It's About The Horse

hkfarms · Member Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 97 Location: Eastern WA

So, what is the difference? I had a "barefoot" trimmer out several times that I was not impressed with. Possible new farrier says they do a natural balance trim. How are they different?

Clarissa · Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:55 am Post subject:

My understanding is that a Balanced trim is about balancing the horse from the hooves up so it moves correctly so it doesn't get sore parts in it's body or feet.

Barefoot trimming is about trimming the feet more like a wild horse might wear them. Trouble is we now know that some of the Barefoot trimmers have been using slightly incorrect parameters to design what a 'proper' barefooted horse should look like.

For example the mustang roll was seen on wild horses running on a certain range. But it turns out those horses were digging for roots because it was a very dry year so their feet were wearing differetly to how they might otherwise wear.

Obviously much more observation needed to understand fully about barefooted horses which is not a bad thing.
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Kim Cassidy · Member Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 207 Location: Tucson

There shouldn't be a difference, a good balanced trim should be just that, a good balanced trim!

The names that people use to describe it usually depends on whom they've trained with.

Mustang Roll - Jamie Jackson, Pete Ramey, Paige Poss,
4 Point Trim - Ric Redden, Gene O, maybe some others
30 deg hairline - Strasser, Martha O, Cheryl Henderson and anyone else that has a strasserite background
Natural Trim - any number of people
so on and so forth.

Giving the horse what it needs, depending on use, terrain, diet, age, pathologies, environment is what makes up a good trim. Understanding bio mechanics, balance and how the whole horse effects the foot gives you guidelines in how to trim the feet. If needed a shoe is applied when you are all done.

Simple eh

NOT!