crown reduce a mature Horse chestnut?

[Treemover]

A new client of mine showed me two of his mature Horse chestnuts. Previously both trees have been braced (even though the unions look perfect, but then it was all the fashion 20 years ago?) and crown reduced.

 

One tree is in a field with nothing within striking distance, but grand children play beneath it.

 

The other tree is located adjacent to farm buildings.

 

I advised the client that he had choices,

1) do nothing

2) prune back to just above previous cuts, but with an aim to get better shape also

3) Crown reduce soley to obtain better shape.

 

I was reluctant to do anything as I feel creating new open wounds will only increase the trees chances of decline with leaf miner and bleeding canker?

 

Am I wrong, are you guys hacking away; and would it be better for the tree to do something??