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Discussion on Time between trimmings
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Member:
Quatro
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 - 6:32 pm:
Hi All, just wondering how long everyone goes between trimming feet on horses with no problems, who are not working at all during the winter. Not shoeing, just trimming?
thanks
sue
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Member:
Rjbraun
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 - 6:46 pm:
Well ,Sue a lot depends on were the horse is keep .Good beding or wet ground if the hoofs are picked every few days and so on.I would say 5 or 7 weeks on a normal horse.Bob.
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 - 7:25 pm:
Sue,
I let the feet tell me how often they need trimmed, no two horses are exactly the same. I have experienced farriers that would trim every 6-8 weeks no matter what and had sore horses. My farrier has all the horses on a 8 week schedule, four barefoot now and one is shod. He was out last week to trim two, he took one look and told me there wasn't anything for him to trim. We chatted for a bit and he said he would be back in 8 weeks. I've been happy with his shoeing, now I'm very happy that he would pass on $60 because the feet were in good shape; he will be shoeing my horses as long as he wants them!
I know a Arab stud that gets trimmed twice a year, he isn't ridden and his feet look perfect all the time. Basically when you are cleaning the feet you will see when they are getting excess horn and are needing a trim. Now, getting your farrier to work off a schedule will probably be more difficult than knowing when a trim is needed.
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
Annes
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 - 11:01 am:
My four horses are barefoot and on pasture 24/7. Their hooves all grow at a different rate but I have been able to keep them on the same trimming schedule which is 8-10 wks. One walking horse almost never needs trimming, just filing and shaping. His feet look perfect all the time. The other walking horse and TB always need some trimming. My small mare is the one whose hooves grow the fastest. I pay $80 for all four each time regardless of whether the horses need a full trimming or just a quick filing. I have been using the same farrier for years and have never experienced any soreness problems after a trim so I guess this works for us.
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Member:
Quatro
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 - 2:49 pm:
Thanks so much everyone. I usually had my horses all on a 6 week schedule, however, since levi is going to be needed work every 5 weeks, and at quite an added expense, I am trying to see how long I can put off the other boys in between trimmings. I have friends here who do them once in the winter and then again in the spring. The 2 others look pretty good, however I did notice Cody, who has very small feet, has a small crack beginning, so I will schedule the farrier. I am trying to find a new farrier here to follow up with Levi's club foot/rotation problem. The other guy is 2 hours away, in winter this is a rough ride. I have noticed that on the 6 week schedule Cody would sometimes get sore for a day or two also. I wish I had a better clue on what to look for.
thanks all
sue
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 13, 2005 - 1:51 pm:
Hi Susan-
Like the others, my shoeing/trimming schedule varies per horse and season. However, with a horse that has a club or other foot problem, I find they need to be trimmed much more often than the "normal" ones. Usually the vet and farrier will work together and set up a schedule after reviewing x-rays of the foot. Often a horse will have to be trimmed every two or three weeks when you are initially trying to correct a problem.
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Member:
Quatro
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 13, 2005 - 5:16 pm:
We have levi on a 5 week schedule right now. I was just wondering how long I could hold off on the other 2, purely for financial reasons at this point. The other two seem to be doing well, no problems! But then I thought that about Levi too! They are older horses, don't work at all during the winter, snowy ground and turn out all day, stalled at night on cushy bedding
I used to keep them all on a 6 week schedule.
It amazes me how some of my friends barely look at their horse, and never have any problems, and I spoil and dote on mine, and its always something!
thanks
sue
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Member:
Kcovell
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 15, 2005 - 5:31 am:
Hey Susan
In the summer the horses feet grow faster (or so my farrier says), but I've found that only somewhat true. I have a horse that I want shod every 5 weeks because she is nerved, but it never works out that way. My farrier has cancelled on me twice and now I'm up to 8 weeks, but all their feet look good even though alittle long. Two of my horses get shoes on the front feet and one just gets trimmed. I think alot depends on the hoof care given in between the trimmings. I use something called Hoof Shield once a week, it's similar to Tuff Stuff, but no acetone and Hoof Flex.
KC
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Member:
Redmare
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 15, 2005 - 11:13 am:
Hi Susan-
I encourage you to educate yourself so you know what a healthy foot looks like and when trimming is needed. Some chipping is normal, while cracking can be a sign of flares or other overgrowth. Every horse looks a little different, but there are some basics that remain the same. If you are strapped for cash, learn how to maintain trims yourself. If your barefoot horses get a lot of exercise, they will wear some on their own, making it easier for you. Visit this web site for hoof photos and self-help trimming info. www.ironfreehoof.com.
BTW 5 weeks is my maximum time between trims. I like to check the feet once a month and trim as needed, rather than wait 2 months and have lots of excess growth. Ever buy a new pair of shoes with a different heel angle than what you're used to, and get sore legs? Yep, same thing happens to the horses when their feet are so overgrown that you must remove a lot of tissue and dramatically change the angle in one day.
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Member:
Kcovell
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Posted on Monday, Jan 17, 2005 - 7:14 pm:
Susan
I would never attempt to trim my horses feet myself. You could ruin your horse with just one little mistake. I don't beleive self-help guides on somethings are safe. Hoof trimming and shoeing requires expierence and training. You may be able to get your farrier to give you some training while he is there.
My farrier has been doing my horses for 18 years and I have always received compliments from vets and others on how well done my horse feet are, but I would never attempt it myself. I guess it's just what would feel right for you. I do know some people whose farrier's will teach them some basics of trimming so you might ask yours if he would help you.
KC
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Member:
Quatro
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 8:51 am:
Thanks everyone, but it tires me out just to pick there feet everyday!!! lol. It was actually a "farrier" who was supposedly experienced that made the mistake on cutting levis club foot incorrectly which caused all of the problems I am dealing with now. I absolutely do not have the confidence in myself to even attempt trimming. I wish I had the confidence to know when a farrier is doing a good job or not. I am trying a new guy this friday, so all i can do is keep my fingers crossed.
Just going on referrals from friends who said he does a good job.
susan
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Member:
Redmare
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 11:03 am:
Hi Susan-
What's important is to learn what a healthy foot looks like; you don't have to trim yourself if you're not comfortable with it. Since I look at so many feet I've developed a feel for it, but you can, too. You don't have to be an expert to see if the feet are balanced; hooves from the front should resemble an overturned bucket, visibly wider on the bottom than the top. Fore feet should look the same, and hind feet should look the same; one longer than the other or lopsided is a red flag. I find that normal fore angles are 50-55 and hind angles are 55-60. This varies, but those figures are average. Way different from that, like 60 degrees in front, is a red flag.
They say that if your only tool is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail. That's unfortunately true with farriers who want to treat club feet with trimming and shoes. I find that club feet are most often caused by an injury to the shoulder, usually early in life, causing that leg to be shorter than the other. The difference might be small, but it's enough to cause the horse to not bear as much weight on that foot which becomes clubbed. In such cases I recommend an exam by a chiropractor/body work type person. My TB mare had a persistent toe crack and off & on lameness in her right front. I suspected shoulder problems, and had her treated by a chiropractor. I also maintain her trims so that toe does not get too long (if it does it splits right up the middle). Now she is sound and does not crack.
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