Do i have to train to be a farrier to learn how to trim horse's feet?

Question

I'm asking this as I own a few horses myself and would like to be able to do this myself. The horses I own are not ridden and do not need to be shoed, they only require trimming. I find it increasingly harder to get a farrier to do this and have the time on my hands to do it.
Has anyone got any ideas?

Answer 1

Absolutey not!

You are perfectly capable of learning to trim your horse's feet yourself. And you're capable of doing a better job of it than the farrier you'd normally hire, I'd bet. (Not to mention saving a lot of money and headaches!)

If it's within your budget, I would strongly encourage you to visit www.aanhcp.org and locate a certified barefoot trimmer near you, and have them come out and trim your horses. You can watch and learn, and they can teach you a LOT in even one session.

About 2 years ago I started trimming my own horses, and I did so under the guidance of a AANHCP certified trimmer. The trimmer at first trimmed and explained while I watched (and took lots of pictures and video to refer back to). Then as i learned more, i started trimming myself and the trimmer came behind me and showed me when I made mistakes. Nowadays, the trimmer comes out about every 4 or 5 months and just checks up on my work, and answers my questions.

Some resources to get you started- there is a LOT to learn about trimming, but it's easy if you really want to.

www.nakedhoof.net join the message board, and use all the links to learn about everything from hoof anatomy to safe feed choices for healthy feet.

A couple books to read-

"A Horse owner's Guide to Natural Hoof Care" by Jaime Jackson

"Making Natural Hoof Care Work for You" by Pete Ramey

I think both Pete Ramey and Jaime Jackson have their own websites, full of resources for hoof trimming. I think they may also sell videos about trimming from their websites.

I cannot stress enough, to educate yourself before you pick up a rasp and a hoof knife and start trimming! You can do a lot of damage if you just start hacking away and trying to make the hoof "look" right. Some of the prettiest hooves out there are also some of the unhealthiest!

You will need some basic equipment- you might try to locate your nearest farrier supply- if there isn't a store near you that sells horseshoes and farrier supplies, there are plenty of websites where you can get equipment. You will need a quality rasp (which will cost around $20 per rasp, and you will need to replace this periodically as it dulls). I like Save Edge brand and Heller Legend brand. Also a hoof pick, a hoof knife ("The Knife" is one of the best- costs more but lasts a lot longer than the cheap-o ones) and a sharpener for the knife, and a hoof stand/hoof jack (www.jeffersequine.com sells an inexpensive tripod-style one if you need to go cheap). Oh and a pair of gloves to protect your hands- even the toughest hands are easily injured by a new, sharp rasp or a misguided stroke of a hoof knife. A pair of farrier chaps are nice- but not necessary- just be sure to wear old pants you don't care if you damage if you don't have the chaps, because the rasp will eat right through any pants you're wearing!

In addition to all the equipment above, a pair of hoof nippers makes the job a lot easier- but they're expensive, a cheap pair being near $100. I waited to buy the nippers until i was comfortable trimming hooves with a rasp- the nippers make it so easy to take hoof off, and you can't put it back if you accidentally nip too much!

The folks at the Naked Hoof (www.nakedhoof.net) are an invaluable resource- you can go there and ask questions, and post pictures when you're not sure what to do. if you're serious about learning to trim for yourself, you should go there and join, and we'll all help you any way we can.

Good luck!

Answer 2

No you do not need professional training. I do recommend you get someone to show you how!

I began trimming feet when I was a kid. The only thing we ever did was take a little off the toe. Of course we had enough rock in the region that the little trimming to the toe was all that was ever necessary.

After returning to horses when we got our farm, I was shown how to shoe by a neighbor who always shod his horses. I also had a farrier (another neighbor) take a look at my horses feet to make sure I was doing it correctly.

Now I shoe and trim all our horses. I have never found it to be any real mental exercise though I always get a second opinion when I come across anything new. It is a LOT of back breaking work if the horse is not very well trained and still quite a bit if the horse is well trained.

BTW do not get too caught up in one technique over another. Choose what is right for your horse. This is the advice that the true old timers (from the time when a horse was a persons livelihood) will tell you. Of course it helps there to live in a town that did not get electricity or a paved road 'til the late 50's. Until then a bimonthly horse drawn wagon of supplies supplied the town with its goods (NO KIDDING!). So we still have quite a few of those old timers around LOL!!

Start with a rasp. Get a good one! Cheap ones dull fast!

I would get a nippers when you feel ready and have someone show you how to use them. I bought a Nordic Forge 'professional' nippers from country supply (horse.com) They are cheaper ($20) yet still have the quality for someone who is just doing their own horses. If you trim for someone else get a better pair since the edge will dull faster than those of better nippers.

Answer 3

You don't have to be trained professionally at horseshoeing school, but you need to be educated by someone who knows how to trim hooves. For instance, I trim all my own horses, and I learned from watching my dad, who trimmed all his own horses. We have never had a problem result from doing our own trimming.

I would suggest watching closely as the farrier works, next time. Ask a lot of questions, and if he's a nice patient man, ask if he will let you try it and tell you what you're doing wrong. The main gist of it is to keep the horse balanced on his feet. You don't want to trim off too much on the heels, since they naturally wear faster than the toes. You can learn from watching a professional, and then try it yourself.

This is a good idea since you'll save a lot of money. Buying your own hoof nippers and rasp will pay off very quickly. It is back-breaking work, I will tell you, and unless your horses stand very nicely for you, you may still need a farrier's help. But it's worth trying, if you're determined.

I'm sure I will be the minority, saying you can learn to do this yourself. But I would challenge anyone of the people who want to give me thumbs down to come take a look at my horse's hooves. They are in great shape, and I keep them that way. Good luck.

Answer 4

You do not need to train to be a farrier to trim your horses feet. It is legal to trim your horses feet and other peoples, as long as you don't shoe.

However, I wouldn't advise buying a rasp and getting stuck in without knowing what you are doing first. I read lots of books and enlisted the help of a qualified barefoot trimmer to get me started on the road to barefoot trimming. Go to UKNHCP (AANHCP if you live in America) and you can get more info there.

DO NOT get a normal farrier to trim up a barefoot horse. They trim the foot to fit a shoe, which means thay rasp it flat so the foot stands flat on the ground. This is not the shape a natural foot should be and will cause damage to the horses foot/legs/confirmation. Get a proper barefoot trimmer.

Answer 5

You really should. A good school will teach about the anatomy of the hoof and leg and how trimming will effect it. I think most schools offer a short (2 week) course which will teach the basics of safely and correctly trimming your own horses. You other option would be to contact a farrier you get on well with and ride with them for a few weeks for experience. They should be able to show you the "landmarks used in trims and explain many of the cause and effect issues of getting the proper angle for the conformation of the leg. It also helps if you can do it yourself very frequently you are more likely to be following the foot instead of make a big adjustment at once. Good luck learning and doing your horses.

Answer 6

As soon as they are born the farrier should have a look at the foal. Not just the feet but the whole conformation of the legs. Then if any thing can be done to help a better growth can be started straight away. If nothing needs help then the foal should have its feet trimmed at 4 weeks. Then every 4 weeks. Once they are a year can move onto 6 weeks if everything is going well.

Answer 7

you totally need to be aware of what you're doing when it comes to something even like trimming hooves. One wrong move could result in a permanently lame horse!
However I can see why you would be interested in doing it and if you could go on a farrier training course - or maybe even speak to your farrier about how you should go about it I think its a great idea! and thrifty! you'd save a fortune on needless farrier call outs!
xx

Answer 8

If you just want to know how to trim hooves, talk to a farrier and ask him and you can do a little aprrenticeing with him to learn how to trim. I dont believe you have to go to school because then you will be learning how to shoe as well, so apprentice with a farrier and that should get you on the right track.

Answer 9

You could probably learn how to do. Whether you'd want to is dependent on how many horses you have, and how they behave... farriering is a tough business. You could probably ride around with a farrier and get him to show you enough where you could do it most of the time, and get him to come in and check on your guys' feet from time to time to make sure everything is okay. Note: I'd not reccomend it for riding, breeding, anything other than a lawn ornament horses.

Answer 10

Thats a great question for sure as I have considered doing that as well.

I would definatley do my research and study it before hand just because a horses feet are a VERY VERY vital asset - you certainly wouldnt want to really mess it up and effect their conformation, cause soreness and strain. Farriers are trained professionals (some you wouldnt know it..) who have studied and know the in and outs, it definatley wouldnt hurt to go as an apprentice with a farrier or even take the course

Good Luck!

Answer 11

In the UK you are not required by law to have any training to trim your own horses feet, though I wouldn't recommend it.

You can get training to be a barefoot trimmer in the UK now, with recognised qualifications. You could even set yourself up in business because so many more people are opting to keep their horses barefoot these days. They charge a pretty penny too! My farrier charges £15 for an all round trim, yet the barefoot people charge £35!

Check out the barefoot site: http://www.barefoothorses.co.uk/