Pedestal*Pony
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Hoof BarsAre the bars of the hoof supposed to be taken down level with the hoof and the heel too? A blacksmith I met said that the bar of the hoof does nothing but catch dirt and stuff and cause trouble. So he takes them completely level with the sole of the hoof.
Can anyone comment on this? I have been recommended to use this ferrier but I dont want him to mess up my horses feet. 
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appellativo
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Pete Ramey recommends to take them passive to the hoof wall but slightly above the sole.
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Nashama
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They assist in weight bearing. They also assist in bruising, there are plenty of barefoot horses getting around lame because of people not touching them. We used to have a huge problem with it. Every horse in the paddock was lame. Glen takes them back level or slightly above the sole plane, something David Farmilo taught him, and the problem was resolved.
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calatar
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As with everything...it depends. (environment, nutrition, genetics, etc)
I used to take mine down to slightly above sole plane. Have stopped trimming them entirely for last few months and my horses are more comfortable. If their comfort decreases then I will trim lightly and see how that effects their comfort level.
To be perfectly honest *most* farriers and barefoot practitioners are clueless on the function of the bars. And even the ones that have studied it don't understand a whole lot about them. IMO nature wouldn't put them there if they do "nothing but catch dirt and stuff and cause trouble". 
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Nashama
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It often depends on the ground the horses are on. Here we have heavy, compacting red clays so leaving the sole bars is rarely an option. On softer ground or more abrasive ground we don't need to touch the bars much as they wear naturally.
One of our brood mares is on loan as a companion horse in granite tor country and mostly all she needs is a rasp and light tidy up and balance of her bad leg each month as running over the rocks self trims her. She foundered the first year she was there on the valley country so my niece followed my advice and put the horses into the "poor" paddocks and their hooves improved out of sight. Meanwhile, back home on the heavy clays, we still trim the hooves all round every single month.
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Hertha
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I was taught to trim the bars starting at sole level at the front and carving it up in a gradual slope toward the heel. It makes sense to me, as that shape follows the movement of the foot.
Agree that it depends a lot on the type of surface and amount of movement and the moisture.
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xenophon
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One of my horses gets sore if you pay too much attention to the bars and the bar extentions that extend to the frog apex. I have learned to address them, but only just a little bit.
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Pedestal*Pony
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Do the bars matter as much if the horse has shoes on? I appreciate all your advice.
I am learning about the hoof and there is so much that I still dont know. 
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Nashama
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Yes, my understanding from Glen's training with David is they matter more unshod, cause more lameness, but they should still be properly maintained within the shod hoof.
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