoot trimmer has a very limited tool box and a very limited skill in the use of the tools that they have. When I hire worker to accomplish a task I want someone who will correctly identify the problem, propose practical solutions, competently carry out the solution that is chosen, and charge me fairly for their work. In world of hoof care, the barefoot trimmer is lacking in much of this.

G.

^^This x 100. I don’t understand why people use “barefoot” trimmers. Some horses need shoes, so why hire someone who doesn’t know enough to put them on???

I ALWAYS pull my TBs shoes when they come off the track, for r&r or permanently. And their feet chip to nubs, and if the ground is hard they get footsore. If they get footsore, they go out in boots. But after 60 days, they have really good hard feet growing, and in another 30 days it’s a great foot to nail a shoe on. I have the same guy pull the shoes and trim them, and then put the shoes back on when they go back to the track or to a new home.

[MellisaNM]

Vet and farrier will be out. I have her in boots now. Here are some pictures from different angles. I feel really bad that I didn’t stop using this trimmer earlier in the process. These are from yesterday and I have a kind of bad picture of the sole 2 days after the trim. Excuse the fact that it is a little dirty she was sore so not wanting to pick her feet up for me to get a good picture. I will get a better picture when someone else is here to take it. This is not a cheap barefoot trimmer either she charges about 15 dollars more than most trimmers, so I thought since she was pricer she would do a better job. They told me her feet would look bad throughout the transition to barefoot. I made a huge mistake in my judgement.

[Guilherme]

@MellisaNM

Vet and farrier will be out. I have her in boots now. Here are some pictures from different angles. I feel really bad that I didn’t stop using this trimmer earlier in the process. These are from yesterday and I have a kind of bad picture of the sole 2 days after the trim. Excuse the fact that it is a little dirty she was sore so not wanting to pick her feet up for me to get a good picture. I will get a better picture when someone else is here to take it. This is not a cheap barefoot trimmer either she charges about 15 dollars more than most trimmers, so I thought since she was pricer she would do a better job. They told me her feet would look bad throughout the transition to barefoot. I made a huge mistake in my judgement.

You made a mistake. You called it. You’re working on fixing it. Good on you for viewing the horse in front as the issue. Consider this a learning experience. Keep on learning!

G.

[skydy]

@MellisaNM

Vet and farrier will be out. I have her in boots now. Here are some pictures from different angles. I feel really bad that I didn’t stop using this trimmer earlier in the process. These are from yesterday and I have a kind of bad picture of the sole 2 days after the trim. Excuse the fact that it is a little dirty she was sore so not wanting to pick her feet up for me to get a good picture. I will get a better picture when someone else is here to take it. This is not a cheap barefoot trimmer either she charges about 15 dollars more than most trimmers, so I thought since she was pricer she would do a better job. They told me her feet would look bad throughout the transition to barefoot. I made a huge mistake in my judgement.

Don’t beat yourself up over it. Ask your vet for a farrier name and proceed with the task of getting her better.

[skydy]

@Postandrails

I’m not in any way suggesting this trimmer did a good job - far from it. That’s why I said it was strange that the left front looked to be a better shape now (I still think it is as it was pretty flared in the shod pic and has improved in shape since then but the right front has really deteriorated). I agree that shape doesn’t equal soundness. If the left hoof is now sore too then I agree it too is worse off under this trimmer. Regardless, anyone who trims a hoof as short as this has no business trimming. The OP also said the horse was fine when it first came out of shoes.

Yes it’s a crap job - this horse is now in trouble.

Coronet and coronary band are often used interchangeably in Australia. I meant above the coronet/coronary band at the front and very very low on the pastern.

Not sure why I seem to have offended you.

I believe something was lost in translation, on my end. No sweat.

[MellisaNM]

I really appreciate everyones feedback and suggestions to help get her back on the right path.

[KBC]

@skydy

.
What is a "coronet band" and where is it located?

As an ex pat Brit I have exactly the same reaction when I hear coronary band!

[Bluey]

@MellisaNM

Vet and farrier will be out. I have her in boots now. Here are some pictures from different angles. I feel really bad that I didn’t stop using this trimmer earlier in the process. These are from yesterday and I have a kind of bad picture of the sole 2 days after the trim. Excuse the fact that it is a little dirty she was sore so not wanting to pick her feet up for me to get a good picture. I will get a better picture when someone else is here to take it. This is not a cheap barefoot trimmer either she charges about 15 dollars more than most trimmers, so I thought since she was pricer she would do a better job. They told me her feet would look bad throughout the transition to barefoot. I made a huge mistake in my judgement.

I would suggest letting your vet take some x-rays to see what you have in there.

Then let the vet tell you where to go next with this.

Guessing from here is just that, a guess.

Glad that you have something on her feet so she is not that sore she doesn’t want to move.
Here we get a piece of a damaged blue insulation board from the hardware store, just need a small piece and generally they give it to you and duct tape it on the bottoms.

That can last a few days on a horse that doesn’t want to move much and helps them at least be more comfortable until the vet can tell us more.

[S1969]

@Bluey

I would suggest letting your vet take some x-rays to see what you have in there.

Then let the vet tell you where to go next with this.

I’d definitely want an xray of that right front. That’s a weird looking foot. And, might as well do them both for comparison. Is the side of that hoof really indented like it looks, or is that a just an effect of the photo or illusion?

[4LeafCloverFarm]

@MellisaNM

Vet and farrier will be out. I have her in boots now. Here are some pictures from different angles. I feel really bad that I didn’t stop using this trimmer earlier in the process. These are from yesterday and I have a kind of bad picture of the sole 2 days after the trim. Excuse the fact that it is a little dirty she was sore so not wanting to pick her feet up for me to get a good picture. I will get a better picture when someone else is here to take it. This is not a cheap barefoot trimmer either she charges about 15 dollars more than most trimmers, so I thought since she was pricer she would do a better job. They told me her feet would look bad throughout the transition to barefoot. I made a huge mistake in my judgement.

As you’ve learned, more $ doesn’t always translate to better. Having horses is a constant learning process. Those, like you, who are willing to see, hear, listen, learn and educate themselves, will add to their horsemanship toolbox and become better horse people. I’ve been riding and caring for horses for almost 50 years, and my horses/ponies still teach me new things. You’re working on a solution, and that is a great thing. Many would have just muddled on…

Give yourself a break and don’t beat yourself up. Believe me when I tell you we have ALL been there at some point!

[4horses]

To get better hoof pictures, you should place the camera on the ground directly in front of each hoof and from each side.

[MsM]

Finding a good farrier/trimmer can be a frustrating adventure! I think some turned to barefoot only trimmers because some of the local farriers really did a crummy job on bare feet. They should not be done exactly as a hoof is prepared for a shoe but too many of these guys didnt know or didnt care. Another issue was that some of the boarding barn farriers were on a 6-8 week schedule and it could be really difficult to get a trim before that.

OTOH, there were some barefoot gurus who promised miracles and had unsuitable horses suffering with sore feet for far too long. One guy was a master at blaming the owner - they didnt put the right stuff on the hoof or exercise the hose exactly right, or feed correctly, etc. Could never admit that the poor horse needed shoes!

I thought my horse would be able to stay barefoot, but he developed some issues that require therapeutic shoeing. I am fortunate that my farrier is extremely skilled and has shod some famous horses, but he also had trimmed some barefoot high performance horses.

[candyappy]

The difference in the 2 front feet is upsetting. Or is it the angle of the picture?

[KBC]

@candyappy

The difference in the 2 front feet is upsetting. Or is it the angle of the picture?

The shape of that one hoof is just so odd,

[findeight]

What farrier is coming out with the vet? Not the one that thought a trim at 3 weeks was beneficial to the horse? I hope.

Anyway, her feet don’t match. You need to investigate why. Possibly it’s a club she’s always had or the result of long ago trauma. But you need x rays to check for rotation on the right and a shot of the left for comparison as well as make sure it’s not about to follow the way the right has gone.

Dont panic, these things can be managed but you need to know what needs to be managed first or you risk wasting time and money on what’s not wrong or things proven not to work on what is.

[hank]

I would be very interested in the radiographs, should you take them. What I see from your pictures is simply a hi/lo that’s been overtrimmed. I would love to see sole depth. Good on you for taking this seriously. And hopefully, the boots have given your horse some relief.