[mftx4]

It was homemade spigetti and homemade garlic bread last night, Missy.
Since none of us are there to look at Hope's feet or see how she travels, I think you need to go with the recommendations of the experts. My thoughts: If it's only a short distance, less than a quarter mile, that she travels on gravel, it wouldn't deture me from keeping the bare feet. If she doesn't have an opportunity to travel rough ground, her feet won't get toughend up. If she doesn't have enough frog left to work like a 'shock asborber' or resses to the bottom of the foot, she'll be ouchy.
We can all tell you what we think, but in the end, your dicission is the only one that counts.

[IIIBarsV]

I stick by my first post. If he can't trim, I certainly wouldn't want him slapping shoes on anyways.

[Lopinslow]

Originally Posted by IIIBarsV

I stick by my first post. If he can't trim, I certainly wouldn't want him slapping shoes on anyways.

I definately agree!! we have a guy that does a Boarder's horses and trims one of my broodmares. while it work is "okay", I do not use him for my riding horses.Once when Bob pulled a shoe (the navicular gelding) I couldn't get a hold of my CJF farrier and was headed to a show the next day. even with the shoe just needing to be leveled back out, i was STILL very leary to have the other guy just tack the shoe back on.. and that was with the shoe being fit by my journeyman farrier!

[CrazyHorse]

Thank you all so much for your help. It's almost impossible to find a farrier around here who will call you back and show up when they say they will. I can't let her feet go & get worse than they are while I shop around because there's a good chance it will take awhile. This guy is the only one I've found who's dependable timewise *sigh*

[CrazyHorse]

Originally Posted by mftx4

It was homemade spigetti and homemade garlic bread last night, Missy.
Since none of us are there to look at Hope's feet or see how she travels, I think you need to go with the recommendations of the experts. My thoughts: If it's only a short distance, less than a quarter mile, that she travels on gravel, it wouldn't deture me from keeping the bare feet. If she doesn't have an opportunity to travel rough ground, her feet won't get toughend up. If she doesn't have enough frog left to work like a 'shock asborber' or resses to the bottom of the foot, she'll be ouchy.
We can all tell you what we think, but in the end, your dicission is the only one that counts.

Actually the distance she would have to travel on gravel is less than 1/4 mile. There's a boarder who had the shoes pulled on his Walker and she was tender footed on rocks for awhile, but he has been riding her several times a week over gravel and she's no longer gimpy on rocks. Her feet have really toughened up and now she glides over gravel like it's soft dirt lol!

[mftx4]

If your not comfortable with this guys barefoot trim, and feel that Hope would be better with shoes, put them on. If she's doing better, take your time, shop around, get some refererrences on other trimmers near you. Do some reading, pro's and con's. If you take good care of Hope, I'm sure she'll be very happy to take care of you.
Catfish tonight!

[IndraAmber]

I didn't read the posts, but I would not be getting that farrier to be shoeing my horse. If his trimming is like that, what makes you think because there's shoes on your horses feet that all of a sudden all the imbalances etc would correct themselves? If you use the same trimmer/farrier most likely you'll have the badly balanced hooves but with shoes on, wont solve much.

[CrazyHorse]

Originally Posted by mftx4

If your not comfortable with this guys barefoot trim, and feel that Hope would be better with shoes, put them on. If she's doing better, take your time, shop around, get some refererrences on other trimmers near you. Do some reading, pro's and con's. If you take good care of Hope, I'm sure she'll be very happy to take care of you.
Catfish tonight!

Fried or baked? Poor Hope. She is such a sweetie. I want to do right by her so much

Originally Posted by IndraAmber

I didn't read the posts, but I would not be getting that farrier to be shoeing my horse. If his trimming is like that, what makes you think because there's shoes on your horses feet that all of a sudden all the imbalances etc would correct themselves? If you use the same trimmer/farrier most likely you'll have the badly balanced hooves but with shoes on, wont solve much.

*sigh* I agree. I actually found a few farriers on a website who are local to me. I think I will be giving them a call. Hopefully one of them can help me *sigh* again

http://www.ms-equine.com/services/farriers.htm

[CrazyHorse]

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[CrazyHorse]

Do you guys think some of her problems may have to do with the fact that she was padded for biglick shows for two years? It's been six years since she wore stacks. I've only had her for a year so that was way before I ever knew her.