McLaren Farrier Services

05/15/2023

This is definitely not recommended!!

05/01/2023

So true!!

01/25/2023

Hey Equine friends hope your getting thru winter as I’ve seen most of you thru the last little bit. Just want to remind everyone that we do carry a handy tool called the Cobit(you can search it). It’s a game changer in determine the exact break over to get your horses travelling and feeling to the best of there abilities. Any questions or if you want to give it a try on your horse give us a shout and we would be happy to set you up. Also very recommend that all our on going clients give it a try early this season to get everything aligned for competition or riding season in general. A sound horse will keep the bills down and we all know we could all save a little cash now aday. Hope to hear from anyone interested soon!!

11/26/2022

Hey Everyone!! Just wanted to mention we carry a new tool to the Equine world which is a game changer in hoof health and joints and muscle health. It’s called “Cobit” which is the Center of Bslance Indicating Tool. If you have any questions or are searching to see if your equine partner is balanced correctly give us a shout and we can see if we can get you set in the right direction. If you want some info on this search Ross Smith Center of Balancing Indicating tool and it will show you videos and explanations on what this truly does. You’ll be glad you did!!

10/20/2022

09/28/2022

Here’s a little info that a lot of people don’t realize or may find this informative. Also with winter approaching we should be really researching some good effective minerals to add to the diet also as they don’t get as much from the hay we feed. A good supplement for healthy hooves is a Biotin Healthy hoof growth and health starts from the inside out and is very important to the all around health of our equine friends. Have a great fall everyone!! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions on hoof health or balance.

09/22/2022

Hear it way too much!!!

07/24/2022

07/17/2022

Hey horse friends!! I’m gonna do this a little different and instead of an educational chat or post I would like to thank a few behind the scene people that keep me going to do my job and help keep these horses as healthy as possible. First one is Mindy Rmt at Unwind Salon and Spa. I try and get a massage there a few times month and cannot thank this superstar enough for the work she puts in to keep the body a little less sore. I would recommend her to anyone in the Lloydminster area you would not be disappointed. Thanks for all you do!! Secondly a shout out to Dr Harland at Transitions Health and Wellness in Lloydminster. I try to get to her for my chiropractic work and can honestly say she is a go too. She takes the time to cover from head to toe and recommends many new stretching options that have helped me keep going. Last but not least my other half and best friend Rachel McMillan for putting up with me when I’m grumpy from the hot sore days doing what I love. It makes it much easier coming home to you for sure. Bentley definitely keeps me limber also chasing his busy self around. So yes those are my go to people behind this career that I couldn’t do this without. Thanks!!!!!!!

06/16/2022

The Farrier.

Wake up, alarm clock blaring. Push a tired body out of bed, driven by determination, discipline and being of their word.
Coffee in a cup held by a tangling of aching joints and scars.
The few moments of peace before heading off to meet an owner, to spend a day of ringing in the ears, aching feet, back screaming.

“Stand mare” you beg as the memory of a close call burns into your brain—Sharp nails, sharp tools, 1,200lb unsettled flight animals with the strength and precision to change your life with one quick blow.

Juggling appointments. Last minute cancelations. Last minute, “emergency” stops.
Ungrateful clients, Gracious clients.

Cold hands burn and stick to even colder metal tools, shoes. Heart warmed by young children with questions and a roaring forge.

Clean—Clean. Balance. Shape—shape. Check your work—check your work. Line it up—check your work—Begin to drive a nail—hate the way it’s lined up—remove it. Do it again—Perfection.

Feel a hot breath on your neck. Body tenses, shrug off a bite.

“He won’t bite you.” The owner suggests.

Eye roll, know you’d rather not risk it but hide behind a polite face. Deep breath, patience.

New client? Scoffs at prices. Demands, demands. You? Meet the demands, to meet the demands again.

Take the blame. Differing opinions. Veterinarians, trainers, other farriers... “I read online.”

Striving to do your best. No—better than your best. You? Your biggest critic.

Watch lives change. Grow with clients, grow with horses.

Days of unsettled horses. Angry horses, spoiled horses, jerk-you-around horses, hang-on-your-back horses.

Last stop of the day. Few backyard trims. Breath of fresh air.

Old horse, 33. No teeth. Arthritic joints from years of tough work, tough demands. He met the demands.

He’s tender in his movements—quietly crippled by dull aches. Stands patiently for you, you wait patiently for him. Each joint, slow moving. Slow to give the leg, slow to bend, hard to hold—he tries. A mutual understanding of aching bodies. Quietness. Docile. Peace.

A soft voice—“he will be euthanized soon.”

You hold back emotion, swallow a tear. Make a polite comment. Back to work, hide your face.

Finish your job.

Run your hand down the back, feel a deteriorated body. Say goodbye. Go home.

Wake up, alarm clock blaring...

06/10/2022

So just an update effective as of now McLaren Farrier Services will be no longer taking cheques. It will be Etransfer or Cash only!! We give plenty of time before an appointment to get that set up so no excuses will be accepted. Thanks for understanding

05/16/2022

Howdy Everybody!! Now that it seems possibly the colder weather has went away you would think we could have a conversation about mud and Thrushy feet. Well actually quite the opposite!! Here we are in May and our equine partners are struggling with DRY Hooves!!!!! It is very very important we stay on top of that as horse owners to prevent cracking splitting breaking hooves and have Lame horses everyone. Another common thing we will find if not taken care of immediately is a huge risk of abscesses. Yes Abcesses will get under that dry sole and lame them fast. A great practice is running the waterer over so they have some mud to stand in or apply your favourite hoof oil. We recommend Coconut Oil as a great method as it is gritty enough to stay on. For awhile we recommend it get applied 3/4 times a week until we get control of the dryness issue. Key Note: DO NOT apply on farrier day as it gets all over our clothes and tools lol. A huge concern we want to bring up is when us Farriers suggest putting on an oil or anything our clients seem interested and willing then do it once or 2 days before visits and think that works. Nooooo!!! Don’t do that we need to keep it up or I promise you could pay a tonne of Farrier/vet bills and wish you listened. Let’s take care of our Equine Buddies and have a safe and pain free riding season. See you all on the trail!!

05/08/2022

05/08/2022

What a race from ”Rich Strikes” at the Kentucky Derby today. Got invited yesterday due to a drop out horse and entered today and wins in the biggest underdog upset since 1913

05/01/2022

Great day at the Ross Smith Center of Balance Horse Shoeing Clinic. Totally humbling to see how his invention the COBIT works on true balance identification. Takes the guess work away. Thanks to Tonita Farrier Supply for hosting. Was good to see fellow farriers again learning and advancing a never ending skill of knowledge