Creaking Willows

13/07/2025

Have I mentioned I love my job!? 😂
Luna bop has been giving us a run for our money for the last 3 years, even more for her momma. She has typical Tb feet that are absolute trash, pancake always, and get absolutely destroyed during fly season.
Luna has done a tremendous job growing out her mistakes, now if only she would stop stomping so hard.
Can we go back to 30 degrees and no bugs😅
We added a little cast for some support for a couple weeks to aid in her growing the final bit of that crack out.
Lunas momma has worked tremendously hard to get her bare foot, and the goal is to keep her that way.
Enjoy a now pretty foot for your viewing pleasure. ❤️

04/07/2025

This is why y’all who refuse to work with your horses, pay more. If a cow can, you can.

This is such a common problem these days.

I get a lot of inquiries from people looking for a new hoof care provider, but their horses do not stand well for the farrier, so unfortunately I am not able to help them. I have too many of my own aches and pains to struggle with horses that pull legs away repeatedly, dance around, or kick.

Seriously. This is basic ground manners. All horses should be trained to stand still for at least 15-20 minutes and hold legs up for at least 3-5 minutes at a time without fuss. (I do make exceptions for painful horses - as much as my body can handle!)

It is not the farrier's job to train your new/young/rescue horse. If you are unable to train the horse yourself, hire a trainer.

I think this is one of the greatest gifts we can give horses to ensure they remain wanted and cared for -- good ground manners, and that includes farrier manners. Make it your goal for your horse to be your farrier's and vet's favorite client. If you take the time to train your horse this skill, it will generalize into all other areas and your horse will be better behaved and more enjoyable to be around in every way.

If you are constantly having a hard time finding a good hoof care provider, or repeatedly "they just stopped returning calls", or wonder why the farriers with the best reputation "aren't taking new clients" when you call........ ask yourself if this could be part of the reason.

Additionally, I cannot possibly do my best work on a moving target. If you horse isn't standing well, he's not getting the best trim.

PLEASE. TRAIN YOUR HORSE. It isn't just for us, it is for them.

29/06/2025

Since summer is here and in full swing, I’d like to put out my yearly reminder to do your research on the horse camps you’re sending your kids too!

I am a huge advocate for horse camps, I grew up and learned many many things in many different ones, but it’s incredibly important to make sure you’re picking the RIGHT camp.

If the camp you’re sending your kid too, has horses that aren’t saddled correctly, chances are theyre not going to be learning the correct horsemanship aspects.

If the “teachers” themselves cannot demonstrate proper horse husbandry, how are we supposed to expect them to teach our kids the correct way!

There is a great number of horse camps in our area, cheaper does NOT always mean better. I understand times are tough, money is tight, and you’re trying to give your kiddo the experience they’ve been begging for. But please, for your kids safety. Choose a camp that has integrity, and loves their animals enough to make sure their equipment is properly fitted!

If anyone needs recommendations, Jessica Mammel has an amazing horse camp, not too far from Brooklyn, & 10/10 as soon as the girls are old enough, if we don’t have our own property up and rolling yet, they will be attending hers!

Horsemanship starts off the horse, & Jessica does an amazing job at teaching that before getting to ever swing a leg over.

Happy summer everyone, and remember to have fun!

29/06/2025

Can we go back to 10 degrees please 😅 my knee caps sweat thinking about putting my chaps back on tomorrow. 🙃

28/06/2025

I have a couple open slots for training and lessons, for the month of July, which Is almost unheard of, get on the schedule now before they fill up!

&

As always I’m accepting trim and glue clients ☺️

Happy Saturdayy everyone!

14/04/2025

Being able to laugh and joke with your clients is the best 😂

& while I really don’t want your personal feet pics, I will gladly accept pics of your ponies hooves 😂

As a reminder, I do accept trades of all kinds! I would much rather barter with you to keep your kiddos on a schedule, especially if money is tight, than to trim them 16+ weeks late!

21/02/2025

For the love of all things equine; PLEASE teach your horse to stand still for the farrier. It isn’t hard. You take 10-15 minutes of your day to work on it with them, so the next time I come out what should only take me 20 minutes doesnt takes an hour. If you don’t want to be a responsible owner, I am more than happy to charge a training fee to do so for you, or I will not be returning.
It is your job as an equine owner to make sure your horse is successful in all corners of their life, THAT INCLUDES standing for the farrier. It is absolutely unacceptable to hear “oh he’s just antsy” or “looking for a farrier willing to work on problem horses”, but I’m not willing to pay a reasonable price for working on said problem horses.
No, you’re just lazy and don’t want to take the time to make your horse a functioning member of society.

From now on with problem horses; if I say something about how they’re standing, you have two cycles to fix it, or I will start charging double for each additional 30 minutes it takes me. Or, you can pay the $300 training fee and I will teach your horse the Manners they desperately need.

I have no problem working with problem horses, actually I prefer it, I however do have a problem working with problem horses, that have owners that can’t be bothered to BE owners.

Farriers talk, we see the owners who are constantly jumping farriers. The ones who are always asking for recommendations “because their farrier ghosted them”. Did they ghost you, or did they inform you they needed to see a change or they weren’t coming back?

Our time is valuable. If it is taking me 2 hours to do a simple trim on Lucky because he pulls his foot back every 2 seconds, that’s 3 additional horses I could have had on my schedule. 3 additional sources of income to put food on the table for my family. 3 additional sources that probably stand a hell of a lot better than your lucky, and I would greatly prefer to do them.

Farrier work Is hard. Constantly growing and learning, constantly being bent over while your horses lean on our already aching backs, the countless cuts on out hands, arms, and legs. Most the time we dont have a back up plan If we get hurt. So I can promise that your farrier Is happy to drop the one dangerous horse on their books, to safely keep the other 100 who actually care about how their horses behave.

Just something to think about as we’re moving into spring, and I keep getting constant messages about new clients with “problem children”. I will happily trim your problem children, if you’re willing to put the time in too.

22/01/2025

Nothing makes me happier than having happy clients!
Poor Luna was essentially wearing 4 different types of shoes, her feet were so uneven.

But we got her nice and level for HER body, got her standing up, and those big long legs aligned.

She will be a totally different horse after next trim. ❤️

19/01/2025

PSA for my clients, and any future clients:
If a farrier tells you they “don’t have time” to watch your horse move, especially if you point out concerns you have with movement, or they’re doing XYZ to “leave traction on the ice” (for your barefoot horses), run. It’s time to find a new farrier.

27/12/2024

Playing with trying to find a local onsite lease or half lease!
Hopefully someone willing to trade cleaning stalls/work or farrier work!
Not picky but prefer atleast 15 hands
Something we can take to occasional shows/throw a rope off of.
Green is fine I don’t mind putting in some wet pads.

Indoor arena would be A-1, but an outdoor will suffice!
Close to grasslake!

23/04/2024

We’re happy to announce we will be adding a new little bundle to our Creaking Willows family. Over the next couple months I will continue to trim everyone I have already talked too. I will not be adding in new Equine clients until next spring, unless they stand like rocks.
However I will still continue goats, pigs, and stocked animals throughout my pregnancy.
My last training spot filled, so I will no longer be offering training rides, or any additional training spots this summer.
Lessons will still remain on the books, and I will always be accepting new clients in that department.

I will be using my off time this summer to continue my education, and work on adding steel shoes back into my regime for next spring.

I’m excited to come back stronger than ever, with new and improved skills to offer my clients.

As always thank you for being loyal Creaking Willows clients, you guys are helping me raise my tiny tots, and provide a life of growth and adventure for them. ❤️

20/02/2024

As of right now I have one spot available for tune ups, barrel training, or c**t starting for March April and May.

If you need your steed legged up, or tuned down for your kiddo or you, don’t hesitate to let me know! 🥰