question for mini owners

[tammy]

How do you trim a mini's feet, who does it? I know probably a dumb question.

[WickedNag]

Our first mini but we have the farrier come out just like for the big horses.

[Cait]

A farrier can do it, but as I recall they can't just trim a mini like they would a regular horse. Mini's are more up on their toes than a regular horse is so they have to trim them a certain way. But most farriers know this.

Good luck!

[horselady]

I have had minis for 15 years and have had up to 85 at one time, and I never had one "up on their toes". not sure what that means. A farrier trims like a regular horse. if they are not just standing around in a small area and are allowed to run around they would not need a trim every 8 weeks. Mine get done about 3 times a year and that depends on if they really need it,

[livinthedream]

"up on their toes"..not mine...

My farrier comes out for big boys, all minis do not get done at the same time, as they all grow differently , Pebbles hooves were a mess, when she got here today , she is perfect, but he does not do her as often as others. A good farrier will know how to trim a mini...

[tammy]

Thanks, because I was thinking about adding some in the spring. I have mini ducks and chickens, so I guess that is a good enough excuse for one (or two) of the little teddy bears.

[farmergal]

I trim my own. Having had a farrier for the bigger horses and me watching taught me a lot and I'm still learning. My sister just asked me to trim her mini mare's feet. Boy are they bad. With all the rain this summer her mares hooves didn't get worn down on the lush pasture like my minis who have a rocky pasture. I trim my horses twice a year on average where my sister really needs to do it every 2 months. My tools are a hoof pick, hoof knife, nippers and a file. And for the stubborn horse a lead rope and a helping hand. I'll warn you it's back breaking work.

[granny2u]

I have been using a regular farrier for my minis and pony. I started on an 8 week schedule but found during the summer they slow down a bit (or wear them more). I know some people who try to keep them trim by filing on a regular basis themselves between farrier visits.

[kaykay]

Kyle and I trim our own (Kyle also trims other farms now) but spent months with a farrier showing us how.

You have to really understand hoof angles and conformation or you can do some damage. Especially to young horses.

Young horses (weanlings) usually need to be trimmed every 4 weeks especially if they are on grain as they grow faster. Same thing for show horses on grain. Kinda like when we take vitamins and our nails grow faster

Mature horses are usually every 8 weeks. They do slow down during winter.

Kyle took on a new farm that I helped with as these poor minis were a mess. They used a farrier but he never trimmed the hoof wall or frogs. All he did was nip them and file them. It took Kyle about 3 months to correct them. If you have a farrier that takes like 5 mins to trim then they are not doing it right.

[Range]

My farrier does mine and boy was I glad to have a farrier experienced with all horses when my mini foal was born. She had some serious leg and foot problems and he made the cutest little corrective shoes for her! I still have one.

But yeah, about every 8 weeks the farrier does my kiddos' feet.