Dear Dr. Galley,
I am an average type of middle aged team roper with a problem. I haven’t lived in this area for very long because I moved here from the Northwest. When I moved here I had a lot of trouble finding a horseshoer and now the one I have been using has gotten hurt and can no longer shoe horses. Can you please give me a hint as to how to select a horseshoer? Thanks.
Answer:
Finding a good and competent farrier can be a real problem. You didn’t mention what your location is but in this part of the world there are a lot of good horses and so there are also a lot of good farriers…the problem is finding one that does a satisfactory job and has the time to fit another client into his (or her) schedule.
One of the most important assets of a good farrier is good horsemanship. Keep in mind that you need to search for a good FARRIER and not a horseshoer. Anyone can nail a shoe on a foot but a good farrier will be capable of assessing your horse and the condition of his feet and determining the best way to shoe him for the job that he has to do.
I don’t know how long you have lived here but if you have been here long enough to meet some of the better ropers and some of the professional horse trainers in the area you might ask them for recommendations regarding a farrier. They usually know which ones are the best.
Still another excellent source for this information is your local equine veterinarian. They will usually know all of the better farriers as well as the ones to avoid. One of the more important assets of a good farrier is their willingness and ability to communicate with your equine practitioner regarding any problems that your horses may have that are related to their feet and shoeing. Ask about their history of showing up on time, or their willingness to give you a quick call if they are running late. If he (or she) is not responsible with his business or your business, he probably isn’t going to be very responsible with your horse’s feet.
After you get the names of some of the better farriers in the area then you can begin your selection process. One of the problems you will encounter will be determining how competent they are. In the United States, there is no required certification for being a farrier. All that is required are shoeing tools and a card with their name on it, so spending a little time meeting a few of the farriers will pay BIG dividends in the long run. Many of the more progressive farriers have become certified with the American Farriers Association (AFA) as a Certified Journeyman Farrier (CJF). This requires some advanced study as well as successfully passing the required examinations. In Europe the requirements for becoming a certified farrier are much more stringent than in the United States and you MUST be certified before you can legally shoe a horse there.
Don’t be afraid to ask a few questions about their education and experience as a farrier. If they don’t wish to discuss it then it may be time to look elsewhere. Even if the individual has been to “shoeing schools”, they may not be the person that you want. Does he (or she) attend meetings to further their education? Do they subscribe to magazines related to advances in shoeing techniques? Ask for some references. Be certain that they are capable and experienced with your type of horse, in this case the team roping horse. Many of the better farriers also team rope and this is a HUGE benefit when shoeing team roping horses. Discuss their experience as a farrier. It is difficult to become proficient as a farrier in just a couple of weeks or months.
Remember that the better the farrier, the busier the farrier, so don’t be upset if he can’t get to your horses right away. Be sure that shoeing horses is their regular profession and not just a weekend job. Discuss the scheduling with the farrier…will he call and tell you when it is time for a reset or do you need to contact him? If he expects you to schedule the appointment, how far in advance does he wish to be called?
When you meet the farrier keep in mind that horseshoeing is a hard and often thankless profession so try not to be too demanding. Most of the good farriers will become your friend as time goes on but keep in mind that the experienced farriers are going to be as apprehensive about you as a new client as you are about them as a farrier. Communication is very important. Farriers are a lot like some veterinarians in a lot of ways…“the last guy didn’t do nearly as good a job as I can” (no matter how good it was). If one of your horses has been shod in a certain way or with a particular type of shoe, then discuss this with the farrier. You might find out that there could be a better way. Remember that the good of the horse is still our primary goal.
We all know that no matter how good a job the farrier did there is always a possibility the horse might jerk a shoe off during a run. Discuss the farrier’s position on running by and nailing it back on. Some will and some won’t.
Discuss the prices with the farrier. As you checked around for recommendations you may have gotten a feel for the farriers that cost a little more or some that are a little cheaper. Shoeing is a difficult occupation that requires a LOT of physical labor and experience. Their overhead has gone up markedly (as with most businesses). Not only has their equipment and supplies increased in price but their vehicles expense has also gone up. You want the best individual that is available and is able to do your shoeing so be careful not to offend them by trying to get them to cut their prices. Once you lose a good farrier it is very difficult to get them back.
I shod horses for a long time…unfortunately I was not very good at it so I was probably a horseshoer rather than a farrier…there is a lot of difference. We all go through the same steps to find a farrier but once you get a good one you will develop a great relationship with them so be patient as you go through the process. Sorry to hear about your farrier getting injured. Good luck with finding your next one…there are a lot of good farriers out there.