11/10/2023
Howdy all, a post here regarding policies, safety and procedures. This is a general post covering a few issues I've encountered over the last year or so. I first want to say to my regular clients how unbelievably thankful I am for you, and your horses. I love what I do, I love helping horses, and this is not directed towards anyone. Many of you know I have no qualms about bringing up an issue I see and I appreciate all of you taking my recommendations directions and experience to heart. I understand horse care and hoof care is a process for some people and horses and I am happy to be a part of that process and to help horses recover from being stuck in a bad situation, auction, or illness, old age, etc.
I understand there are a lot of unscrupulous people in this trade, or people that see this as a hobby and won't schedule and the horses go weeks and weeks overdue. Or God forbid someone gets hurt and is out of commission for weeks or months. This is not for those folks to read so just ignore this completely.
Things I need to address for incoming clients:
Safety is important. Not just for me but for you. I've worked on a lot of older crippled horses, horses with sketchy backgrounds, horses who were mistreated abused and neglected. I will absolutely help train a horse how to stand properly and give you instructions for how to continue between trimming and shoeing. I will absolutely be patient with your elderly horses, or horses with injuries. If you the owner cannot easily pick up feet, I need to know that BEFORE I arrive. In some cases I will recommend Dormosedan, to be mildly sedated to help the animal relax during the trimming or shoeing process, and that is on YOU the owner to acquire via a vet. If a horse cannot pick up their feet with mild sedation, or is striking, rearing, biting, kicking and nothing can be accomplished I will NOT fight with a dangerous animal. I. Will. Not. If we need to fully sedate an animal via vet so a proper trim can be done, so you the owner can establish a good training routine I am absolutely ok with that. It always seems to be a story about how so and so came from hours away, drugged the animal and worked on it just fine. If that's the case they would have continued to do said animal instead of refusing to return your calls. If your animal is dangerous I will discuss this at length with you how to rectify the situation. If you some how feel offended with my recommendations then oh well, but do not risk anyone else's safety.
Keep your facility in reasonable order and clean your animals. I will not work on animals standing up to their fetlocks or higher in f***s and urine. I'm not talking about walking through some p**p, or you know random piles that's part of the job. Horses that are forced to stand and lay down in f***s and urine are miserable, it's no different for me as a farrier to try and pick up feet on an animal that's completely miserable, with rotten feet. It's unsanitary and not appropriate for animals to be kept in that manner.
I'm not a snob about needing a big barn or shoeing area, I'm happy to work under a tree on flat ground weather permitting, in a lean to, a barn, a garage, a car port, wherever, but the working area needs to be organized so I can safely move myself and the horse around. I cannot explain my frustration showing up to work in a complete mess of a barn with stuff piled everywhere, and I've almost gotten killed now a few times to say enough is enough.
Yes, you need to be there to stand with your animals, and catch animals until we establish a rapport. I have plenty of horses I do without the owner present and that is because I know the animals well, I know I can safely retrieve them, tie them and complete my work safely.
Scheduling. I am SO empathetic to scheduling issues. I get it, things happen, weather is bad and not everyone has a decent sized barn, family, doctor trips etc. I will work with you within reason to maintain your horses on a 6 week schedule. I'm not interested in dragging out horses in trims or shoes. I don't care if the last guy did it, in this area horses really need to stay on a 6 week schedule. I have two really small kids that must be in daycare or with a sitter, I have BASICALLY no help with them, no family members to help with them and therefore I work really hard to establish a solid schedule for each week to accommodate current and new clients. I have occasionally set up a Saturday of work, when an issue came up with daycare, and I had a full day of horses lined up. I can do a Saturday to accommodate a pile of horses, it needs to be $600 minimum for me to make that happen.
Respect for Farrier work. I run into this over and over again with folks that say they can't keep a farrier around. It always tends to be the same story of horses that aren't properly cared for, facilities that are a mess, owners that have too many and expect me to basically work for free. The feet are a wreck, the horses won't pick up their feet let alone stand. The owners are totally tuned out to what's going on, and nothing changes. I know there's a lot of drunks, addicts, fly by night types and folks that treat Farriery like a hobby, and won't maintain a consistent schedule, in that case it's not the owners fault. Truthfully as an equine professional have an obligation to bring up any issues I see, wether that be with feeding, how animals are housed, fencing etc. I didn't roll out of bed one day, watch YouTube and decided to start trimming horses. I have a B.S. in Animal Science, with the Equine Certificate, I graduated from a trade school for Farrier work and spent years apprenticing. So when I show up to work, and every time there's a basic husbandry issue that's causing a problem for an animals feet, I will discuss that with an owner. If major issues with behavior and training are not addressed I will not keep those folks on as clients. If a client has an issue with anything I'm saying or doing, you need to voice your concerns so we can discuss that at the time.
