Heath Lash Horseshoeing

09/14/2024

08/28/2024

Some customers just get it! This one definitely understands the assignment. Thank you Connie I appreciate it.

07/10/2024

Here are a few reasons why it’s important you should find your horse's lost shoes -

✅ Prevent injury
- nails & clips can puncture hooves & skin, which can lead to abscesses, cuts or even worse

✅ Finding how the shoes are being lost can help prevent future shoe loss
- always at the end of big skid marks? Ensure your horse is settled whilst turned out or perhaps limit the size of their field
- always by the fence? Consider which type of fencing you have. If changing the fencing isn’t an option, cordon off the problem area
- always near your horse's favourite scratching spot? Consider having them checked for mites or sweet itch and treat accordingly
- Is your horse particularly bothered or sensitive to flies at this time of year? This can cause them to be unsettled - ensuring adequate fly spray is applied and using a well fitted fly rug can help to easy their frustration.

✅ Save money & time
- replacement shoe appointments are often harder to fit into farriers' busy schedules
- paying for a new shoe plus call out is more expensive!

✅Regular shoe loss can sometimes indicate underlying issues
- stiffness or pain can be a cause of shoe loss. Make sure you seek veterinary advice to detect any underlying issues early
- don't forget correctly fitted over reach boots!

01/09/2024

Just a few gentle reminders:

HORSES need to be inside, clean, dry and ready to be worked on. PLEASE do not drag them inside from the rain and slop as we're pulling in the drive. This will result in rescheduling / possibly being fired. And NO, not reschuled tomorrow or next week, we're way to busy for that. Mud/wet is slippery for ourselves and the horses. We don't want to get hurt and we dont want to hurt your horse. Yes, we use razor sharp tools... It only takes one slip.

HORSES that don't stand need a vet present, sedation administered by the owner, ridden, worked, lounged, etc, before we arrive. We'll require whatever it takes to go home to our families each night, just the same as you all would like to get home safe as well. This isn't negotiable. Bad horses don't get worked on.

DOGS are to be tied or put away before we arrive. Not out to jump on our truck or ourselves. Not out to be dog fighting over "treats" under a horse. We promise, we're not taking those clippings with us. We're leaving it all for the dogs. We're just trying to not get kicked again or killed in the process. Failure to do so, may result as mentioned above.

PAYMENT is due when service is rendered. This isn't new and isn't changing. We accept cash, good checks and credit card w/applicable fees. We're not the bank and have bills to run a business and families.

CLIENTS HAULING IN, please be prompt. Watch the weather and traffic. Unload in the designated area, not in the middle of the stone driveway. Do not bring your dog to our shop. Pick up after yourself. If your horse digs a hole, fill it in. Poops 400x, pick it up. Leaves their hay all over, pick it up.

This isn't a post to single anyone out, just some general things needing addressed at this time.

For those of you that follow this already, THANK YOU, we appreciate you all very much. For those of you that struggle in one of these categories, let's work to improve. We appreciate and Thank you as well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone. Let's make it another great year at Heath Lash Horseshoeing.

12/03/2023

11/03/2023

09/24/2023

Not a joke...

Have you ever wondered why you can have a 15 acre field and part of it is chewed down to nubs and the other part has grass a hand high, But your horse is constantly grazing in the chewed down part?

Grass 6 inches and taller has less sugars than grass under 6 inches.

For every inch drop below 6 inches, the fructan (sugar) content rises.

Grass under 6 inches is stressed like it's a Monday morning with a project deadline. It uses sugar to repair itself.

Stop mowing your fields short.

Stop grazing your chubbys on chewed down grass. (this is why grazing muzzles are so touted...they keep the horse from being able to get much short grass)

(We aren't saying let your fields be 3 feet tall, by the way. The optimal thing to do is keep them 6-8 inches tall and graze them in small areas there)

07/24/2023

Thank you all

The list is endless but thank you 🤎

07/10/2023

Happy Farrier's Week to all my farrier friends.

05/08/2023

Oh the place you can go..... From the bottom of a horse's foot.

05/02/2023

Sweet video put together by Chase Weaver. Thank you

04/18/2023

Thank you to Stueben County Bit and Bridle 4-H club for giving us the opportunity to teach our youth about proper foot care.

04/07/2023

Hope to see you all at the "Big Money Show" in a few weeks

03/30/2023

Every horse owner should read this.

Once, a client remarked how good their horse was standing for me because she had bit and kicked the last farrier. I was on the third hoof.

Once, a client told me their horse had "gone through a few farriers." Another farrier told me later that horse kicked their tools halfway down the barn aisle.

Once, I finished trimming and the owner said "wow, I didn't want to tell you this until we were done, but he kicks."

Once, I had a horse kick out while I was working on their front feet. Owner was upset I wouldn't trim the hinds. I told them to go pick up a hind and show me how they do it. They got kicked in the process.

Once, or twice, or ten times, I asked a potential client upfront if their horse stood well for the farrier, scheduled a first appointment, and then found out that is a lie.

These are the stories that flash through my head when people complain about farrier prices or difficulty in finding farriers.

Our job entails a lot of work - administrative work, continuing education, hoofcare, communication, our own inner work to remain present and soft in the presence of horses....

I place my safety in the hands of other people to a certain degree every time someone holds a horse for me. The horse(s) and owner are a package deal. If you don't have your farrier's safety and best interest at heart, you should understand what really goes into this career.

It is never, ever worth it to work in conditions that give you a bad feeling. I have made mistakes and nearly gotten seriously injured a few times when I ignored my gut instinct and kept on going.

If your horse is struggling to stand safely for your hoofcare provider, ask them for suggestions. Have the vet out. Hire a trainer. Handle their feet regularly yourself. Offer pain meds or sedation for appts if needed.

Farriers need to work smarter, not harder, for our work to be sustainable and we can only do that if the client is interested in being a part of the team.

~Corrie

03/16/2023

I want to take a moment to clear the air.......

NO, I am NOT quitting from shoeing horses.

NO, I am NOT retiring.

NO, I have NOT been recently injured.

YES, I still offer a multi-farrier practice to continue your horse's hoof care needs.

I think that's about it for now. Lol

03/14/2023

Here's some good information that all horse owners & farriers should know.

🚨Horses get themselves in the worst predicaments. If you find your horse with a nail or forgein body in its foot. Here's what to do⤵️

🛑 DO NOT pull it out

📲 Call your veterinarian immediately

🐴 Keep your horse calm and limit movement

☢️ Radiographs taken with the nail in place are helpful to determine the path of the nail, and if the nail entered the bone or any synovial structures such as the coffin joint, navicular bursa, or digital tendon sheath. If any of these structures have been penetrated, surgical treatment and aggressive medical therapy may be necessary to treat infection, and prevent potential severe and life-threatening lameness that can result in founder of the opposite foot or even necessitate euthanasia

Thank you American Association of Equine Practioners for the info and picture

02/08/2023

Good Luck to our customers and friends running at the America Qualifer Regional the next few days. Kick Butt

01/24/2023

Finishing up to head to the International Hoofcare Summit!

12/25/2022

We'd like to wish a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our Family, Friends and Customers!!