It’s okay, so do mine.  And it’s a fact that you can diligently pick out all four of your horse’s hooves twice a day every day and still when I get there he will pitch a fit like he was just grabbed off the BLM truck.  That is just the way they are.  Here are some pointers and facts to make you feel a little less embarrassed when the farrier shows up and your horse isn’t on board, and also help keep that great farrier you finally found.

1.-Please don’t feed your horse while it is being serviced, it is very dangerous and the only time I have been hospitalized was over someone feeding a kid’s 4-h pet while I trimmed it.  Seems like such a small thing, but it really is a bad idea and my service (along with many others) does not allow it.

2.-Along those lines, if you know I am going to be there to shoe your horse at noon, please don’t wait till 11:45 to feed your animals.  I am usually pretty understanding of most circumstances but try to be as courteous as you can to you farrier, it is no fun getting your head danced on by a horse demanding it’s feed immediately.

3.-If your horse is prone to kicking, biting, or whatever potential hazard it may present (maybe it just has bad gas?) please let your horseshoer know.  I for one am not going to drop a polite client because they showed me such a kindness. And you never know, maybe I can help you absolve the bad habit.  Except if it’s gas, your on your own.

4.-No Shows are the number one way to lose a quality farrier, mostly because we are so busy we take it as personal abuse!  Now, I always understand if a bus full of nuns bursts into flames on the freeway blocking traffic for hours, it has happened to me before…  but try to call and let us know what is going on if you can.  Come to think of it I know a few farriers who could stand that advice as well.

5.-Dogs, Kids, balloons, explosions, and various chaos…not safe for them or me or the horse while I am working.  Nails, knives, nippers, all items dangerous enough on their own, and pretty soon I am done.  you might be surprised how much this happens, but try to understand that not only is it not safe for the kids to play with my things, but also I can’t give your horse my best while all that chaos ensues.

6.-Word to the wise, if you want your vet to shoe your horse, call your vet.  I can’t tell you how infuriating it is to show up and have to get to 30 year old diatribe on how things “where done back in the day!”  Information so old and outdated it should be painted on a cave wall, or some twit wanting “the newest, latest thing” they saw done on their Hawaiian vets retreat, regardless of how it applies to your horse.  I don’t treat colic, cancer, or anything else above the carpal/tarsal joint, lameness is what I do and I guarantee you will get a better result if you let me do my job, and not the vet.

7.-I show up with at least most of my clothes on and a rasp in hand and ready to work, please have your horse ready for me to service when I get there and not be in your bathrobe still cooking breakfast.  Unless of course it’s french toast and I can have some…

8.-Please remember to pay your farrier, I will only make payment arrangements before we service not after, so if you need it pushed off a week please tell me up front.  Otherwise I get in trouble with the bean counter that owns my soul.

9.-Don’t go six months between services and expect not to pay at least some extra, If I have to trim your horse twice in the same service, you have gone too long between trips.  Blame your shoer and insist on an on schedule appointment.

10.-Don’t expect you farrier to train your horse to stand for service, I can work with a lot of horses, even nervous and shy ones, but if 15 minutes of my best tricks aren’t enough, don’t expect me to work that horse for hours and not get paid or the privilege.  By the same way, a farrier who deals with that situation by beating the horse repeatedly or tying it up and knocking it over, probably not a great experience for your horse to associate his trim with.