Preston Farrier Services

12/07/2024

👇🏼👌🏻

29/06/2024

04/06/2024

👇🏼

Which toe length do we talk about? What — there is more than one? No doubt we all discuss toe length, but exactly what toe length do we mean? Most people will comment that feet are too long simply by looking at the dorsal aspect of the hoof.

19/12/2023

Please rest assured that i am not going away on holiday,just like any other December that i also have not gone away on holiday or taken leave.
Only days i will take is Christmas day,and New Year's day.
I am at work every day and will get to everyone in due time.

Have a blessed Christmas.
Thank you

20/01/2023

Story time

As always,dont have a before photo....
Many years ago way before i started my own farrier business we worked on this horse,he's about 27 years old now i was told.
So back then he had tendon problems in both back legs and the heels couldn't touch the ground anymore.

Years go past and a client where he is retired now contacts me to please take over her horses..

I've been doing him now for less than a year and this is the result,heels on the ground and no more pain.

It's unfortunate a horse must go through its whole life only to get proper treatment at almost the end of its life.

07/09/2022

From telling the client i cant fix this,to a happy and sound horse on the way to full recovery.
Toe was worn right through, heels couldn't touch the ground.
No hoof to work with,no fancy expensive pads and glues and what not,just propper trimming and understanding.
I wish i had more photos,better photos.
This horse couldn't walk,she was standing day in and day out in a little closed off shelter,now shes running and bucking in the paddock giving me sleepless nights because what if a shoe comes off!

09/07/2022

Meet Ronaldo, one of my very first clients in George.
He's way into his 20s this year.
I've been doing his feet for 10 years this year.
From long,narrow,low heel feet due to too small size 1 shoes and bad trimming,he's back to a perfect size 3 hoof.
Because of bad trimming and shoeing in the earlier years of his life he has developed some ringbone,but is happy,sound and even barefoot today.

Don't wait until the later years in a horse's life to start giving them proper treatment, start early on.
Much better to prevent than to fix or try fix later on.

And stick to what works,dont follow the masses(the M is always silent) 😉

15/06/2022

IT’S NOT HIM, IT’S YOU

Why your farrier won’t return your phone calls and what he really wants to tell you but never will

** Written by the wife of senior farrier **

I see it ALL the time, people posting on social media, looking for a new farrier because the last one has “disappeared.” I quietly think to myself, “And you wonder why you got ghosted.” Here is a list of ISO farrier ad faux pas that will definitely keep him from responding to your ad or calling you back:

🤦‍♀️ Looking for a reasonably priced farrier:

A good farrier ain’t cheap and a cheap farrier ain’t good. If you mention anything about price or reasonability, etc. you’re off his list. Maybe not for a young kid that’s starving, but even if he does get your business now, he’ll quickly figure out what a bad idea shoeing one for cheap is and you’ll fall to the bottom of his priority list for someone who’s willing to pay what he’s worth.

🤦‍♀️ I need a patient farrier, Trigger is sensitive and scared of men:

Your farrier’s job isn’t to train your wild brumby. He spends his days bent over, holding up 1000 lb. animals. His body hurts, and the last thing he has time for is to put up with your spoiled donkey. Please work with your horse to pick up all 4 feet and stand quietly before scheduling an appointment.

🤦‍♀️ I need someone ASAP:

Dude, a good farrier is booked weeks in advance, has a schedule of good clients and works his schedule around the locations he’s traveling to…not to mention he’s most likely a family man and has to juggle his kids’ activities as well. So, trimming Trigger tomorrow morning may not be at the top of his priority list, and you might to have to be OK with that.

🤦‍♀️ I need a corrective shoer:

One of the things my husband told me when we first started dating was, “I don’t believe in corrective shoeing, I believe in shoeing correctly.” All horses are different and need to be shod accordingly. A good farrier has enough education to handle all situations and should have veterinary recommendations for the works he’s done.

🤦‍♀️ I keep Trigger on a 12 week schedule:

A farrier is not a magician. A good one can keep your horse sound with REGULAR shoeing. Calling him when feet are grossly overgrown, or you FINALLY lose a shoe is not acceptable. This causes lameness issues and creates so many other unnecessary problems. Keep him on a regular 5-6 week schedule, for the love of God! I tell my husband all the time that he should keep his clients on a schedule and call them when they’re due, but I can’t teach an old dog new tricks. You might find that rare unicorn that does that, but it’s unlikely. Best to just put a reminder to call him in a few weeks to schedule on your calendar.

A few more pieces of advice that seem like no brainers, but you’d be surprised what people don’t understand:

👍 Don’t make him hunt you down for payment. Have cash or card waiting when he shows up.

👍 Put your damn dogs away. The last thing he needs is Trigger kicking at Fido as he’s trying to steal a piece of freshly cut frog out from under him.

👍 Make sure he has a place to work in the shade, free of obstacles and dangerous objects for Trigger to get hung up on.

👍 Things come up and schedules change, but please don’t make that a regular thing. He has a schedule to keep and your last-minute cancelation really messes up his day.

👍 Don’t give Trigger a bath or mud his legs right before your appointment. There’s nothing worse than shoeing a wet/muddy/liniment-soaked horse.

👍 It’s OK to ask questions and have convos about your farrier’s plan, but you’ve hired him because he is a professional and you trust him. You wouldn’t tell your mechanic how to fix your car would you? If you don’t trust his ability, find someone you do trust!

👍 A little appreciation goes a long way. Most guys don’t get a lot of credit for the work they do but they are one of the most important people your horse knows. A simple ‘thanks for all you do to keep Trigger happy’ means more than you know.

👍 Last but not least, as interesting as it is to you and me, he doesn’t give one single care to how Trigger is bred, what he ate last night, or his favorite color. I know, doesn’t make sense to me either, but he doesn’t and nothing you can say or do will change that.

19/01/2022

Good day all.
Hope you all have a great 2022.
From February 2022 there wil be a price increase on services.
Thank you
PFS