selecting a farrier, horse shoeing, farriers

We routinely get phone calls from one of the farriers who works at our barn to let us know when he'll be here next. Sometimes he changes his schedule and he's often a bit late, typically running on "farrier time," but he always telephones to let us know. He also patiently answers questions from us or horse owners and he's a skilled shoer. He epitomizes what we want in a farrier: skill, reliability and professionalism.

We've had farriers who were excellent shoers, only to discover they don't show up at all when they're supposed to or let us know when they're going to be delayed. For a barn manager, this isn't just irritating, it's costly. It means wasted time unnecessarily fetching horses from the field or keeping horses stalled waiting for the farrier, which isn't good for the horses and uses up more expensive sawdust and hay.

We've also had farriers who were good shoers and show up on schedule, but are defensive and snippy if a horse owner has questions. They slowly and surely lost boarders as clients.

There are also farriers who are reliable and skilled, but haven't a clue what to do if a horse acts up, or they are just plain mean. Years ago, I happened to walk into a barn to see a farrier clobber a horse with a rasp across the stomach; I knew the horse and he was old, well-behaved, and certainly didn't deserve this treatment, even if he had acted up.

IS AFA CERTIFICATION IMPORTANT?

Years ago, I thought the most important criterion for a farrier was certification by the American Farrier's Association (AFA). Over the years, my opinion about this has changed considerably. In fact, I just reviewed the list of AFA certified farriers in our state, and realized that not one of the farriers who currently works in our barn is AFA-certified. Certification might demonstrate a high level of shoeing skill, but it doesn't necessarily equal reliability or professionalism and, conversely, a lack of AFA certification doesn't necessarily mean a farrier is unskilled, unreliable or unprofessional.

If you're looking for a farrier, seek recommendations from several knowledgeable horse owners and see what names keep coming up. Be sure to ask about reliability and professionalism as well as skill. Does the farrier return phone calls? Show up on time? Call when late? How does he or handle a problem horse? How fast can the farrier respond when there's a lost shoe or other problem requiring attention?

In return for courteous, professional service, barn managers and horse owners need to accommodate a farrier's busy schedule. This can be done by making sure that horses on the farrier's list are readily available when the farrier arrives, by offering any help that may be needed and by paying promptly. It also doesn't hurt to offer a cold soda or hot cup of coffee, depending on the season.