Posted by Patience F. Cady on April 23, 2004 at 19:14:35:
Hi,
I live in N. Maine where as if farrier's aren't scarce enough, there are nooo barefoot trimmers whatsoever. I've been studying this a lot the past couple months (currently have no farrier) and am for now trying to learn the "Natural Balance" trim for leaving horses barefoot. I have the Natural Balance trimming video which is the most helpful and informative resource on hoof trimming that I've yet seen,(and also learned a lot from it about how all inside the hoof capsule works to!) but still have a few questions.
1) I have no experience with trimming hooves at all . . . how easy is it to "catastrophically" damage my horses hooves with my inexperience?
2) Does anyone on this list know of anyone either in Western New Brunswick or Northern Maine that does hoof trimming with Natural Balance principles?
3) Why does the farrier say my Haflinger's front heels are too low at between 3 and 4.5 cm. (very uneven heels and they keep getting worse) and why does the farrier say without shoes, heels like that are going to cause her to get navicular?
4) With shoes, my poor Haflinger mare stumbled, tripped, "dragged" her hooves at times, and when cantering in the pasture, fell all the way to the ground. Had the shoes removed, and she is fine. However, the farrier was still insisting on shoes. . . Why would she have had such a terrible time with shoes? I definitely want to keep her barefoot. . .but am worried about the "navicular" thing. . .
5) Are trimming a yearling's hooves the same as trimming adult horse's hooves?
I'm sorry this is so long.
Thanks in advance for advice.
Patience F. Cady
http://free.hostdepartment.com/g/gucci
P.S. Anyone on this board that would be interested in attending a Gene O. Natural Balance clinic in N. Maine? Have to find 25 people to attend for the whole 3 days and about 50 for the Friday night lecture. . .