How to Find a Skilled Farrier

Horses are incredible athletes. In order to keep our athletes in tip-top shape, we need to do our best to meet their needs. One of the most important things you can do for your horse is to use a skilled farrier for them. So what makes a good farrier?

1. Skill sets to fit you and your horse’s needs – There are all different levels of farriers out there. Some are very basic, self-taught individuals and some are extremely educated farriers that use high-tech equipment. A farrier should be experienced enough to deal with things such as quarter cracks, navicular syndrome, laminitis, etc. An inexperienced farrier can actually make these problems worse.

2. Solid horse handling skills – A farrier must be comfortable dealing with all different kinds of horses. They need to have a good solid foundation of horsemanship in order to be able to deal with horses. They also must be able to say no when a client presents an ill-mannered horse for them to shoe.

3. Interested and pride in their work – A farrier should be genuinely interested in their work and have pride in it as well. A farrier that is interested in their work will be more likely to keep up with the latest research and developments in hoof care to provide you and your horse with the best service possible.

4. Time management skills – Most farriers stay relatively busy in their line of work if they are good at what they do. A successful farrier must be able to manage their time well in order to keep clients around. A farrier must be careful not to pack their schedule too full that they cannot fit in emergencies and get in a hurry to the point where they don’t provide the best work.

5. Fitting the budget – Make sure your farrier fits your price range. Farriery services range somewhere between $25 and $100 but the national average is about $50. Price generally depends on experience, education, skill, demand, and location.

Do your best to keep your athlete performing at their very best by finding them the best farrier in the business. Your horse will thank you! For more information on How to Find a Skilled Farrier, visit: http://www.horsekeeping.com/hoof_care_and_lameness/finding_a_farrier.htm.