Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] barefoot endurance - Deanna German
Hey Maggie,
After so many years and so many hooves, does Nelson really HAVE to measure
toe length and angles, or does he do it just to double check himself? I know
that after close to 20 years of doing graphic design, I can see right angles
(or not), parallel lines (or not) and can put together complex charts
without measuring and have them come out dead accurate -- I'll drop or pull
an occasional measurement to double check myself; I can't remember the last
time I was off, but one never knows, so I continue to double check.
My farrier does much the same thing. The first few times (3 years ago) he
worked on my horse (barefoot trim then), he measured toe length and angles,
but since then he hasn't. I trust his eyes and his level of experience --
but I trust my eyes too. He watches her coming and going and looks at her
squared up and then proceeds.
Like Nelson, my farrier doesn't just snip, snip and drop the foot. It's a
true barefoot trim without all that sole paring -- not a so-called "pasture
trim". For those of you who haven't seen a Strasser trim, a significant
amount of sole is pared away. The last time I saw that much sole removed, a
farrier was trying to get at an abcess with a vet leaning over his shoulder
watching.
New horse at our place is getting the Strasser treatment. Horse has a flat
foot. So does my mare. New horse is very ouchy on gravel. I could yank my
mare's shoes (well, my farrier could because when I've done one, it's been a
lot of work) tomorrow and she wouldn't be ouchy, even ridden.
Is the new horse ouchy because that's the way he is? He's been barefoot all
6 years of his life. Or is it the Strasser trim to which he's been subjected
for the last 3 months, paring away all of that protective sole? Food for
thought.
No, I haven't read "the book". I trust my own senses. But you all make your
own decisions. This is just what I've observed first hand.
Suffice it to say that what I've seen of the Strasser trim has not impressed
me. And it comes at a premium price. It is better than no farrier care at
all, I'll say that much. Get yourself a good farrier. Period. (They can be
hard to find, but they're out there.) And commit to regular farrier care. No
criticism of Howard undertaking to do it himself -- I'd do that if I had his
level of frustration and couldn't find a good farrier.
Happy trails all!
Deanna
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