Looking for a farrier in Colorado

[Petalstorm]

Hello,
I am interested in finding a farrier that will help me to transition my horses to going barefoot. I have a TB mare that just had a foal that has been barefoot for about a year with a "pasture" trim. Are there farriers that specailize in "natural" hoof care, ie. no shoes? I want my horses to be able to be worked and jumped on different types of terrain without shoes. Is this possible?
Thanks,
Dannielle

[Rick Burten]

[quote=Petalstorm]Hello,
>I am interested in finding a farrier that will help me to transition my horses to going barefoot.

Any competent farrier should be able to provide a proper trim that allows the horse to , under the right circ*mstances, be barefoot. Afterall, farriers are the only true fullcare hoofcare providers.


>I have a TB mare that just had a foal that has been barefoot for about a year with a "pasture" trim.

It seems that the term "pasture trim" has attached to farriers. Correctly done, a pasture trim is or should be no different than any other form of hoofcare that seeks to optimize the situation in which the horse finds itself, and over which, the horse generally has no input.

>Are there farriers that specailize in "natural" hoof care, ie. no shoes?

Like I said, any competent farrier should be able to provide this form of hoofcare. That said, you must also understand that it is not truely 'natural' anymore for every horse to be or become barefoot. Some, particularly those of the BUA, will argue the oposite, but it is demonstrable that their position is , ultimately, untenable. The minute that man intervened in the equid domain/lifestyle, "natural" went out the window.

Do not let the too ballyhooed term "natural" that has of recent years attached to many follies perpetrated on the horse, fool you when you go in search of an individual or individuals to provide healthcare(including hoofcare) services for your horse(s). Now more than ever, it will be up to you to make informed and intelligent choices for the horses under your stewardship.

>I want my horses to be able to be worked and jumped on different types of terrain without shoes. Is this possible?

It has been observed that "all things under the sun are possible".....Which is not to be confused with probable or practical. Your horse may do very well barefoot, but you must not fall into the mindset that that is the only condition that is correct for her. Depending on several factors, you may or may not be able to attain the goal you have set.

Rick

[calshoer]

Totally agree with Rick. A good common sense trim is a good common sense trim. Even a natural balance trim is just a good common sense trim. However there are some so called "natural' trims that are not natural at all. (Bergy for example).
Have your farrier trim her leaving some extra deal sole for protection and not getting the wall down too far either,(a 'pasture' trim) and then just exercise her plenty. She willl take care of herself, "dialing in the trim by natural wear to her own natural wear pattern and comfort.

>I want my horses to be able to be worked and jumped on different types of terrain without shoes. Is this possible?

Maybe, maybe not. It depends on the quality of their feet AND where you are in Colorado. Falcon/Peyton which is all sandy is one thing, but Westcliffe, Aspen or Durango totally another.
I do a stout mustang who can not go barefoot in Durango in the summer but he sure could if he was in Falcon. Sharp Rocks. Sandy loam . Big difference.
Patty

[Jeanie Connors]

A "good" trim will actually remove all the dead flaky sole to allow the live sole to thicken, and the hoof walls will be trimmed very close if not fully flush with the level of that live sole.

Check out www.aanhcp.org and click on the "Locate a Practitioner" button. There *are* those who choose not to shoe and are dedicated to the ongoing process of creating healthy bare hooves using the horse's own inherent abilities to grow a new hoof in response to its environment.

[Wannabeee]

Ive found many horses, TB included ,that go barefoot and adapt to it very well for pasture time( only thier own body weight), but adding a rider and tack and riding regular can greatly change the horses abilitiy to go barefoot.