07/07/2022
Ok friends, this isnt directed at anyone specific, so dont get all ruffled up. But its extremely important and needs to be said.
First off, I, like most farriers want to do the best job possible. But that requires a few things. Ill list some of them.
*HORSES THAT STAND STILL!!!
I can do an exceptional job on a horse that will stand for the farrier. The quality of work goes down if we are just trying to survive. So either teach them, reprimand them, restrain them, or drug them. I get called to fix alot of horses but I can only do so much if they are not standing still.
FLAT DRY PLACE!!
It doesn't have to be fancy, but it has to be flat and dry. Its nearly impossible to do any quality work on wet or muddy conditions. And precision work has to be done on a flat and dry environment.
**IF YOU COMBINE A HORSE THAT DOESN'T STAND WITH MUDDY CONDITIONS, WELL, ITS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE.
SHADE, SHADE, SHADE!!
Its not safe or pleasant to stand in the direct sunlight doing farrier work. Its a very physically hard job. Again it doesn't have to be fancy, a carport, a shade tree, I dont care where, but it has to be accessible, clean, dry, flat and have plenty of room to safely work.
**IF YOU COMBINE A HORSE THAT DOESN'T STAND STILL WITH MUDDY CONDITIONS AND THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE SUN, IT PROBABLY ISNT GOING TO HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE.
FLY SPRAY!!!
Provide lots and lots of fly spray! If you dont have it and your horse thinks its dying, then the farrier cant do a good job. The farrier is doing the best they can with the situation YOU are providing. Have way more fly spray than you think you need.
**A NON STANDING HORSE IN MUDDY CONDITIONS BEING DONE IN THE SUN WITH FLYS MAKING THE NORMALLY NON STANDING HORSE WORSE LEADS TO UNSAFE AND UNDESIRABLE CONDITIONS. THIS WILL PROBABLY ONLY HAPPEN ONCE.
FANS!!
If your flat, dry, shady place happens to be in a barn that has no airflow and is like an oven, then have enough fans to make it at least tolerable and safe. I have had heat stroke, and I'm not interested in having it again in!
SAFE PLACE TO TIE, OR A QUALITY HOLDER!
It's already a dangerous job. Its not safe doing horses tied to things that they could pull around if they pull back or spook. As in round pens, etc..
PUT YOUR DOGS AWAY!!
I could tell endless stories about this. Its a safety issue for the horse, the dog and the farrier.
Lastly, if you are wanting a discount, or are not wanting to be at the price it needs to be, or you don't think that the job is worth it, or you think that you can always find someone else or whatever it might be, you need to realize you are at the bottom of the priority list. That isnt a personal thing, its a business thing.
Full price horses that stand still, being done in a dry shady place with fly spray and a fan will always take priority.
Also horses that aren't on a maintenance schedule are always at the bottom of the priority list. Nothing personal but its hard to make a regular client wait for a horse that only gets done once in awhile.
This isnt about being irritated, this is just some general basic operating procedures that should be recognized.
I appreciate every horse and client I have. And thank you for your business. But please take these things into consideration.
Dave Wells
Dave's Farrier Service
