Trimming yourself?

[entreat]

I was just curious - how many people are adventurous/stong enough to trim their horses hooves themselves?

I help Cam do it about every 5 or 6 weeks, and it can be hard work with his 2.5 horses.
--> He also has a welsh mountain pony where the hind hooves have rolled back due to joint deterioration (looks like he's wearing elf shoes!), and we keep them neater for health and comfort.

[Esther.D]

In the UK it is illegal for anyone to do it who is not a qualified and registered farrier. Although I know a few people who have large numbers - studs etc - trim their own ponies on the quiet after being taught by the farrier.

[liz--y]

i didnt know you where aloud to trim your horses feet in other contries i've learnt something today

[Mehitabel]

i have on occasion neatened up the edges before a show, but never if they actually needed trimming as opposed to just tidying up - taking off a couple of mm max.

[entreat]

wow, That's really strange! so you cant even take a rasp to an untidy hoof?
Sounds like the farriers had something to do with that law!! (joke!)

[entreat]

Cam takes off a few cms if we've left them too long (like now), and all tack stores sell shoeing/farrier equipment...

[liz--y]

dont think i would be brave enough would proberly mess up my horses foot balance

[Ame]

NB: It is NOT illegal to trim your own horses hooves here in the UK.

It is however, illegal for anyone but a registered/qualified farrier to PREPARE a hoof for a SHOE or to fit SHOES etc.

Self trimming is okay. Shoeing isn't.

Basic Law Info: http://www.ibem.org.uk/pages/law.html

For info on high performance barefooters try: http://www.ibem.org.uk/

[entreat]

oh, we'd deffinately not try shoeing!! (we're adventurous, but not crazy!!)

I dont know if the boys have ever been shod. Sam I doubt it, but Cody is very well behaved when picking up his feet.

Oh! funny/cute story...
--> When we showed up the farm a couple weeks ago, we found two very scraggy horses with muddy winter coats, but Cody had managed to walk on an old plastic flower pot!! It was stuck around his hoof!

He just about lifted his leg for me before i got to him. I think he could tell we were laughing 'at' him!

[janet hakeney]

I trim my unshod horses, in fact my farrier gave me the tools to do it with. He does them once or twice a year and checks that I have the balance right. He once described my colts feet as ''like page three pins ups in Farriers Weekley'':)

[Wally]

Okay, the REAL farrier's act only covers England, N.Ireland, lowland Scotland and Wales. The highlands and Islands of Scotland are exempt from the farriers registration. It is not a UK wide thing.

I am lucky as I have had a registerable farrier teach me over the last 4 years to shoe and trim and do some fairy scary things to their feet.

Don't bother buying farriers tools from the tack shops.......if you want to do a job get the right tools. My rasps are £15 each, I paid nearly £50 just for a forging hammer, hoof nippers were £45, shoe pullers about the same and clenching tongs and fire tongs about £40 each. Cheap tools do not do a good job! My anvil alone was £500.00!!!

Every now and again she calls by and helps herself to a hoofpick from the boxes and I stand sweating as she examines shoes at random!.......I always get a "could do better" and "have seen far worse"....so that's fine by me!:D