I tried to call my farrier yesterday,
but couldn't reach him. His phone is disconnected and none of my friends
know where he has gone. So I called my neighbor, and he is going to
trim my horse's feet, and he will only charge me five bucks. Anyway
that other guy wasn't so great; he was too expensive and never on time.
I think I've got a better deal this way.
One of the most common complaints among horse owners is their inability
to find a "good" farrier. They charge too much, are always late or breaking
appointments, and don't listen to you when you tell them what you want
are many of the objections to their talent or behavior. Those of us
happy with our farriers keep quiet for fear that if he gets too many
new clients we will lose him. Unfortunately not enough horse owners
really understand what constitutes a good farrier, how to find him or
how to keep him. And believe me, if you find a truly good farrier you
will want to keep him. With some careful thought and consideration every
one of us can find a farrier we can work with and will contribute to
the well-being or our horses.
Most of us have heard the old axiom, "No foot, no horse." But despite
how much biotin we supplement into the animal's feed or how religious
we are about applying the hoof dressings, if the foot is not balanced
and trimmed properly for the horse's conformation, the rest is inadequate.
This is why a knowledgeable farrier is so essential to your horse's
performance and comfort. Not enough of us, though, give this professional
his due.
The first step toward a healthy hoof and reaching this Utopia of horseshoeing
is finding the professional with whom we can work. "Professional" is
stressed for a reason; too often horse owners hire an individual who
works in this field only part-time. You are not doing yourself, your
horse, or the industry any good with this practice. Full-time farriers
have much more invested in their profession than the person who buys
a pair of nippers and a rasp and sets out after work to knock out a
few horses for extra cash. The professional farrier invests in a full
inventory of quality supplies, pursues further education in farrier
science and may be certified and belong to the assorted farrier's associations.
In almost every case he will be much more knowledgeable about his work
than the part-timer.
Finding this individual may be more difficult than calling the guy down
the road, but will pay off in many ways. To start your search check
the classified ads in the horse section of your local paper. Many farriers
advertise their business there. When you reach him have prepared a list
of questions regarding his business and expertise. Do not be shy about
asking for his history working with horses, e.g., how long, what types
of horses, and where he learned his profession. Watch for key phrases
such as, "I apprenticed under," and others that suggest a serious attitude
toward education. Those that apprentice usually work under a talented
and well-established farrier, and the potential for learning is great
in that situation. Also ask for references. The full-time farrier will
have an extensive list of clients, either individual horse owners or
barns, and should be willing to offer names for recommendations. But
be ready to ask these references some questions; don't take anyone's
word as absolute truth.
Another place to inquire is with other knowledgeable horse industry
professionals. Ask tack store owners, trainers and instructors whom
they use and why. Be sure to ask many people, though, and compare their
comments. Personality clashes are not unheard-of in the horse world,
so keep that in mind when listening to opinions. Again, be active in
your search; ask questions. Once you have some names start narrowing
the field, and make a responsible choice based on facts and solid consideration.
A third option is to talk with some local horse veterinarians. During
their day they see many horses and are well placed to observe the hoof
condition of these animals. The vets have the opportunity to evaluate
the farrier's work and often will get to know the individuals themselves.
They can usually recommend a competent individual to work on your horse.
Also, in many cases the vet will take the initiative and point their
clients toward a particular farrier, particularly if the horse needs
corrective or therapeutic work.
Hopefully you have now found a farrier that meets your and your horse's
needs. The next goal is to understand his position. Since he is (here's
that word again) a professional his schedule and price will vary from
that of the part-timer. Let's first discuss how best to get your horse
booked with an appointment.
The farrier who practices his profession full-time will have a busy
schedule; do not expect to call and receive an appointment immediately
the next day. Monitor the growth of your horse's hooves and try to call
a week or two before a trim or shoeing becomes necessary. The farrier
will appreciate this consideration since it allows him to book clients
together in a given area and prepare an organized schedule. Remember
too that he is working all day with many horses; try to be considerate
and avoid asking him to work all night too. Although their days are
rarely nine to five or Monday through Friday, as clients we should try
to book whenever possible according to a regular work day. This means
refraining from asking the farrier from coming by in late evenings or
at other times when most people are not working. If you truly have an
emergency call don't hesitate to contact your farrier, but be prepared
to pay as you would an emergency vet call.
Since you have gone to all this trouble to find a reliable professional
it is important at this point to listen to what he says. If he makes
suggestions regarding hoof care consider them carefully. As much as
you may know about horses, your farrier sees hundred's of horses, day
in and day out and has the chance to examine many more animals and conditions
than the average horse owner ever will. Along with his education this
experience is invaluable when evaluating what is best for your horse.
And do not always expect farriers to completely agree on a proposed
action. There is more than one way to approach many situations, especially
when dealing with corrective work. Trust what he suggests and give his
decision time to work; more often than not you will be pleased with
your horse's performance. Take advantage of his expertise.
So you have now found a qualified farrier and you have booked appointments
with him. You are satisfied with his work and how he handles your horse.
Now you want to keep him. This will require more on your part than previously,
but if you are interested in having the best care for your horse it
will be well worth it.
One of the easiest things you can do is be accurate when you book your
appointment. Be precise about how many horses will need work and have
a good idea of the type of work you want done. A big complaint of farriers'
is arriving at a client's barn with two horses booked and having five
waiting. This throws their schedule thoroughly off, and the rest of
the day is spent trying to catch up. The same problem arises when a
client arranges for her horse to be trimmed, yet when the farrier arrives
she decides instead to have him shod. A twenty minute job becomes a
sixty minute one.
Next you can show consideration for your farrier's schedule. We have
already covered when to request your appointments (please, some evenings
and weekends off), but that does not always guarantee the appearance
of your farrier and the scheduled time. Unfortunately the best planned
days have the tendency to go wildly out of control. Do not be surprised
when the farrier is early, late but rarely on time. And don't be upset;
those who work full-time with horses are always trying to coordinate
time remaining and "things to do." Not only does time get eaten up with
extra horses and work, but poor roads, poor directions, and poor weather
all conspire to make keeping a timetable difficult. What you should
expect, though, is some consideration in return, and warning if your
farrier is going to be late or unable to keep the appointment. If he
is consistently very late or does not show without giving you notice,
he is not acting professionally. Courtesy goes both ways and both of
you should expect it and extend it. If an appointment is canceled your
farrier should get you rescheduled as soon as possible, but take an
objective view of your horse's condition. If his hooves can afford to
wait a few days, give the farrier that extra time to fit you in.
There are a few other habits you can adopt that will go a long way toward
making your barn a pleasant stop. First, you will have well-mannered
horses that are properly trained to stand quietly while their feet are
handled. Unfortunately, not all of us own these paragons; if you don't,
let the farrier know in advance. These horses invariably take longer
to work with, and require a special frame of mind. Be sure your farrier
is experienced in working with rough animals, and then be prepared to
pay him for his time and effort. Remember, he is risking serious injury
when working with those ill-behaved horses. Second, try to have a clean
and roomy area in which to work. This means keeping all family critters-pets
and kids alike- clear of the area. Nice also is a protected place, one
that is shady in the summer, and a wind-block in winter. Finally, have
your horses clean, free from mud, manure and dirt. It is always a more
pleasant stop when you can leave without smelling too badly of thrush
or manure.
The most important factor in keeping your farrier is showing him loyalty.
If you are constantly switching farriers, never allowing one a consistent
position with your horse, you can hardly expect to head his client list.
If you only call for emergencies or to fix another farrier's work, he
will not be too anxious to fit you into his busy schedule. The same
holds true if you only use a farrier for the busy summer riding months.
He has plenty of business this time of year and welcomes yours, but
those who stay loyal and have their horses attended during the other
seven months are sure to be appreciated and be important to him. Horses
still need attending, and keeping their feet is peak condition year
round will benefit you during the riding season; both you and your farrier
will benefit.
Your horses are very important to you, and any horse owner will admit
that they are an expensive luxury. Everything concerned with them is
time- and cash-consuming, and quality care is even more so. Don't skimp
on foot care thinking that it is less important, and don't pinch pennies
by hiring part-time and unprofessional farriers. Consistent and excellent
care will allow you to spend less in the end, since maintenance is cheaper
than correction. And you will be supporting the horse industry, so that
professionals can stay full-time and give you the knowledge of their
experience and knowledge.
