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I agree with Kevin!
The thing about her feet being left "too long" is that they could have been too long for her, as in Frida. Lacey, for instance, starts tripping and hitting herself with her hooves if they are even a centimeter too long. Her feet grow so slowly that she's on an 8 week schedule and the farrier only rasps her feet each time, no actual trimming. Last time, she was left 10 weeks and she was tripping REALLY badly and the farrier only took off about a centimeter of growth, if that. Also, different farriers trim at different lengths. I take lessons every once in a while at a western pleasure show barn and their farrier leaves the horses hooves SO long. It's basically like all the horses are standing on platform shoes, and that's just the way the farrier trims them. There isn't a set "perfect length" that all farriers trim the hooves to. They each have their own opinions about these things.
My farrier is a "barefoot trimmer." I don't think she calls herself a specialist, but she may. She's a certified farrier who changed over to barefoot. I noticed a HUGE difference between the "normal" farrier and barefoot. The normal farrier would just trim Lacey's hooves but the barefoot farrier trims for how Lacey is built and how she moves. She strives to improve Lacey's movement and her comfort level through the trimming, unlike the normal farrier who used to do Lacey. Lacey is moving better than she ever has and she's not tripping nearly as much! Haha
If you aren't sure how your current farrier is doing, I''d suggest taking pictures of Frida's hooves and posting them. I did that with Lacey when I first got this barefoor lady because I didn't have the knowledge to tell whether she was good or bad. There are some extremely knowledgeable people on this board that can really show you each and everything going on with your horse's hooves, through just some pictures. If you do that, take centered side pictures of the hooves and sole views. I think I'd do that first, just to make sure, especially if this other farrier is a lot more expensive.
Here's the page I used to find my barefoot trimmer (I sent it to the northeast section for you): The Horse's Hoof: Professional Trimmers List
I just emailed a bunch of them asking prices and telling them a little about Lacey and the ones that responded, I asked for references and then I went from there. So maybe there's a trimmer near you that's just as good only maybe a little cheaper. I know I only pay $30, with a $5 trip fee, but I'm sure things are more expensive over on the east coast.
The thing about her feet being left "too long" is that they could have been too long for her, as in Frida. Lacey, for instance, starts tripping and hitting herself with her hooves if they are even a centimeter too long. Her feet grow so slowly that she's on an 8 week schedule and the farrier only rasps her feet each time, no actual trimming. Last time, she was left 10 weeks and she was tripping REALLY badly and the farrier only took off about a centimeter of growth, if that. Also, different farriers trim at different lengths. I take lessons every once in a while at a western pleasure show barn and their farrier leaves the horses hooves SO long. It's basically like all the horses are standing on platform shoes, and that's just the way the farrier trims them. There isn't a set "perfect length" that all farriers trim the hooves to. They each have their own opinions about these things.
My farrier is a "barefoot trimmer." I don't think she calls herself a specialist, but she may. She's a certified farrier who changed over to barefoot. I noticed a HUGE difference between the "normal" farrier and barefoot. The normal farrier would just trim Lacey's hooves but the barefoot farrier trims for how Lacey is built and how she moves. She strives to improve Lacey's movement and her comfort level through the trimming, unlike the normal farrier who used to do Lacey. Lacey is moving better than she ever has and she's not tripping nearly as much! Haha
If you aren't sure how your current farrier is doing, I''d suggest taking pictures of Frida's hooves and posting them. I did that with Lacey when I first got this barefoor lady because I didn't have the knowledge to tell whether she was good or bad. There are some extremely knowledgeable people on this board that can really show you each and everything going on with your horse's hooves, through just some pictures. If you do that, take centered side pictures of the hooves and sole views. I think I'd do that first, just to make sure, especially if this other farrier is a lot more expensive.
Here's the page I used to find my barefoot trimmer (I sent it to the northeast section for you): The Horse's Hoof: Professional Trimmers List
I just emailed a bunch of them asking prices and telling them a little about Lacey and the ones that responded, I asked for references and then I went from there. So maybe there's a trimmer near you that's just as good only maybe a little cheaper. I know I only pay $30, with a $5 trip fee, but I'm sure things are more expensive over on the east coast.
