07/10/2021
Are you SURE my horse is due?
Scheduling horses feet for trimming or shoeing is essential. A very simple, basic statement, right? Yet, does anyone realize just how important keeping your horses on a regular farrier schedule is?
It's vital for communication between you and a decent farrier.
"The shoes haven't come off yet, so it must not be time for the shoer."
When I was very young and my grandad shod a horse he was continually judged by how long the shoes stayed on the horses feet. No matter that horse's feet are living organisms and tend to grow...and outgrow shoes. He and most other farriers were judged by how long they could keep a hunk of iron attached to a horse's foot. How ridiculous! It's plain silly to think a good shoeing job can be judged by the length of time the shoes stay on.
Sometimes I wish my horse shoes would magically release and detach from the feet they are nailed to on a given date, or maybe remote controlled so I could stand by the horse and mash a button and bingo! the shoes would release and plop to the ground around the horse. "There ya go... its time to reshoe them!!"
The bottom line is, if your horses feet are too long, its the same as you wearing a pair of shoes a size or sometimes two sizes too big! It affects their performance. For optimal performance your horse should be trimmed when he/she has achieved the proper amount of growth. Statistically that proper amount of growth happens at 6 weeks.
You see there are many factors involved in the proper care and maintenance of your horse and his or her feet. Rocks, the 'ground' how he or she travels, how much you ride them, what they do for a living, how you feed them, their conformation, etc. No two horses are alike and your farrier should get to know your horse and what their needs are! I even have a computer program to keep track of these things for me, I know I cant remember the specifics on over 400 horses! It usually takes about 3 or more visits before I really get to KNOW the horse and their needs. It also helps when we run into a problem with Thunder, I can use that history to help solve that problem.
That brings us to 'farrier loyalty" Lot's of horse owners do the 'farrier hop" dance. They price shop when they should be shopping for education, intelligence, work ethic, ability and many many other qualities. Almost always the horse owner still asks "How much do you charge?" first. If a farrier cant work magic and make miracles happen on the first visit, owners tend to panic and get out the farrier list and call the guy down the road who has a different idea about how to tirm and shoe Thunder. Not to mention... he doesn't know Thunder!
Guess what I am saying is... find a farrier who you feel has the knowledge, work ethic, and ability to trim or shoe your horse how you feel they should be done. Find someone you can communicate with and who will communicate with you. Then... stick with em and stay on schedule!
