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.

Farriers perform a valuable service for people who care about their horses. It’s important to be trustworthy and do the job right.

Let me share a true story. A stone mason was laying very large stones for the walls of a large church building. One of the stones had a crack on the very inside of the stone. The foreman, a master mason, came by and looked at it and said, “There’s a crack in that stone.” The mason said, “I know it, but it’s on the inside. It’ll be covered up with plaster, and no one will ever see it. No one will ever know it’s there.” The master craftsman said, “Take it out. There are already three people that know it’s there.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you know it, and I know it, and the Lord knows it. That’s who we‘re building this building for. Take it out.”

I’ve thought about that a lot. Sometimes when you’re working on a horse and you make a mistake, you see it and nobody else does. It still needs to be fixed.

When I was working for a man who trained some national champion Saddlebred horses, one time I received the nicest compliment, I think, I was ever given by anyone. He said he would be back in a little while, and I asked him if he didn’t want to stay and watch me to make sure I was doing it right. He said, “No, I don’t worry about you because I know you can’t do it wrong. You can’t leave here if it’s wrong because you’ll have to fix it because you won’t be satisfied with it.”

I think that was one of the nicest compliments I ever got.

If your standard is high enough, when you please yourself, you’ll please everyone else.

Here are seven guidelines and important questions to consider in establishing and maintaining good farrier-client relationships.

1.  Be on time for your shoeing appointments.  It is easier to build a good long-term relationship when the first impression is favorable.  If you wish to be successful, you must advertise success.  Are you making a good impression?

2.  Build value in the mind of the customer.  Convince people of your desire to be of service and to do it right.  Show them that you are providing excellent service because of your training, experience and credentials.  Your attitude, training and dependability have tremendous value.  Have you paid the price to be a qualified, valuable asset to your client?

3.  Devote time and attention to your best clients.  Develop a system for prioritizing who the strong clients are in your business.  Paredo, an Italian marketing specialist, gave the rule that 20% of your clients will give you 80% of your business.  The end of the year is a good time to evaluate your client base — determine if a customer ranks as “A,” “B” or “C” in your business.  Focus your time on giving great service to your best clients.  How important is the client relationship to you?

4.  Show empathy for the concerns of your clients.  Create a systematic way that you can record and remember each specific horse’s name that you have worked with.  These records should include both problems and successes that you have had in shoeing their horses.  Do you keep accurate, helpful records?

5.  Set up standards for your terms of payment.  Control how the fees for your service are received.  If you don’t set up a standard and stick to it, your clients will control how and when you receive compensation for your service.  Does your client know how you do business?

6.  Send thank you notes and gifts to clients for new business or referrals.  A short note can go a long way in building value for your service.  Are you grateful for your client’s business?

7.  Sponsor a Customer Appreciation Day, such as a barbecue or educational event, to endear you to your customers and help them appreciate your qualified service.  Do your clients know how much you appreciate them?

We wish you the best in getting the New Year off to a great start!