I have found a fantastic farrier!

[alwaysfallingof]

I am so excited - Max saw a new farrier today, and he was fab. He's the first farrier that I've had that did anything more than just take a cursory look at him, take his shoes off, trim a bit off and stick new ones back on:mad:

He said that in a few months time then his toes will be brought back a lot, that his heels will do something (:o can't remember what) and that he'll be a lot more balanced. (Apparently his feet were very badly balanced:eek: ) I get a real feeling that I can trust this one to know what he's doing.
It's just such a relief, because I feel as though I've gone from one bog-standard farrier to another since I've had Max, and whereas before he was happy barefoot, within a year his feet were not coping because of bad trimming, and I was advised to put front shoes on.
This is now my 5th farrier in 2 years.

And I'm almost as excited about the fact that we now have a new separate forum to post this in:D

[Scarlett 001]

Oh I just have to join in and enjoy this new section. I am happy we can ask shoeing questions and get them answered and the questions can remain focussed on shoeing. :D

Yay for you! A good farrier is such an important thing to find.

Skeeter after his setback just got a new farrier today too! And he sounded like your farrier and I happy like you! :) This farrier looked at xrays with me and talked for 1/2 hour. He even got into how the way a horse moves affects the hooves (crooked movement and what it does to hooves in the long term) and talked about balance of the hooves etc. He then applied the issues in the xrays into fixing up Skeet's hooves and told me the long-term plan. Then he spent at least 15 minutes looking at Skeeter on the lunge and assessing his movement (Skeeter had been lame going into this shoeing, as you may have read in my posts).

I am on my 3rd farrier in 1 1/2 years I think (similar track record to you). The first two were not doing a good job, so it is a relief to know Skeeter is in good hands now (the vet recommended/referred me to this new farrier)

[alwaysfallingof]

Yes, I've been reading your posts about Skeeter's feet issues, did your new farrier reckon that his lameness was due to foot imbalance and unevenness, rather than any rotation or laminitis?

It really is such a relief to have someone that I think I can trust doing his feet - I just don't know enough to be able to tell after a single shoeing whether they did a good job or not...it's only a few visits down the line that I notice changes in his foot conformation.
The farrier I saw today confirmed all the things that I had thought (toe too pointed, not enough flare removed, and not removing enough from the inside of his hinds to counteract the uneven wear caused by his hind leg conformation) and told me what he'll be aiming for in the next few visits.:)

I am very impressed that yours looked at him moving on the lunge though - I've never heard of one doing that before- think you're winning on the good farrier stakes:)

[Scarlett 001]

Yes, I've been reading your posts about Skeeter's feet issues, did your new farrier reckon that his lameness was due to foot imbalance and unevenness, rather than any rotation or laminitis?


The second vet pointed out the palmer (or P3) angle (angle between ground surface and the bottom of the coffin bone) was about zero, and his thin was sole. A zero P3 angle does not suggest laminitis and founder, but rather quite a different issue in terms of angles. I think the issue is that Skeeter has this thin sole, palmer angle issues, unbalanced trim, and the toe was too long (landing toe first). Then his soles got soft due to turnout conditions etc., and then the ground froze up really hard, which exacerbated things. The new farrier confirmed all of this, and drew angles all over Skeet's xrays to show me various things. I decided to try Natural balance shoeing - the vet had thought it would be a good approach to resolve Skeeter's issues. I hope with the remedial shoeing he can grow some better sole too.

[parsharainbow]

can you send him my way ;) I've had horrendous experiences with farriers, I'm now on my 7th (although thats been over about 3 or 4 years) my last one was brilliant but at £190 a pair of front shoes I just can't afford him anymore :(

[alwaysfallingof]

can you send him my way ;) I've had horrendous experiences with farriers, I'm now on my 7th (although thats been over about 3 or 4 years) my last one was brilliant but at £190 a pair of front shoes I just can't afford him anymore :(

:eek: :eek: £190??!:eek:
Did you have to fly him over from the continent or something?!
And I was a bit miffed when I had to pay £64 for fronts from one of my previous farriers.

[parsharainbow]

No they're remedial shoes for Navicular and Pedal Osteitis but I'm sure they shouldnt cost that much :( oh and I have to pay his petrol money as I'm out of his area :rolleyes:

I'm sure he can't be doing £190's worth of work but I stuck with him so long because he was good - I just can't afford him :o

[alwaysfallingof]

Mmmm...tis a difficult one. I do find it hard to believe that any pair of shoes should cost that much, regardless of how specialised they are.

I'm guessing you've tried asking your vet to recommend a farrier. If you've tried 7 in your area, there can't be many left!:eek:

[parsharainbow]

This time I did ask my vet to recommend - you're right :D He knows he's good and unfortunately it costs (a lot) - unfortunately he's got a bloody good reputation and he knows he can ask what he wants.

I've got a new one coming out Thurs, he's got a good reputation and was recommended by a few people so I'll see how it goes :)