mini's hoofs

[ohiobred]

why is it that alot of people will let there mini's feet go without triming for so long? it seems like every house i go to with mini's and large horses the large horses have fine feet but the mini's are neglected. i am starting to get fed up. they need trimed just as much as big horses.

[leadmare]

Farriers that do mini's feet are hard to find. Just as draft farriers.

Not an excuse, but one opinion.

[Range]

Since minis feet don't flare as much and don't appear to grow and crack like big horses, lots of people just think they don't need hoof care.

Add to that what Leadmare said.

[ToveroMom]

Mine gets done every time the biggies do.
I have no idea why someone would think that.

[Burnttimber]

I will agree it is VERY hard to find a farrier that want sto bend that far down to do Mini's. My husband had to take a farrier course just to do the Mini's - Ours get done every 8 - 10 weeks or so. But thats just us.

[leadmare]

I apologize for my short reply before

We have one small pony that just looking at her feet, they look great, never chip up or bust off, have a nice cup. She has great tough little walls. This could be mistaken for not in need of a trim.

I imagine, the only reason she was done every 6 weeks or so, is because I know the difference between dead sole and the good stuff. Since I have been sick, I taught my daughter (11) to do her pony's feet. So now, her little girl does her and she gets her feet done every 4 weeks.

(Bonus is, DD will know what to look for with her horses down the road, even if she doesn't take up Farrier work)

Not all farriers are educators. Not all farriers are diligent with scheduling. As a farrier, I believe we should put forth effort to educate owners on the basics of foot care. I don't believe in slamming anyone "New" to the art of horse ownership, but am quite firm with those that should know better. Unfortunately, farriers that don't "like" to do mini's will often ill advise owners with the notion that they don't need done as often, because of their size.

I personally liked doing the short ones. Nothing like being able to sit down on the job

IF, I were going to barns where mini's are not being done, I certainly would be all for trying to politely educate the owners.

[BarnBum]

My mini doesn't grow a foot !!! He gets trimmed every 16 weeks and still, less than 1/4" is trimmed off. There is only 2 farriers that I know of in my area that trim minis and I of which I won't let trim my dogs nails if you get my point, so the one I use charges me $45. My other farrier charges me $35 for a trim on my gelding. I guess b/c my mini is a "specialty" or is it for the extra ibuprophen for the back ache !! ....... and b/4 anyone askes, NO, I won't use the same farrier for both horses !!

[ohiobred]

like i said i aquired two new clients last week and they both had mini's as well as qh's, but the mini's hadn't been done in at least a year. and this has been happening more and more latley. i actually charge 5 dollars less for the mini's! all horses need the same treatment no matter big or small. it seems up here some guy's won't do drafts.

[taelesean]

One of the stables near me that has a bunch of minis has a "mini stocks" - it's more or less a picnic table with a restraining rail and ramps built onto it. Their farrier loves it - he sits on the benches and trims away while they lead the minis up and through.

They tell me that before they built it, getting the mini feet trimmed was difficult, but after the first time they talked thier big horse farrier into trying this, he charges less than he does for the bigs - probably cause it only takes him a few minutes a mini.

[deelights]

My minis get trimmed everytime the others do. My farrier tried something new this last time and it seemed to work just great. He used the trimmers they use on cows feet. My minis didnt seem to notice the noise and it took less time. He only charges me 15 each no matter how hard they are. Sometimes my smallest mare(27 inches and 25 yrs old) is kinda hard to do. She hates to stand on 3 legs. Hers are so short anyways so we hold her feet while he trims. Makes it so much easier on all of us.Yes its really hard to find a good farrier so even if this ones busy alot when I need him, I wont change. I have tried others and they just dont care about my little girls like he does. They just rush and get them done.

[leadmare]

Originally Posted by ohiobred

like i said i aquired two new clients last week and they both had mini's as well as qh's, but the mini's hadn't been done in at least a year. and this has been happening more and more latley. i actually charge 5 dollars less for the mini's! all horses need the same treatment no matter big or small. it seems up here some guy's won't do drafts.

Well, no, you didn't say that, but that additional information might have brought on advice on how to handle those types of situations though

Of course, you didn't seem to be asking for advice, just reasons and venting your frustrations

[ToveroMom]

I pay my farrier the same for the mini-trim is a trim.
He uses the same care and time with tiffers that he does with the big ones.
She does not wear hoof but she needs shaping.

[Appy_527]

I have an Appaloosa yearling who gets his mani/pedi every 5-6 weeks. I'm very picky about his feet. I know they could go longer, but it's not worth something happening. Plus my farrier only charges $20 and does a great job. As far as minis, I think they should get their feet done as often as big horses. Unless there's an exception, like your mini can go 16 weeks and only 1/4 inch is trimmed off like stated before. But overall, I think it's true that mini farriers are harder to find but that doesn't mean people should go without getting their feet dome!

[2manyminis]

It's already been addressed, but around where I live, you can't get a farrier who will do Minis. I finally went & took a trim course for myself & do my own minis hooves now. I had to bring my own horses to work on while I was there, but certainly worth the money I paid!

I teach riding lessons at a Boarding barn, they have a mini there that I know hasn't had his hooves done in about a year! When his owner found out that I could trim hooves, she asked if I would do her mini's & what would I charge to do it- she then told me she thought $10 was too much to trim!! Oh well...

[ohiobred]

Originally Posted by leadmare

Well, no, you didn't say that, but that additional information might have brought on advice on how to handle those types of situations though

Of course, you didn't seem to be asking for advice, just reasons and venting your frustrations

it just hurts my heart no matter how many times i see it! and then their digital flexor is so stretched that they rock for a few day's untill it tightens up. i had a mini donkey that was so bad he could barley walk and the ends of the hoofs were rotten! i would take pics, but i don't always take my camera. ijust don't think that it's proffesional. i don't any of our fellow ht's would never let that happen. i am so glad that there is you guy's too listen to me. i think my wife just doesn't want to here it all the time. i really enjoy shoeing. and i love all horses!

[pasopony]

I have minis and they get trimmed every 6 weeks like the big horses. No excuse not to take care of them just because they're small!

[LindaM]

I have my mini trimmed every 6 weeks just like my big guys. My ferrier charges the same for them all 25.00 apice for a trim. I think my mini's feet grow faster then the full size horses.