Vets asked for views on barefoot trimming
Recent years have seen an expansion in the number of individuals offering a growing breadth of equine healthcare services.
Vets are being asked to give their views on equine barefoot trimming in a new survey by Defra. The consultation forms part of a review of minor procedures that can be carried out by non-vets.
The Government has launched an online survey to learn about vets' views on work that is being done on unshod horses by farriers and those commonly known as "equine barefoot trimmers".
Findings from the survey will form part of the evidence base for the Review of the Minor Procedures Regime (RMPR) project.
Recent years have seen an expansion in the number of individuals offering a growing breadth of equine healthcare services. With no system to ensure a high standard of care, these services performed by non-vets have been a rising cause of concern.
RMPR is a long-term project set up by Defra to examine the best ways to govern these services, to protect the health and welfare of UK horses without burdening the horse owner or practitioner with unnecessary red tape.
To complete the survey visit: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/veterinary-services/7b0a44b5/consultation/intro/view
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
