| Farriers and trimmers may need to modify their approach to trimming a laminitic horse, and consider the horse's comfort. The farrier trimming this pony wanted her to walk across bare cobblestones and stand on tarmac to be trimmed - she has next to no sole protecting the tip of her pedal bone, the outline of the bone can be clearly seen. He was persuaded to trim her on her deep sawdust bed - he was able to carry out a good realigning trim and she was comfortable throughout. | 
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The last two laminitic horses I have seen trimmed have both had a farrier refuse to let them put their foot down, despite both being in obvious pain from active laminitis. Farriers and trimmers must recognise the difference between a horse that is in pain and a horse that is being difficult (although they should ask why that horse is being difficult). Horses with laminitis naturally "paddle" - they often cannot stand for long on three feet, or excessively weight bear on an affected foot. Working with the horse, allowing frequent rest breaks, asking her (or him) to pick up her foot when she has sorted out how to bear her weight on the other 3 feet, allowing her to put her foot down when she says she has to and providing cushioning or padding under the weight bearing feet will usually get the job done as quickly if not quicker than fighting with the horse, with far less stress for all concerned, and less risk of injury.
The approach to the trim should be considered too - if the horse is uncomfortable, the minimum should be done - the toe shortened and heel lowered to ensure the hoof is perfectly aligned with the pedal bone, and the walls bevelled to reduce weight bearing and therefore separating forces - it doesn't have to be pretty, just functional. Both farriers I've watched recently have spent time removing uninfected frog that was needed for weight bearing, and vital sole protection in front of the frog - why? And then "prettied" the feet off - it's not about making the feet look pretty for the owner, it's about making the horse comfortable, realigning the hoof to the pedal bone, and returning him or her to soundness as soon as possible.
The approach to the trim should be considered too - if the horse is uncomfortable, the minimum should be done - the toe shortened and heel lowered to ensure the hoof is perfectly aligned with the pedal bone, and the walls bevelled to reduce weight bearing and therefore separating forces - it doesn't have to be pretty, just functional. Both farriers I've watched recently have spent time removing uninfected frog that was needed for weight bearing, and vital sole protection in front of the frog - why? And then "prettied" the feet off - it's not about making the feet look pretty for the owner, it's about making the horse comfortable, realigning the hoof to the pedal bone, and returning him or her to soundness as soon as possible.
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