06/12/2019
Time is Money
When I was getting started in the Farrier business as a teenager, I struggled with efficiency while shoeing horses, along with the myriad of other issues that plague a young, green Farrier. I remember asking my Dad, who I grew up working with, "How can I get faster?" I still remember his reply clear as can be like it was yesterday - "Ask me that question again after 10 year."
While his answer didn't help directly, the wisdom behind it did.
There's tough logic with what I'm about to help y'all with. On one hand, I tell young/green Farriers to slow down and focus on the job you need to do - but as skills improve, we need to find a way to maximize our time and there comes a time when we need to hustle and get through our work load. The old adage 'time is money' comes into play, especially when a new Farrier (or even an experienced one) starts to get overwhelmed with more than they can handle.
We only have a certain number of hammer blows, squeezes of the nippers, and bend-overs before we are wore out. The average life-span of a Farrier isn't as long as one might think.
Here are some tips to hopefully help maximize your efficiency, and allow you to get through a horse a little faster (if you'd like)..
Truck Positioning - the fewer steps you have to/from the horse, the better. These steps add up over the years, and you can't get them back. Park as close as possible to your work area, but not so close as to be a hazard should the horse blow up, or noise from the grinder/forge be an issue. You'll be surprised how much time this will save you if you pay attention to it. Also, think about the set-up of your truck/trailer to minimize steps around it.
Organization - It's difficult for a disorganized person to be efficient. It takes time to rummage through the bed of a pickup looking for the mismatched set of 00 Standards you knew were in there yesterday. Everything needs to have its place and be in its place to the best of your ability. You don't need to have OCD tendencies, but trust me, it helps.
Tool Quality - often a young Farrier has a budget, or has to use hand-me-downs to get started (I did)... But if you have the option, buy the best tools you can, and care for them as if they were surgical instruments. They will make a living for you, so do your best to take care of them. Avoid too many tools in your box - cutting down those extra pounds you carry around day in/day out will help. Use what's necessary, but also be prepared for what you're working on. I pack a little heavy, both in my tool box, and my truck - I'd rather have it and not need it, then need it and not have it. Keep your knives sharp, and don't waste time pushing a dull rasp!
Minimize Trips to the Anvil - this will happen with time. As your train your hand-eye coordination, you'll become more efficient shaping shoes, but always keep a mental picture of the foot in your head - envision it, and make every hammer blow count. Practice shaping as accurately as possible with the least amount of hammer blows required. It helps to measure feet and measure shoes at the Anvil to acquire your eye, or to even double-check it on tough to fit horses. Hot Shoeing vs Cold is a completely different subject (for a different time), just do what's best for you.
Stop to think ~ But Trust your Gut - Shoeing horses isn't complicated, trust your gut. Take time to think things through on a challenging situation, but also trust your gut. When all else fails, think back to basics. Your trim sets up the whole process. Don't be afraid to ask.
Know Your Inventory - invest in quality shoes, and invest in a variety. It takes a hefty investment to keep your truck well-stocked, but having a variety of shoes makes the process faster and easier. Often you'll find that one brand of shoes is a half size different than another and can offer a great fit. Sometimes even a hind shaped to a front or vice versa can make for a great fit - there's no shame in it. Know where these shoes are located so you can literally find them in the dark.
Think Ahead - You know that when you're done nailing up that you'll need to finish.. So when you make the trip to the horse after shaping your last shoes, bring your foot-stand with you. If shaping hot, start the forge on a cold day and let it pre-heat. Start your next pair of shoes on fire while you're trimming feet. Make a habit of reaching for the next tool in your box in a smooth, fluid motion. There's no hurry, but it'll help things flow, and your horses will stand better.
Foot Prep - anything you can do to soften hard feet makes your trim so much easier and precise. Invest in a propane torch, and use it on summer-time hard feet. Dress flares each time you shoe, keep clients on a schedule and you'll rarely need to dress flares again. After your trim, sight your feet, double-check with a guage to acquire your eye and move on. I've watched lots of people over the years stare down a foot like a high-noon gun fight and keep whittling on it till it's sore or starts bleeding. Again, trust your gut and move on.
Stay off your Phone - How many of us get caught up on the phone in the middle of a horse? I'm guilty of it quite often. It's OK to do when nobody is around and you're coasting through the day, but when you step back and all all that time up, you'll be surprised how much time Facebook or Instagram ate up - enough time to shoe another horse.
Be Safe - wear glasses at the grinder or Anvil. It's hard to make up time when you're digging crap out of your eyes. Cuts, dings, burns happen, patch 'em up and keep going. Don't accept horses that will make things unsafe. It's OK to say no and move on to the next one. Again, we have a short enough life expectancy as it is.
Buy a Broom - not only does it show extra professionalism cleaning up after yourself, it'll make your life much easier not fighting through your own mess as you work.
Stop and Eat - you don't need to bury yourself under horses all day every day. I'm just trying to help you maximize your time and promote efficiency. Take some time to eat and stay hydrated. It'll help you throughout the day.
Do the best job you can! I'm not trying to promote that anyone get in a hurry. The efficiency I personally strive for is sometimes thought of as me being in a hurry. Horse owners don't want to be hanging onto the lead rope any longer than they have to - especially when the temperatures are extreme.
Work yourself into a day or two off - it's easy to get buried in horses when you're starting out. Scheduling is too personal of an issue to offer advice on it, but don't kill yourself. I've known many new Farriers who've gotten overwhelmed and burnt out quickly because they didn't manage their time wisely. When they got tired and sore, they got hurt. I hate to see anyone get hurt, and I hate when someone loves the business, but has to get out of it because they went too hard, too fast. Be efficient, but find a pace that's comfortable. Just implementing a few things I've mentioned above will easily gain you 5-10 minutes per horse. Think about how quickly that time adds up throughout the course of a day/month/year or even your career.
In closing, this isn't a race, just like with life, there's not special prizes to those who get done the fastest. It's not a timed event, but it helps to work hard, smart and efficiently.
Be safe out there!
