Did you ever wonder why wild horses may not seem to need farriers, yet our domestic partners do? In the wild, horses have grasslands, creeks and rocky areas which all lend it self to natural trimming of the horses hoof. This combined with the fact that the wild horses are constantly on the move, and do not have the added weight of a rider, are the basic reasons why hoof care is not as needed. Enter the domesticated horse who needs continued hoof care. Like humans, improper shoes or achy feet can make you irritable and unable to walk properly. It is the same with domesticated horses; improper hoof care can lead to lameness issues or injury and could impair your horse's performance. The key is not to wait until your horse has a problem, but be proactive and give the hoof care they need. So how do you choose the best one for you? Should you have more than one?

Basic Hoof Care 101:

• Generally the farrier and the vet should work in tandem to provide the horse with the best care.
• The horse should see a farrier every 6-8 weeks, unless an emergency happens in the interim.
• It may not be necessary to shoe a horse, if the hoof is strong and sturdy. One way to tell is by the amount of bruising or chips your horses hooves may have; too many might indicate that your horse needs shoes.
• Make sure the farrier looks at all angles of the foot. Having you walk the horse enables the farrier see how the horse touches the ground; for example are they walking on their heels? Or tiptoes?
• What a horse owner should do on a daily or frequent basis: pick the horses hooves to remove debris, manure and rocks, and check for thrush, chips, cracks, etc. Once you identify what is normal for your horses hoof, it will be easier to spot any problems areas and call your farrier.

Where to Find Farriers?

Word of Mouth: Talk to your vet, other horse owners or your local feed store, they may be able to recommend at least two or three to chose from.

Directories: Find your local directory, like Horse & PetServicesGuide or the phonebook and look up the farrier section to see who is listed.

Associations: Contact the local farrier association in your area and get some numbers.

Questions to Ask - Call the Referrals - Making the Decision:

Referral Questions: If you have word of mouth referrals, always ask what they like and don't like about each particular farrier. Ask if they know if the farriers work well with the horses and owners, are they approachable? Ask if they are reliable and if they have heard of any problems.

Talking to the Farrier: Once you have your list, contact each farrier and ask them how long they have been in business, what their background is, if they have a specialty, where they were educated and if they can provide referrals. You also want to know their price and availability. Ask some what if questions, like what if my horse foundered, could you be out same day? What if it snowed, do you still work if there is an indoor barn? Where are you driving from?

Evaluating the Prospective Farrier Work: Once you have some of the basic information from the farrier, you may want to see some of his/her work - can you come evaluate one of their appointments?

Making Your Decision: Narrow down your farrier prospects based on the answers to your questions. At some point your instinct will come into play. Choose the farrier who not only has the best experience and knowledge, but can relate to you and make you feel comfortable. You are establishing a relationship with this person, so you wanted to be as easy as it can be.

Rule of Thumb: is to never pick based on price and/or availability. Price is not always a good indicator; a more expensive farrier may not always be the best, check their skill set. If the farrier does a poor job because of their lack of experience then your horse suffers and it could take weeks or months for your horse to heal.

Back Ups: Keep the "runner" up list for your emergency list. If there is ever a problem contacting your farrier or if they don't work out, then you have your back up!

Whether you are looking for other options, a new horse owner or new to the area, we hope that we helped in your search to find the right farrier for you!

If you would like any other information or would like to receive the latest copy of the Horse & PetServicesGuide, that features Farriers and other services, please call Cheryle Wise at Horse & PetServicesGuide (303) 278-1981.