11/11/2021
A farriers margin of error. 24 nails per horse ( more if 8 nails per shoe ) on a full set of shoes . 12 nails per foot on a half set if shoes . On a regular week we get at least 360 chances to make a mistake. Could be more depending on your work load. Multiply that by 52 weeks per year and that equals 18,720 chances per year to make a mistake. Mistake in this case meaning a hot nail or a quick . This is a moderate estimate because sometimes we do many more horses per week and nail on many more shoes . This doesn't even take into account the amount of trims we do each week , we are expected to take off the exact right amount of hoof on for individual feet per horse to keep the horse sound and their feet in good condition. On top of that we are often required to read radiographs , X-rays and diagnose lameness if possible, train your unruly horse to stand for the farrier because " isn't that what you guys do " . My point, the next time you criticize a farrier's work or dismiss him or her for a perceived mistake . Ask yourself, could you meet the requirements your farrier has to meet day in and day out?. I doubt it. Could you perform at the level of perfection you expect your farrier to perform on your 1200 pound horse , if you were required to perform that well on your daily desk job . Is your trainer held to the same level of perfection that you hold your farrier to ? Probably not . You see them 4 or 5 times a week , they charge you $1,500 a month for training and they are not about to blame you or themselves for any problems your horse is having other than the farrier. Lastly a large checkbook and one horse does not make you a "Horseman" or an "equine expert" . ........
To answer your questions , no I've not been fired lately , but we all get the s**t storm sooner or later . I don't know if this is educational so it may get removed . I've been in this business 26 years 16 as a farrier and 26 as a trainer , mostly youngsters . I was a riding instructor for 10 years during these years , so I have done quite a bit in the equine industry. Lots of " learning licks " . And a ton to learn still. (Lance Mcintyre)
