At 19:57:16 on 03.11.09, horse tails wrote:
Hi does, anyone use an E.P (Equine Podiatrist) for there bare foot horse. Ive just recentley gone bare foot and personaly can not belive the difference in my horse already, after years of foot probs and throwing shoes.

At 13:01:30 on 04.11.09, Flicka wrote:
Yes I use a DAEP and am really pleased with her. I didn't really have any problems with my mares feet before and she has transitioned very easily-lucky me!! She's only had one trim-the next is due sat-and we did over an hours roadwork on monday over half of which was in trot!! And for a 3/4 TB that's not bad is it. She's also moving much better and I don't have that awful jarring feeling that used to come up from the ground when she was in shoes. My other mare is getting her first trim on sat too so am really looking forward to seeing the difference that makes as her feet do need a bit more work and time.

At 21:47:54 on 04.11.09, sophieandcallum wrote:
I'm guessing this is a barefoot trimmer? I have had a bad experiences with a few trimmer up here so stick to my farrier and haven't had a problem and he does a fab job! 2 barefoot trimmers I tried made my pony lame! Not footy but really lame and my farrier sorted his feet and he has been sound ever since! But see if you can find any recommendations from other people in your area and see if there are good reports. Otherwise stick with a farrier.

At 07:51:11 on 05.11.09, Flicka wrote:
Yes if you have got a farrier who does a really good trim and your horses are going well then stick to them. Finding a trimmer is like finding a farrier-you would get one that has been recommended to you-sometimes this isn't so easy though as there aren't so many barefoot horses around. Really you should have reported the trimmer who made your pony lame to the association that they are registered with-did you do that? You owe it to other horses who he/she may trim and to other trimmers out there doing a really good job.

At 21:13:38 on 05.11.09, Gimme A Dream wrote:
I trim my own barefoot hooves. With my Hanoverian, it is necessary to trim often but only a little at a time or he will show symptoms of lameness. My Canadian gets done only a couple of times a year, her hooves are so slow growing. I do my filly every 6 weeks.
http://allthingshorse.wordpress.com

At 14:45:28 on 06.11.09, sophieandcallum wrote:
Flicka - I was recommended that both trimmers that people hae 6 or 7 of their horses done with said trimmer with no problems aparently but to be honest they are not worked horses so not sure! I did report them and they said he will probably just be ajusting to being barefoot. The trimmer also said my pony has had laminitic phases(!!!), he had some event lines(about 2!) from moving homes to me so a change in feed! He has never been laminitic! I have lost all faith in them, also 2 ponies at my college (retired shetlands) were trimmed by the same trimmer and they were both very very very footy and clearly in pain, swapped to a farrier and they are happy to trot around the place no problems! Wouldn't touch them with a barge pole anymore...

At 20:35:19 on 14.11.09, plodalong wrote:
hello my boy has been barefoot for three years,it was an informed choice to keep him barefoot. i have a very good farrier who offers good advice on Bo"S footcare. i feed him equilife for feet and use the solutions for feet as a hoof disinfectant, we dont have any problems. Bo is also ridden in a natural hackamore but when we go on the road he is now back in his bit and bridle.

At 11:42:48 on 25.11.09, plodalong wrote:
Bo doesnt want a bit and he tells me so by fussing with his mouth headshaking and leaning heavily .he doesnt do these thing when wearing the natural hackamore so i have now just bought a dr cooks bitless bridle I didnt ralise before we used the hackamore just how much i was causing him to be distressed, when i asked for advice from others with more experience than i, the same answer kept coming to me,strap his mouth shut with a flash.I tried it once and bo became so upset that it had to come off,I cant apologise enough to my horse for the mistakes i have made at the expense of his discomfort or pain.we are back in the hackamore until the dr cooks arrives.

At 21:37:03 on 25.11.09, horse tails wrote:
hi plodalong. Dont beat yourself up for going back to the bit. Sometimes its only through learning and listening to our horses can we hopfully understand there real needs. Am So glad your going to carry on with no metal in the mouth journey :) I hope you and your horse have many miles and years of happy ridng this way :) .Let me know how you get on with your Dr Cooks Bridle. :) Am sure your horse will forgive your errors as mine did for me , we can only keep on learning xxxx

At 15:44:09 on 26.11.09, plodalong wrote:
thanks for the support horsetails.