Hoof trimmer
Hoof care is a profession . The hoof trimmer works the hooves of unshod horses and ensures that the horse's musculoskeletal system is kept healthy for as long as possible, taking into account the natural physiological functions of the hoof.
The treatment (hoof care) includes the activities on the hoof that serve to correct the position, shorten the excess horn substance and balance the hoof. These activities are carried out with the help of the tools. In addition, hoof carers adapt the strap-on (temporary) hoof protection suitable for the respective horse in the form of hoof shoes or adhesive shoes.
In contrast to the farrier , who has to complete several years of training in German-speaking countries, the farrier is not a recognized training occupation in Germany and Austria . Anyone can work as a hoof trimmer, and various institutional part-time courses are offered for training purposes. The content and duration of these courses are not regulated anywhere and differ depending on the provider, whereby successful participation cannot be equated with a proper training qualification. In Switzerland, in 2017, the Animal Welfare Act regulated training as subject-specific, non-professional training. After completing the same, hoof carers are only allowed to work there with a cantonal permit.
The term hoof care provider is an umbrella term for various training-related terms for the same profession. These terms include hoof trimmers , hoof orthopedists , hoof healers and hoof podiatrists.
The tools of the farrier are no different from those of the farrier, except for the blacksmith equipment. These include hoof knives , hoof rasp , hoof buck , hoof angle knife and sharpening steel . Body protection in the form of a leather apron, which is intended to protect against injuries, or shoes with steel caps, which are intended to protect against injuries to the foot, are also needed by most hoof trimmers.
history
Barefoot trimming has a long history. The first guidelines and principles for barefooted animals in recent times were published by a veterinarian from Tübingen in the 1980s . Later, newer processing methods and the first hoof care schools were added. It became clear how disagreed the authors of the various directions and methods were.
While some had found it good to shorten the heels and the sole so that the frog had contact with the ground and the carrying surface increased, others tried to fundamentally correct every position by rubbing the hoof walls from the outside. New terms arose which were named after the type of processing: opening the heels, swinging walls, hoof dynamics, mustang roll.
Different anatomical requirements of the horses and different posture and usage conditions have been taken into account over time. Even against the resistance of traditional farriers, the demand for hoof care without shoeing increased. The steadily increasing range of different hoof boots also contributed to this.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Barhuf: A Brief History. In: huf.ch GmbH. Retrieved February 15, 2018 .