Consumer Protection

Red Flags

The following therefore, are red flags in our opinion when considering the employment of a "barefoot trimmer”.

1.0 Limited training and education.

2.0 Infrequent trimming (interval greater than five to ten days) with pathologic conditions such as navicular, founder, laminitis.

3.0 Attempting to trim pathologic conditions such as those listed above without the benefit of a rubber rehabilitation surface.

4.0 Poor documentation, failure to obtain initial x rays by veterinarian before first trim, failure to obtain standardized comparable photographs of horses hooves on a monthly basis.

5.0 Inability to provide objective documentation of previous successful treatment episodes.

6.0 Encouraging the client to "trim their own pathologic horses".

7.0 Providing unrealistic expectations by proclaiming that "their trim" can fix anything from hoof problems to general equine health issues.