There is a tendency today for people to get all they can when dealing in business and personal affairs. Some have called our time “The Age Selfishness.” Paraphrasing from the book of books, the Holy Bible, it is better to give more than you expect to get. Here is a story that illustrates this.

Daniel Webster graduated from Dartmouth College and started practicing law in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1805. He loved his work and spent time apprenticing with an attorney who was established and had an outstanding reputation. He was just like anyone else starting out in his career, unknown and penniless. Times were tough and money was scarce in his newly opened practice. He barely had enough to pay his weekly board bill. The average beginning salary for self-employed farriers may be very low. It takes effort and time to build a business.

One morning there was a knock at the door of his humble office. Webster opened it, and the Portsmouth blacksmith entered. The smoke and soot from the forge was heavy upon him. His hands and leather apron displayed ground-in coal dust. “I’m in need of legal advice. I’d rather not deal with lawyers, but I have no choice here. Someone is trying to take something that’s rightfully mine.”

The legal question involved some peculiar point of land law that Webster couldn’t answer right off hand. He told the blacksmith he would give his opinion in three days, as he didn’t want to admit he didn’t know the answer. We should do the same when we don’t know, instead of making up a con man’s lie.

Webster searched the few books he had, but could find nothing similar to the blacksmith’s case. He felt compelled to find the answer. Have you ever felt that way about a horse foot problem?

Although he really couldn’t afford it, Webster took the stagecoach from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Boston, Massachusetts and spent the entire day in the law libraries there. He was surprised to discover that the point in question had never come up in that form before in America. Beginning farriers are often presented with situations that are new to them.

Nevertheless, in his study that day he did find similar cases in the statutes and common law of England. Webster constructed a theory of equity consistent with decisions in similar cases, made copious notes, purchased the volumes he needed to prove his case, and took the night coach home to Portsmouth. He was confident he could win the case and told the blacksmith he would be his advocate. We shouldn’t take on a job either until we are adequately prepared and confident we can do it to a high standard.

Webster easily won the case. The lawyer for the other side was overwhelmed, embarrassed, and buried by Webster’s presentation of the case. Coming out of court the happy blacksmith asked, “Well, how much do I owe you Mr. Webster?” We earn the respect of our clients and cause them to want to reward us when we do our best.

“Oh,” answered the lawyer, who was aware of the man’s poverty and was always careless about money matters himself, “pay me whatever you think you can afford.” “Well,” said the blacksmith, “You seemed to run it off pretty easily, so I guess a dollar will be about right?” We short-change ourselves as well as our families when we are careless about business. Many farriers seem more intent on perfecting their skill in forging and b.s.ing rather than in business.

Daniel Webster took the money without comment and returned to his office. He recorded in his record book that for his journey to Boston and the books he had bought that cost him over $40 he had received the magnificent sum of $1! We each have lessons of life that cost us dearly.

Twenty-five years passed. During this time Webster built his reputation as a nationally prominent lawyer, orator, and statesman. He continued to study and became a Congressman and eventually a U. S. Senator. He was accepted and acclaimed as “the Zenith of the American bar.”

One day the president of a large railroad telegraphed him. They met in Webster’s big well-appointed office in Boston. “Mr. Webster, I want to put before you a question that vitally affects the future of my company. The lawyers I have consulted give me no hope. The case is to be tried in 2 weeks and they say we can’t win.”

As the president explained the case, a smile came over Webster’s face. It was precisely the same case that involved the Portsmouth blacksmith. We can provide our clients with great value too, after we’ve paid the price.

Webster remained impassive and reserved. “This is a very complex problem. I’m sure I can help you if you give me the necessary authority.” The client felt hope for the first time. They shook hands and the client wrote out a check for $5000 as a retainer fee.

As soon as the client left, Webster went to his files and found his notes made many years before. In only two hours of study his memory was refreshed enough to prepare him to go before the highest court in Massachusetts. It doesn’t take long to prepare for a new situation if we pay the price the first time.

His arguments reduced the opposition to rubble. Without leaving the bench, the judges decided in favor of Webster’s client. The railroad president was ecstatic! He had been handed a victory in the face of certain defeat. He wrote out a check for $10,000, placed it in an envelope with a grateful letter of appreciation and handed it to Webster.

Daniel Webster returned to his office and opened the envelope. He read the letter and looked at the check. He pulled down his record book from the shelf and described the case and its conclusion. Then, he added this postscript: “I have now received the blacksmith’s fee – paid with compound interest.”

This story in its original form was written by Kenneth P. Wood and first published in Future Magazine. The story in this form was adapted by Ted Gibbons©1998 as Daniel Webster and the Blacksmith’s Fee. I first used it is the first Farrier Focus™ Business Conference in 2000. It has great application to farriers as well as to other professionals. We should always do our best in spite of what seems at first to be a meager return. Learning your craft well and giving more than you expect to get will always repay you with compound interest!

It’s important to realize that our present situation is a result of our past activities and decisions regarding the challenges that confront us. Many people tend to focus on the past instead of the future. They think about what could have been or should have been. Because they spend their present in the past, they not only miss the present, but they also are disappointed by the future as well. Others live only in the future dreaming about good things that might happen to them but never take action to assure that they do. Although we can’t change the past, we can change the future by making good decisions today and acting on them.

Frank Lessiter has done more than anyone in recent memory to elevate the standard of farrier related publishing with his American Farriers Journal and the reprinting of classic out-of-print books on the subject of horseshoeing. In his editorial in the May/June issue of AFJ he published a list of eight major challenges farriers face today. This list was compiled from data obtained from a survey of 160 farriers at his International Hoof Care Summit held earlier this year.

I am listing these challenges in the order he did followed by my comments on each.

1. Rising Costs – Fuel, especially diesel fuel, insurance, and steel and tool supply costs have all increased significantly. Normally, this would not be a problem if farriers could readily pass these costs on to clients. However, in a down economy, coupled with the decrease in value of marginal horses due to the passage of the national anti-slaughter law, these rising costs can have a devastating effect on your farrier business. Fortunately, horsemen who generate income from businesses that are less affected by the downturn, or that use their horses for generating income, still maintain their horses to a high standard. Switching to these kinds of clients may be even more important in the future.

2. Client Education – Confronting wishful thinking and harmful fads coming from Internet “experts” is a major problem. One of my customers compared a lot of what is on the Internet to the writing on the walls in public restrooms since it seems to have been put there by some of the lower forms of life. While there are many good things to be said about the Internet, an executive of one of its largest search engines recently called today’s Internet “an open sewer.” Customers who have been conned by charlatans prove to be difficult to convince that there is a more excellent way to provide sound hoof care for their animals. Much of the problem originates with the lack of horsemanship skill and common sense possessed by some of today’s new horse owners, trainers and caretakers. And, some is due to the natural resistance people feel to learn anything new after they are first presented with a reasonable sounding idea. Psychologists call this “the primacy effect.” As farriers, you must become educated as to what is being said, the fallacies in the ideas, and how to present a sensible point of view to counteract them.

3. Continuing Education – How does one keep motivated in the face of challenging times? Farriers must keep learning and progressing. Farrier school is just the beginning. There are few occupations where one can start with a few weeks of basic instruction, a few thousand dollars worth of tools and supplies, and then after learning by experience for a few years, make an income comparable to other professionals. Since time and resources are limited, you must choose carefully what you read and believe, as well as who you choose as mentors. To keep progressing, you must work with someone who has the skill you want to have. You must learn from those who have done it. Not all educational opportunities or experiences are of equal value.

4. Business Management – There must be some effort to adjust to client restraints in a down economy. This could mean temporarily lowering your price, creative payment terms, or extending the shoeing interval when money is tight for a client. More likely when faced with such a situation you would be forced to change clients. Most farrier businesses turn over about 10% of their clients per year for various reasons. The number one concern in horse owner surveys I have conducted over the years has been the lack of business management skills by farriers. A section of our foundation farrier courses is devoted to helping students develop these skills. Farriers must learn to pace themselves so they stay healthy and motivated. Life balance must be a significant part of business management.

5. Staying Healthy – Good health habits include adequate rest, good nutrition, adequate water intake, and avoidance of unhealthy substances. All these considerations are most important since farriers make their living with their bodies. You must take care of the tools you use to generate income. Retirement planning is an important part of your job. You can’t do this job forever. Being self-employed in a physical job means you must plan for the future. Savings, wise investments, and provident (frugal) living are all things to consider now more than ever.

6. Professionalism – One of the characteristics of a profession is the adherence to a Code of Conduct. To be effective it must be a part of you, and your clients must recognize that you have adopted it. I feel so strongly about this I wrote a book several years ago I called The Cowboy Code® emphasizing the Code portrayed by the silver screen singing cowboys of yesteryear. James Owen, a Wall Street investment consultant, wrote Cowboy Ethics to encourage higher ethics in the business community emphasizing the Code portrayed by working cowboys. Farriers have an image of ignorance that has been perpetuated by persons who have little concern for their own individual reputation or the collective reputation of all farriers. Horse owners are repelled by your conflict with other farriers, veterinarians and barefoot trimmers. It is not so much about what you say or do, but rather how you say or do it. If you disagree, do it in an honest and agreeable way and back up your claims with sound reasoning.

7. Serving Clients Effectively – You must increase your value to clients with your service. This usually means improving yourselves since you are the business. The best way to prevent an owner from switching to another service provider is to give extraordinary service and be a person of integrity they can trust.

8. Effective Scheduling – Grouping clients together geographically helps keep travel expenses down. There will always be a certain amount of schedule changes in any farrier business due to unforeseen emergencies. Plan ahead for possible last minute schedule changes by having backup plans, so that you can profitably use your work time. Schedule horses ahead as far as possible. The best time is right after you complete the last job. Provide reminder notices. Schedule your family time and vacations first. Carry your scheduling tool wherever you go. Be accessible, but be committed to a schedule that keeps you in control of your life.

Solutions to these challenges faced by today’s farrier are all covered in the business portion of our courses. Your success is our goal. You can’t change the past, yet we can help you change the future by showing you how to choose and implement a plan to meet the major challenges facing your farrier business today.     

Personalized courses to help practicing farriers reach the next level can be found at www.butlerprofessinalfarrierschool.com. 1-800-728-3826.

A recent Gallop poll reported by CNN and USA Today revealed that 61% of currently employed Americans, if given the choice, would rather own their own business, rather than work for someone else. Only 38% said they would rather work for someone else. Yet, at the moment, only 10% of adults are self-employed. Why?

Unfortunately, most of us, for one reason or another, spend most of our lives trying to determine what we love to do, only to figure it out when we are too old to do anything about it! Many of us spend about the first half of our lives working without the happiness we had hoped we would get from our work.

We seem to be prone to make an all too common mistake as we struggle to provide for ourselves and our families. We associate down time with happy time. We assume if we had more ease we would be happier. Yet, we innately know that happiness is found in what we do, not in doing little or nothing.

We are most happy when we are working at what we love to do. We feel joy in using our God given creativity in working to help others. In the process of doing things that really matter to us we change for the better who we are and what we want to be.

We find happiness as we focus on using our talents to do those things that bring real satisfaction – building relationships, connecting with and educating others, and giving the gift of hope.

The farrier business is just such an opportunity. It’s a great way to express your creativity in a way it will be appreciated, find greater financial independence, and rely on your own potential.

Find out more about the professional farrier opportunity by visiting us at www.butlerprofessionalfarrierschool.com and take our farrier aptitude test and see if you have the passion and talent to learn this craft and start your own rewarding business. You’ll be happy you did!

January brings a renewed hope for personal and family progress in the new year.  Starting with New Year’s resolutions, this is the time of year when people tend to set goals and make commitments.   Using this traditional time of the year to evaluate the past and plan for the future are worthwhile, healthy pursuits.

However, by the middle of January, many goals decided at the first of the year are already set aside.  It’s normal for many to experience cycles of progression and other times when it’s more a fight against inevitable challenges of regression.  Yet it’s  important  to not give up because goal setting and making commitments should be a continuous process rather than a once-a-year experience.

An example to illustrate this principle is the way we’ve set up our farrier school. To study important subjects on a regular, daily basis provides a better and longer-lasting understanding of the subject than does last minute “cramming.”  The mind has time to process and ponder the information, weighing the information in relation to other ideas and concepts we teach.  It’s easier to incorporate the information into an over-all perspective.

Cramming, on the other hand, fills the mind with facts and figures, without the information staying around very long.  A person normally prefers to undergo surgery at the hands of a physician who had not crammed for his exams, but rather one who consistently and carefully continues his studies and practice with the commitment to keep learning and progressing.  Just as it is “good medicine” for people to do this, it’s very desirable for horse owners to only allow practiced professionals to work on their valuable horses.

A story told by Dr. George Platt [found in detail on page 728 of The Principles of Horseshoeing (P3)] tells of the importance of “doing work that fits you.”  Some work requires a lot of skill and experience you may not have acquired yet in your career.  In the scenario Dr. Platt discusses a veterinarian working on a founder horse case.  The vet recognizes the farrier “is not up to solving this problem.”  In explaining to the owner the serious condition of the horse, the vet explains the farrier’s role is very critical.  He explains how the farrier he recommends would probably cost about $300 to do the job, and the monthly follow-up would be an important, added expense for about six more months.  Fortunately this owner chose to go with the experienced, well-trained farrier, while the comparison situation, in contrast, doesn’t work out when another owner chooses an incompetent farrier as the cheapest route to go.  (Dr. Platt’s whole explanation in P3 is worth reading.)

The point is that to excel and be capable of treating the horse correctly takes time and effort on the farrier’s part.  There’s more to starting off a new year than only having a few goals in mind, especially if there’s no serious commitment behind those goals.

Selecting worthwhile goals are intermediate mile-posts that mark progress.  Determining your overall “vision” and purpose can have a far-reaching effect on your farrier career and even exceed the importance of goals.  A vision is like a lighthouse, for it gives direction rather than a destination – it’s important to keep this perspective in what you hope to accomplish.

It’s never too late to refocus your vision of future desires, as long as that vision is supported by goals that provide purpose and direction in the here-and-now.   In Star Wars, Yoda had good advice: “Do or do not.  There is no try.”  There must be genuine, wholehearted effort if worthwhile change is to occur.

Values, as well as vision, are important in your farrier business.  Have integrity and sincerity among your new year’s commitments, for example, and you’ll better serve your customers and their valued horses.  There are no shortcuts to any place worth going!  Practice is a means of achieving the perfection desired.  As Irving Berlin, the famed musician, stated, “Talent is only a starting point.”

Dave Ramsey, a well known money management expert, says:

“Malcom Gladwell in his book Outliers studied people who are unusually successful.  He discovered that while some people have a natural predisposition toward some areas, the key was they took the gifts they had and then practiced and studied for thousands of hours to turn their gifts into world-class talents.  In other words, these people made choices, and the “talents” were really acquired skills.

“This stuff doesn’t just occur.  You’re not a born leader [farrier] any more than you’re a born football player, actor or musician.  You may start with a gift, but you have to make a choice to work your tail off if you want to develop that gift to its fullest potential.”

In my own life, I retired from university teaching in 1995, yet no matter how many times I’ve thought about retiring, I seem to keep flunking, or dropping out of, the “retirement course”!  Goal setting, therefore, is still important even at my age!

We’re excited to have a new class starting this week!

• “I think the school is set up real well because of the way we do class in the morning and then right after have an example in a horse to work on that we had talked about in the lecture. We work on horses until lunch and then forge in the afternoon … it’s a pretty well rounded day.  It helps you learn because you do it. You talk about it, you go out and actually get to see it on the horse, hands-on, so you feel and experience it.   For your homework, you read it, write it down, think about it, and also draw it. It applies to all your senses in every way it can.  The horse I worked on for my final was great, and I felt real good about the job; once again, it gives me even more confidence – knowing I can do the job.”                                              –Guy Nelson, OH

• “I decided to come back here because I was so satisfied from the first two times I came here.  Each time – the basic and then the advanced class – everything became easier.  I like the teaching style – you have three teachers just for you – it’s a one-to-one teaching system.  It’s the best in my opinion.  You learn all the steps you need to do.  It’s much easier learning when the teaching way is easier.”    — Cristiano Biacca, DVM, Italy

• “I had a really good time and learned a lot more than I thought I would.  The best part was getting under so many horses.  I had someone from home ask me during our fourth week if I had been able to shoe any horses yet, and I said, ‘Yeah, since the second day!’  I liked the six week course – others I looked at were 12 weeks long, and it didn’t look like I’d do as much as I would at this school in only six weeks.”                           –Dani Jo Rueter, IA

• “In the morning class – I learned about founder, how to know if a horse has founder and what to do to fix it.  That same day, we work on the horses which have founder – it’s very good:  we learn in the morning and do in the afternoon!  The homework makes me improve – something’s carved into my brain so I can remember that because I’m drawing.  I know how to find something I need to know in the P3 book –it helped me pull things together and apply things.  Here I have everything I need – it’s really convenient.  I can be here and have more time to study than at other schools.  My friend went to another horseshoeing school, and he had to travel to other places to shoe horses, wash clothes, buy his noon meals and get other things he needed.”                                 –Hyunsuk Ma, South Korea

• BPFS is more in-depth even in the foundation course.  The thing I really respect about Dr. Butler is that the horse comes first.  He’s very interested in the individual horse’s welfare. He taught us to recognize our limitations.  I know where to draw the line when I reach the point that I’m not experienced enough and need to refer something to another more experienced farrier.              –Kelly Avery, Canada

For those of you who don’t yet own The Principles of Horseshoeing (P3), you may purchase it at www.dougbutler.com.

I’m often asked how I would define farrier competency. “What should a competent farrier look like?” “How will I know one when I see one?” In the British Isles, they would call such a person “a qualified farrier.”

The way a person starts out is generally the way he or she ends up. Attitude is nearly as important as talent. We see this with students at the Butler Professional Farrier School. Those persons that get the highest scores on exams, and become the most successful farriers after graduation, almost always are those that are internally motivated by a strong desire to learn and be of service to others.  Those that require someone else to motivate them, and dare others to teach them something, rarely become competent.

We have found that the state or country of origin, the age, or the sex of the student is not as important as possessing a strong desire to learn. We have had excellent students in all these categories. Horse experience is probably the most important prerequisite. I will refer to the competent farrier hereafter as a he for ease of writing, but we have had many outstanding female students.

Be aware that the passing of certification exams or membership in farrier organizations is not as important as the preparation and commitment to excellence that motivates a person to take an exam. Most horsemen don’t realize the effort and practice it takes to pass a craft exam. Therefore, the main benefit is to the craftsman who challenges himself to do it, puts in the time to make a good job of it, and thereby increases his competency. You, as the client, are directly benefited by getting a more competent farrier and a higher standard of work done on your horses.

First and foremost a competent farrier must know horses. This takes time. That’s why we recommend horse experience before farrier school and apprenticeship afterward. A competent farrier (or any horse professional) should know the horse inside and out. He should know anatomy or structure vocabulary and the physiology or function of the structures. He should recognize effective horse training methods, proper horse nutrition, and what constitutes humane care for horses. To advise the owner, he should know when a horse needs to be shod and how and when it only needs trimming. He should be aware of the top horses and the top people in his specialized breeds and disciplines. He should know the ideal conformation and gaits of these horses and the methods to achieve the best performance in these various disciplines. In other words, he should be able to “talk the talk.”

A competent farrier must be able to do the work. Farrier work is hard work and not everyone has the capacity to do it. The farrier must have the required tools and know how to use his tools to create a solution to foot problems. He must balance the feet and be mindful that he is shoeing the whole horse, not just the feet. He needs to be able to explain what he is doing and why. In addition to carrying an inventory of materials needed to solve foot problems, he must be able to make or modify a hoof or shoe in any situation. He should be capable of following instructions from the horse owner and veterinarian. He should be able to convince owners and vets of the merit of the technique he recommends to help the horse. In other words, he should be able to “walk the walk.”

A competent farrier must know business. He needs to run a sustainable business that will be around at least as long as you own the horse. This requires self-discipline, since the farrier is self-employed and is, in fact, the business. He keeps accurate records and knows his costs. He makes and honors appointments. He returns phone calls and is available during business hours to answer questions, especially when a new horse has been purchased. He is constantly learning by studying, attending selected clinics, and practicing to master his craft in order to be a reliable resource for you, the horse owner.

A competent farrier must have character, not just be a character. He must be clean, courteous and respectful. He is free of addictive habits that adversely affect his business and relationship with you, the client. (He understands that today’s health-conscious clients do not appreciate those who are not.) He must know his limits and be willing to refer cases to more advanced practitioners when necessary. If you move away with your horse(s), a good farrier will help you find a competent farrier in your new area.

This is what I think a competent farrier looks like. I believe a number of the problems confronting our industry at this time are due to the fact that not enough farriers fit this profile. If you are fortunate enough to have a farrier like I’ve described, you will want to do your part to keep him or her happy!

Farrier work is a craft skill. It takes many years to master any craft. Farrier school is only the beginning. You must study and practice to become competent. You must train your eyes, your brain, and your motor nerves and muscles to do this precision work. You must obtain the knowledge and develop the skills of a competent farrier. This means you know your craft and are no longer struggling.

There is a shortage of competent farriers. Many are practicing with inadequate training and experience. The only reason more horses aren’t lame is because most horses are very forgiving of farrier error. Following are skills that are essential. If you don’t have these, the horse owner will look for one who does. Your possession of these traits raises the cost of switching to a new farrier.

1) You must be able to balance a foot. To do this you must take into consideration the horse’s conformation, gait, use and environment. You must position your eyes perpendicular to the plane you desire to assess. You must be able to project the ideal on to and compare it to each foot you work on. You must be able to recognize and describe balance. You must be capable of compensating for imbalance.

2) You must be able to use the trimming tools to achieve balance. Keep your tools sharp and well maintained. Replace them when they are worn out. Practice making over lapping cuts with your nippers to create a level hoof that requires very little rasping. Remove hoof distortion or flares with your rasp. Trim hooves and fit shoes so there is no sole pressure. Round the edges of hooves that are to be left barefoot.

3) You must be able to select or make and fit shoes to the trimmed and dressed hoof. Shoe fitting skill is often lacking in practicing farriers. You must see the hoof shape first before you can accurately fit to it. Visualize and shape starting with the toe and move toward the heels. Shaping shoes accurately is aided by the forge. You must learn where on the anvil to hold the shoe to make precise adjustments. Even well made machine made shoes must be altered to fit individual feet. A well fit shoe is easy to nail accurately.

4) You must know the anatomy and physiology of the horse’s foot. You must know the foot and what’s in it. You must know how it works, what can go wrong, and what may be done to fix it. You must learn the vocabulary, the form and the position of the structures. You should know the foot as well or even better than the vet. You must become a respected foot specialist.

5) You must be aware of foot abnormalities and be able to accommodate them by forging alterations in shoes. You should be able to recognize abnormal conformation of the foot and limb. You should know the common foot diseases and what the vet can do to treat them medically and how you can treat them mechanically with various therapeutic shoes. You must be efficient in your use of the forge to make and alter shoes.

6) You must be able to explain what is needed to the horse owner and veterinarian and convince them of its value. You must know anatomy and a specialized industry vocabulary so that you can adequately explain a problem and present options for them to choose. After they have chosen and committed to the agreed-upon course of action, you must continually remind and convince them of the value of such a course.

7) You must be able to run a sustainable business. To do this you must exercise self-discipline. Don’t waste your resources. Keep accurate and honest records. Live by a schedule. Plan ahead so you can be on time for appointments. Communicate your expectations. Guard your health. Thank people for their business. Be an information resource. Do those things that will keep your clients happy.

This is what I think a competent farrier should be able to do. I believe a number of the problems in our industry are ones that poorly prepared farriers have brought upon themselves. They are not doing any or all of these things to a high standard. As a result, farriers have an image of ignorance. I hope you will commit to changing that image by resolving to be a professional farrier and master your craft!

Assess the foal’s limbs soon after birth. Most mild limb deformities can be helped by stall rest that limits exercise. Many problems are due to lack of cartilage and bone maturity and will improve with time if the affected areas are not stressed. If there is more than a 5- degree deviation in the limb, or concerns about the straightness of the legs, your veterinarian should assess the situation and make recommendations at this time. The hooves should not be trimmed until the foal is at least two weeks old, and then only if a problem is evident.

It is important to treat limb deviations before the epiphyseal growth plates of the lower leg bones close at about three months (short pastern), six months (long pastern), and nine months (distal cannon bone). After these plates close, very little structural change can be made in the limb by trimming or shoeing. It is questionable how much change can actually be made before that time. Severe angular (conformation) defects cannot be eliminated by corrective trimming or shoeing. Serious problems may require periostial stripping or check ligament surgery. Future plans for the horse should be considered in making this decision as its athletic career may be limited.

The Farrier’s First Visit
A foal’s feet should be checked by a competent farrier by the time it is two months old. You can help prepare your foal for the farrier’s first visit by (1) teaching the foal to stand and lead, (2) picking up and holding the foal’s feet daily, (3) providing the farrier a safe corner in which to trim the foal’s hooves, (4) having an experienced person hold the foal for the farrier, and (5) having an experienced person hold the mare close at hand.

Imprint training should be started as soon after birth as possible in order to begin the process of desensitization of the foal to the farrier. To do this, rub down the legs and pat the bottom of the hoof with your hand 40 or 50 times on each foot or until the foal relaxes. Repeat daily and then weekly and finally monthly. It is also important to clean out a foal’s feet each time the animal is handled to accustom it to foot handling.

Foot Balance and Trimming
Regular foot balancing will allow the foal to grow as straight as possible. The focus of trimming should be on keeping the weight of the foal evenly distributed over the limbs. The foal’s hoof may be trimmed more often than that of a mature horse, but less hoof is removed. The excess wall is trimmed down to the level of the sole at the toe.

Keeping the hoof length the same on the inner and outer sides of the leg (medial /lateral balance) is critical. This must be maintained because a foal frequently wears one side or the other unevenly. The animal will learn to compensate for minor structural faults. Avoid over-trimming of the sole and thus removing protection from the coffin bone. Trimming one side lower in an effort to straighten legs produces sheared heels.

Medial or lateral extension shoes made from aluminum or plastic may be glued or nailed to the feet of crooked foals to help in the distributing of weight more evenly over the bone column. Shoeing the foot may protect it from wearing away faster than it grows and sometimes it is necessary to maintain a balanced stance. If a horse is shod during the growing months, shoes should be reset frequently (every 3 to 4 weeks) and progressively larger shoes applied each time.

Having the hoof trimmed out of medial/lateral balance in an effort to straighten bones is not a good practice. Excessive stresses on the joint may cause damage, but the most noticeable effect will be the creation of a sheared heel. This may cause circulatory disturbance and lameness later on. The edges of a foal’s hooves should be kept rounded to avoid chipping.

When a young horse begins serious training, regular trimming and hoof care should include shoes that protect the foot or are necessary to enhance the action of the specific type of horse.

More than one hundred years ago farriers were confronted with the same problems as farriers are facing today. The “shoeless experiment” was then proposed as a one size fits all solution by “the barefoot people.” (See page 2 of William Hunting’s, The Art of Horseshoeing, published by W. R. Jenkins in New York, in 1898).

It was a con man’s dream. It seemed too good to be true. No longer would horse owners have to pay to have their horses shod. Little training was necessary. The horse owners themselves could simply round the edges of the foot.

For inactive pastured horses it probably was all that was necessary to maintain the animal. But, for most other domesticated horses, that had a job to do, it was probably cruel. Well trained horses were plentiful then. If one went lame, they could simply get another. Heroic measures to save expensive animals were unheard of.

The experiment didn’t last long because:

1) People had a fairly high level of equine knowledge due to the widespread use of horses in the city as well as the country.

2) Emotion didn’t enter into a decision as much as common sense.

3) Common sense was more common than it is today.

4) Con artists hadn’t thought of the natural wild horse model to sell their ideas.

5) Even if they had, people didn’t see wild horses as an ideal.

6) People weren’t as consumed with the idea of avoiding learning and hard work as they are now.

7) If a horse went lame after being so treated, it was recognized immediately as an ineffective and cruel practice.

All that is necessary for a “trimmer” to start in business today is to read someone’s article or book, create a clever (and misleading) brochure, and advertise to often unsuspecting horse owners. The promoters say anybody can do this. No qualifications or experience are necessary [to cripple horses]. Certification is given to future practitioners by those who sold the con.

Twenty-five years ago, the AFA (American Farriers Association), would not allow me, as a horseshoeing instructor, to certify my own students. The reasoning was that this would be a temptation to certify my own students to make my program look good. At the time I felt they were questioning my integrity, and I was not pleased.

In retrospect, I believe it was the right thing to do. These “trimmers” or “barefoot people” are doing that very thing now. They are telling their disciples to watch a DVD, or read an article/book, or attend a short course. Then, pay a fee, and they will be certified and added to a list of certified “natural hoof care practitioners.” It’s brilliant!

I recently gave a presentation at a horse expo where I pointed out the flaws of so-called natural hoof care by unqualified persons. A local farrier came up to me later and told me how the natural trimmer in his area was good for his business as he was called to redeem horses that she had crippled by using her technique of cutting the heels down until they bled.

Trimmers, and other fad promoters, will go to great lengths to justify what they do. The founder and chief executive officer of an association of barefoot people sent me an email in 2001.  He was very critical of the German veterinarian who advocated radical and inhumane hoof trimming techniques. Yet his disciples and “certified practitioners” are now advocating and practicing the same things this veterinarian does. They are crippling horses that a qualified professional farrier has to try to rehabilitate.

Why would horse owners hire an inexperienced, unqualified person to trim or shoe their horse? 1) Perhaps no qualified farrier is available; 2) Perhaps they want to believe the appealing marketing story told by the con artist; 3) Perhaps their previous hoof care provider had done a poor job of educating his or her clients; 4) Perhaps they think they will save money; or 4) Perhaps they are ignorant of the damage that can be done.

I’m willing to believe the reason people buy into the natural trimming idea primarily goes back to the widespread ignorance about the foot and shoeing that exists among both the farriers and the public. I was raised by a mother who instilled in me a soft heart for abused horses. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to warn others of things that will cause unnecessary pain and suffering to our equine friends.

This near perfect barefoot con allows its promoters to take no responsibility for their mistakes and errors. They deny individuality of horses when they say one size fits all. They use the term “natural” to sell their “new and improved” technique. They simply blame the horse’s lameness condition on the shoes the horse used to wear.

What ever happened to “first do no harm?”

Our society is rejecting science and education as a whole. We are willing to pay more for entertainment than education. We value glamour more than substance. Emotional appeal is more convincing than scientific proof. The insanity of animal rights has replaced common sense. The prevailing attitude seems to be, “My mind’s made up – don’t confuse me with the facts.”

Who do you trust? Do you believe those who have experience and a track record over several generations of doing what is the best for the horses in their care? Or, do you believe those that have made up their own rules, even their own vocabulary, while ignoring anatomy and physiology, so they can sell their radical ideas and practices?

It comes down to making a choice. It’s wonderful to have the choice. But, with that choice goes the responsibility for the welfare of your animal. It’s a question of stewardship and trust.

Of course, some horses can’t tolerate shoes. Some people can’t tolerate them either. I’m not one of those. I want to get up and go again tomorrow. Yet, some people do fine without shoes. Does that mean that all of us should go without shoes under all terrain conditions and in all kinds of weather?

Of course not – we must account for individual differences. One size does not fit all. We are not all the same. Each horse is unique. That is why you need the services of a well trained and experienced professional farrier to help you decide what is best for your equine companion’s welfare.

What should horse owners expect from their farrier?

You, the horse owner, have a right to expect a well-trained and experienced professional to care for your valuable horse(s). Unfortunately, some farriers short-change their education by not acquiring a firm foundation of basic knowledge about their craft. Even those who make the sacrifice to attend a school don’t use that time wisely in study and practice to get the most out of the experience. Schools vary in quality and intensity. Sometimes a farrier’s lack of knowledge and skill is the instructor’s fault; some times it’s another student’s fault; but mostly it’s the individual’s fault for underestimating the complexity of the subject and the dedication required to really learn and master the farrier’s craft. A mentally lazy attitude cheats and prevents a person from being all he or she could be. Here at Butler Professional Farrier School, we can tell the kind of farrier a student will be by his or her attitude toward learning. We try to accept only those interested in learning to be the best. More experience is needed after school to be competent. You want your farrier to be studying and learning every day. He should be learning from every horse and be better today than he was yesterday. Since you are paying for farrier service, you have a right to expect excellence. Seek out a farrier that is humble enough to be constantly learning. If you have questions about horse care, he should know the answers or be willing to refer you to someone who does. Expect him to share his knowledge with you and refer you to another equine professional specialist if a problem warrants it. Although the farrier may have strong opinions based upon his or her experience, each should be able to explain reasons for that belief. You should expect your farrier to act with integrity and honesty. You should be able to trust him or her.

You have a right to expect your farrier to arrive ready to work at the appointed time. If there is a problem that causes the farrier to be unavoidably detained, you should expect to be notified in a timely manner. You should expect to be reminded the day before of appointments made previously. If you call your farrier with a question, you should expect an answer by phone or e-mail within 24 hours. Farriers who plan ahead will have the supplies and tools needed to shoe your horse on the appointed day. They will do their best to meet your expectations, because they believe you, the customer, are the sole judge of their performance. Since your farrier knows you expect him to be on time for appointments, please be aware he also wants to be on time for his other clients and may have to cut his discussion short to assure others of a prompt arrival time. If more work needs to be done than was scheduled, expect to make another appointment.

You have a right to expect a farrier to treat your horse(s) and property with respect. If work becomes unsafe for the horse, or the farrier, you should be advised of possible options and given the choice to make the decision of how to proceed. Restraint measures should not be applied without your consent. If veterinary assistance is needed, you should make that decision. You have the right to expect the farrier to clean up before he leaves. He should pick up nail stubs, sweep up, and deposit manure and hoof clippings in refuse containers. You have a right to expect a price estimate before work begins giving you a choice to accept or reject the proposed treatment option. Your veterinarian’s advice should be weighed along with your farrier’s advice. They won’t always see things the same way and you need to make the decision of what you think is best for your horse. Often the decision comes down to who you trust and what seems to be the most practical.

What does your farrier expect from you, the horse owner?

Your farrier has a right to expect you to honor your appointment(s). The farrier expects you to provide the necessary information that will allow him or her to do the best job for your horse. If you have concerns, he expects you to be frank and honest and share those with him. He expects to be regarded as a professional and receive consideration as such. If something in your schedule changes, the farrier expects you to notify him 24 hours before the appointment so he can change his schedule and reschedule your appointment. Horses should be caught and their feet cleaned, if necessary, before asking the farrier to work on them. Either you or your authorized representative should be present to catch and hold the horse(s) and discuss any unusual foot conditions or concerns.

Your farrier has a right to expect you to provide a safe, dry, level, well-lighted place to work. Unfavorable conditions will not allow the farrier to do his best work. Your farrier has a right to expect you to provide a well-mannered horse that has been trained to stand for trimming and shoeing. Both of you have the right to stop work if you think conditions are unsafe. Having a companion horse nearby often helps the horse being worked on stand better. Your farrier expects you to be committed to your horse’s welfare. He expects you to care for the horse in a humane manner.

Your farrier has a right to expect prompt payment for services rendered. Unless other arrangements are made in advance, expect to pay for services when they are rendered. No businessman can operate very long without capital that comes from honest labor. Don’t expect the farrier to come unless the previous bill is paid. Farrier work is hard, challenging and dirty work. Since farriers don’t receive a salary, but are independent small business owners, they depend upon your payment to operate. Refer business to your farrier if you are pleased with his work. The best recommendation you can give is, “He [or she] is my farrier.”

When expectations are met, business is good, and life is enjoyable. When expectations are violated, sooner or later, relationships and business go downhill. Try to exceed expectations!

Hoof wall thicknesses vary. There is a very small margin for error. The farrier must pay close attention to selecting and driving each nail.  Not all nails are manufactured perfectly, and misshapen nails might not drive straight.

However, nail quicking isn’t the only kind of quicking that can affect a horse – he can also be quicked and become lame if his sole is trimmed too close.  There’s a great tendency for inexperienced farriers (and owners) to think that you get more of your money’s worth by trimming more so you don’t have to trim so often.  This  may also happen to a pet horse or harness racehorse when people think a shorter foot helps the horse move faster.  Doing this doesn’t leave enough protection for the horse’s foot – he may break over easier, but he won’t move as well.

The thinned sole does not offer enough protection for the hoof’s more sensitive inner structures, and lameness is the result.  The worst problem of quicking from trimming too short is abscessing, whether from an infected deep cut or from a bruise.  A quicked horse can bruise the sensitive solar corium or the bone, especially in a rocky area, because his protection from the sole is greatly decreased.  The resulting abscess is usually infected with “Clostridia” bacteria, which produce gas that puts pressure on sensitive areas.

Treating a quicked horse depends on the extent of the injury.  If it’s severe, call your veterinarian.  For minor wounds, treat conservatively.  If he’s bleeding, use a disinfectant and cover it with duct tape and a clean towel, gauze or a disposable diaper to keep more infection from getting in.  When it begins to heal, cover it with a pad.

If you cover a bleeding wound without treating it, it will often abscess.  If it does abscess, it’s important to have a professional open up an abscess to drain.  Then you can use Epsom salts paste or a 20% ichthammol black salve to draw the infection and swelling out of a minor abscess.

A pad is probably the best remedy to protect the tender foot until the horse grows more sole for protection.  But take the pads off as soon as you can so the horse doesn’t get dependent upon them.  You can give him Bute for a few days so he is comfortable enough to eat and move around, but the concern then is that because he doesn’t hurt as much, he may cause more damage to the thin sole.

You can also put turpentine or Venice turpentine on the normal or quicked sole to toughen it, but be careful not to spill it on skin because it will burn.