Posted by Anne Daimler on September 16, 2003 at 06:11:04:
In Reply to: Re: Who's in it for the money? posted by Phil Armitage on September 15, 2003 at 21:57:28:
: : : : : I usually stay out of these tussles, but I just can't
: : : : : resist this one:
: : : : : : ...It takes me around an hour to trim a horse, and much of that time is spent on my knees checking balance.
: : : : : That sentence, in and of itself, guarantees that no one
: : : : : who understand the process of farriery will take you, or
: : : : : anyone else who says it takes them that long to trim a
: : : : : horse, seriously. (The only exception may be a horse that
: : : : : hasn't been trimmed for a few years, and has "elf feet,"
: : : : : which would require a lot of time for the initial trim
: : : : : to cut off all the excess hoof wall.)
: : : : : Any horse with hooves in relatively decent condition
: : : : : should take longer than 15 or 20 minutes to trim. If the
: : : : : farrier/trimmer really wanted to stretch it out with some
: : : : : chit-chat and other time consuming hoo-ha, perhaps 30
: : : : : minutes. The fact that horse owners will actually put up
: : : : : with someone taking an hour to do a 20 minute job is a very
: : : : : poor reflection on the level of horse owner education in
: : : : : regards to proper hoof care. Rick is right. Barnum would
: : : : : be very proud of practitioners providing 60 minute trims.
: : : : : Baron
: : : :
: : : : Baron,
: : : : I was going to make a coment about being able to do seven horses an hour instead of a whole day, but thought that a bit bragartly and insenitive. Thanks for covering for me.
: : : : Bill
: : :
: : : Baron and Bill:
: : : And I see this is proving my point, that the typical farrier barefoot trim is nothing more than a clip job.
: : : Anne
: : :
: : No Anne, is has to do with 7000 horses plus in my eleven years, which is a drop in the bucket to some of the others here.
: : Bill
: Anne alot of the horses in Maine go barefoot in the winter if they are not going to be used. Some of them can't handle it so they need shoes with borrium and pads. It does not take an hour to trim a foot even if you spend time analyzing conformation, sole thickness and balance in between each nip and rasp, took a smoke and coffee break between each foot. I don't know if you realise this, but there are people that are very skilled and talented that can do many things fast and real good. You will get faster as time goes on but for now you keep on taking your time until you figure it out. You are very lucky that there are people out there who do not know the difference and are willing to let you practice. If you would like to really learn the trade and become legitament you can ride with me any time I am alway willing to teach and discuss things with anyone and learn from anyone. The offer is open until I give up the trade and don't have a truck anymore. Strasser can even ride with me if she wants, I love company and like to talk. I can't tell you how many barefoot horses I have put shoes on and the owner had no idea that they could move so well once they were shod front and hind for protection, support and traction. If you were to apply you logic 100% then why are you even trimming them, there not trimmed in the wild and you yourself said the trim only works if they are placed in there natural enviroment, so again if they are in there natural enviroment and your trimming them, then something is wrong with Strassers logic. Come on Anne you seem like a nice person that wants to do the right thing, why are you so convinced that your doing the right thing?
: Phil
Again, Phil, you are comparing apples with oranges. If I were to do the trim every farrier I have ever seen does, it would only take me 15 minutes. It is precisely because what we do is different that it takes longer and we charge more for it (although there is one farrier not too far from me who charges more than I do for his pasture trim and leaves horses in a lot of pain from too much hoof).
Horses with incorrect hoof form and/or damage in the hooves, or sound horses who live on soft ground and have not been conditioned to rocks, will not be sound and will require hoof protection to be used on rocks. For those owners who are willing to go the extra mile, the Strasser Method is available.
I will be in Maine the first week in October. Where are you located? If you are not too far away, I will be more than happy to meet with you and see your idea of a barefoot trim. I can then explain to you what I would do differently and why.
Anne