Strasser

[~Perdita.M~]

Just been reading on the IHDG some threads about the horrors of strasser trimming. Lots of things said about it being awful, but nothing I could find to explain exactly what it is, and why its so bad. Anyone know anything about it?:)

Also, getting confused on there about special *barefoot* trimmers of other descriptions. Sham is barefoot, just took it to mean *has no shoes on :rolleyes: * but it seems to be considered an art form over there, and you need a clever, natural horsemanship motivated, barefoot farrier person to do it. Any reason why my normal farrier is not ok to trim his feet as I want to keep him barefoot ( without shoes;) ) do I need someone special to do it? Is there a special *barefoot* way of trimming that makes the feet better for being shoeless?:)

[intouch]

Strasser is a bad word in many barefoot cliques, I've done a Strasser horseowner's course and havn't managed to cripple my horses yet, but it seems some people have. All things in moderation.
Of course a farrier can trim for barefoot, sadly many will not do a decent trim, they just rub a rasp over the heels and charge you a tenner. If your farrier will prepare your horse's foot for shoeing, then not shoe him, that could well be OK.
Some "Equine Podiatrists" are let loose on the public after 15 day's training - but then, there's no law against trimming your horse's feet, only against preparing the feet for shoes.
Perhaps the best thing you can do is go on a horseowner's course - then even if you don't want to do it yourself, at least you have an idea of what should be done.

[Showjumper]

I've heard terrible things about Strasser, such as opening cuts, removing the bars, and scooping the sole - all sounds horrific!

KC La Pierre is meant to be much better, but Dolly just gets a normal trim from a normal farrier, and has only been lame due to mud fever which obviously wasn't caused by the farrier, so I'm not going to change to a "Special Barefoot Trimmer" :D

[intouch]

Some of Strasser's stuff is meant for real sad cases, like horses that have no other way of surviving, treated by a specialist, and certainly not for the average horseowner. There is so much more knowledge coming in about all aspects of horse keeping, I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater!

[Yann]

I'm not in a position to discuss the whys and wherefores of the particular methods, but any procedure which leaves a horse more sore and vulnerable after a procedure would concern me. Most of the barefoot trimming schools of thought seem to be about replicating natural hoof wear. It may be a gross oversimplification but wild horses do not go around chopping lumps of their feet off or making deep cuts into them. The apparent emphasis on the foot as some sort of circulatory pump doesn't strike me as having much scientific basis either.

Suffice it to say that if I were to have a horse go barefoot I wouldn't consider Strasser.

[virtuallyhorses]

Pop over to the Enlightened Equitation Forums - Mandeigh has just posted a link to a very good article. Hiltrud Strasser was presenting to a whole forum of other horse \ farrier folk.... makes for interesting reading.

http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/members/forums/index.php?showtopic=1391&hl=

[larri]

Safi has never been shod and I've had a variety of farriers trim her - some very good (really concerning themselves about getting the balance right and evening out her dodgy rears) other just rasped a bit of toe - took ten minutes to do all four feet...hhhmmmm!

What I want is a trim that will address her foot balance and keep her sound and in full work.

I've read all threads and have to say I'm now going for a KC rimmer as I feel far more comfortable about their methods than I do Strasser.
I'm incredibly wary of letting a Strasser trimmer loose on my already barefoot horse and her ending up lame...not a risk I'm prepared to take!

[Alibi]

I've looked in to a few barefoot trims and Strasser was the only one i couldn't find any scientific / properly researched information - it was all either my horse loves the strasser trim or the strasser trim nearly killed my horse, nothing based on multiple studies.

But there is a huge amount of "independent" research about KC La Pierre trim, some carried out by vets, which holds up alot more.

I'm wavering as to either stay with my regular farrier, who is very good, listens to what i have to say about my horses feet and how i need them to perform and doesn't just trim / rasp as if he's going to put a shoe on;

or do i get a KC trimmer (or Equine Podiatrist) in to have a look at my boys' feet.

At the minute i'm not making any decisions, i've order the KC book to have a good read of it then i may look in to it further.

Until Strasser can provide some decent independently researched info then i won't touch it.

[Bebe]

or do i get a KC trimmer (or Equine Podiatrist) in to have a look at my boys' feet.

You could always get them out to have a look & do a trim if necessary without making any committment to using them on a long-term basis. I was asked if I wanted to go on a regular client list when I had my first appt with a KC EP, it wasn't assumed and quite a few people who have been on the 5 day courses do their own trimming with the EP coming out a couple of times a year to keep an eye on things.

[Alibi]

Thats probably what i'll do Bebe but i would like to read the KC book first.

I don't have any problems as such with their feet, they are all un-shod and have never had a days lameness.

Which EP do you use? PM me if you don't want to put his / her name on here.

[Bebe]

I use Karin. Her sur-name begins with an S but I can't pronounce it never mind spell it! Last time I paid by cheque she had to show me her cheque book so I could copy it down :o

There are only 4 (I think) EP's in the UK so not hard to track her down from KC's site if you wanted to get in touch.

[larri]

Its Karin Schalkwijk......lordy only knows how to pronounce it!
She's agreed to come and have a looky at Safi for me, once I get my butt in gear and finally sort out our house selling nightmare.

[Wally]

I used to ride a Haflinger in the dim and distant before Ms Strasser had left school. He never had shoes and did 50 mile endurance rides and won many prizes......much to the disgust of the farrier in charge on the day. I had many a call of "see you at the half way halt lame" they never did.

All this little horse had was a regular grass trim, by an old dyed in the wool shoeing blacksmith!

I think there is a place for radical trimming and common sense trimming.

I was taught haow do do a... .....(cannot remember its name), when a horse shows first signs of laminitis, it is a horrible thing to have to do to any horse's foot, but it saved Shilling's life and his feet. One would not go around doing this to a healthy foot.

All I can say, is keep researching and use what suits you and your horse.

[Mehitabel]

I was taught haow do do a... .....(cannot remember its name), when a horse shows first signs of laminitis, it is a horrible thing to have to do to any horse's foot, but it saved Shilling's life and his feet. One would not go around doing this to a healthy foot.


resection?

[OlavS]

I read today that a Strasser-trimmer over here has been reported to the police by the authorities for mistreatment of animals.

Apparently she had done 3 horses at a yard, and then one of these participated at an in-hand. He was disqualified immediately, as he was so sore that he looked like he was walking on fire even on smoth tarmac.

The authorities demand that she be prohibited from ever trimming hooves again, and will possibly face imprisonment and fines.

I know one shouldn't dismiss the technique out of one case, but the fact that Strasser trimmers boast about having rubber floor should go some way to indicate that this method resembles more a surgical operation than trimming the feet...

[Wally]

That's the chap ES. resection.

I think maybe Strasser has got a point about the radical remedial trims, but to advocate a 1-3 day course to learn how to do them sounds like a money making exercise.

It's okay for her, I think she is a vet, but to let the enthusiastic public loose with hoof knives to do radical trimming on their horse who really only needs a grass trim?????? The folk who do go on the courses seem a little evangelical to me too, no offence, but they seem to advocate barefoot for everything no matter what.

I have said it before and I'll say it again, some horses can go barefoot, some canot, no matter how weird a trim you do. When they can go barefoot all they need is an ordinary balancing trim.

[intouch]

Hi Wally - just to reassure you - the three day course does NOT let you loose to do a radical trim!!! Much of the course is theory, but there is, as you know, practice on cadaver feet - some of which are horrific. It's easy to understand how 90% of horses who die under 15 it's because of neglect of the feet.
What we were taught allowed us to continue a simple basic trim on a prepared foot, and this was checked as many times as we wanted by the trainer. I did a further 3 day course and am fairly happy now keeping my horses trimmed with minimal supervision.
ALthough we were told about the more radical aspects, we were not taught how to do them.
I agree, I am evangelical, not because I think every horse should be barefoot, but because of the damage that can be done by shoes and shoeing.
As an Equine Touch practitioner I see many horses whose muscles will never be right while they are suffering pain from their feet - which was why I did the course in the first place. Roach backs, sacro-iliac problems, tight necks, many "conformation" defects, can improve without shoes - I've seen it happen.
And many owners thinking they are doing their best for the horse that has big block feet and contracted mini frogs and wonder why the horse has heel pain.
There are good farriers out there I know, but it's hard for an owner who is depending on their expertise to know whats right and wrong.
It's a minefield and we can only do what we feel is best at the time.
Rant over:)

[Megans mum]

well said wally' while I am not an advocate of Strasser' I am bare foot with my four horses and only have a blacksmith to keep his eye on how I trim' their feet are so much better since taking shoes off' I am going to do a course with KC when he comes nearer next year' not to say I will do what he says but at least I will have more idea about the structures of the foot of the horse' :o

[Bebe]

When they can go barefoot all they need is an ordinary balancing trim

I agree. Unfortunately finding a farrier in my neck of the woods that does an ordinary balancing trim (with or without shoes) on Bebe (she seems to be a problem for most farriers, don't know why as hooves are hooves and she's incredibly well behaved for them) is like finding a needle in a haystack. The KC EP I use does, IMO, an ordinary balanced trim, very well too.