What is the difference between barefoot trimming and a trim that the farrier does?

Farriers and horse owners have been trimming horse's hooves since the horse was first domesticated. However if you are to believe the rhetoric published by some barefoot trimmers you would think that it is a recent advent. While it is true that farriers trim the hoof with the aim of fitting a shoe this is not always the case. Most professional farrier's have a client base made up of about a quarter to a third of owners who only want their horse trimmed. Regardless of who trims your horse the most important objective is to end up with a sound balanced hoof. Lameness or soreness should always be regarded as unacceptable and the farrier should be questioned about this outcome immediately. Generally the horse that presents as sound before the trim will remain sound after the trim if the job is done correctly. Occasionally trimming may expose or reveal an abscess that was not causing the horse any problems before the excess hoof was removed. However the owner should be informed and the abscess should be treated right away. Treatment includes draining, poulticing and protecting the hoof with a shoe and pad, boot or bandage until healed.

Related Topics:
How often should my horse be trimmed?
Is there a transition period from shoeing to bare footing a horse?
Isn't barefoot trimming more natural and therefore better for my horse?