07/13/2023
It’s National Farriers Week! Farriers work hard year-round to provide quality hoof care for your horses and play a key role in your horse’s soundness and performance. Horse’s feet are vital to their overall health. We encourage you to show your gratitude not only this week but year-round to the professional who helps keep your horse upright and sound!
Show appreciation for your farrier throughout the year by following these simple steps!
1. Provide a safe location for working on your horse. Ideally this means a clean, well-lit, level work area for handling needs. Uneven ground can also impact the ability to be accurate on balanced trims.
2. Have horses caught and ready to go prior to your farrier’s arrival. Allow yourself time to remove any blankets, fly boots, etc. and have them properly groomed/cleaned so your farrier isn’t waiting on you.
3. Have your payment ready the day of your horse’s appointment. And go ahead and schedule the next appointment before your farrier leaves. This is not only courteous of their time but also helps keep your horse’s feet maintained on a consistent schedule which can prevent hoof and performance issues from arising!
4. As the owner, it is your responsibility to make sure your horse has good manners when having their feet handled. Oftentimes, it’s best to hold your horse for your farrier’s safety. If you are not available, always have someone available to keep nervous or ill-behaved horses calm during the appointment.
5. Take the time and make the effort to say “thanks” for a job well done! Even simple offers such as a cold beverage on a hot day makes a difference.
Always remember a good farrier is an important part of your horse’s team. Building a solid relationship with your farrier can help set your horse up for success!