Finding a New Farrier ...

[OneStepAtATime]

Due to a recent move, I’m in-search of a farrier (yet again). I have a decent idea as to what a good trim looks like (and, if nothing else, I know a couple people I can ask), but I’m hoping to “interview” any referrals beforehand, if you will. I’m looking for things that others have used to pick a good one.

That being said, barring any “this is the best farrier ever!” - type referrals, how did you choose your farrier? What questions, if any, did you ask before you chose?

Any and all thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Yvonne.

[Kolsch]

Talk is cheap. “Credentials”, not so cheap, but no guarantee either.

What I want to see are case studies showing that the farrier can manage distortions- regardless of which method they profess to use. Show me a long toe low heel correction, show me a tall heel dished toe correction.

Technically I could grill someone on their knowledge of theory, etc., but IMO it doesn’t really matter. Either they have the eye to do the job or they don’t.

[Dutchmare433]

When I moved states, I first tried out the recommendation of my original farrier (who I loved), he ended up being just way too expensive, when others in the area were doing equivalent or better work for less.

When I moved again, there were a bunch of different farriers who came to our farm for other boarders. I just peeked around at all the feet, and happened to really like the guy who the barn owner uses. I got to watch him work on some other horses before mine was due, so I was able to see how he worked with the horses. He’s done a super job with my horse, even though he always jokes that even I could make my horse’s feet look good. But I’ve also seen the change he’s made in another boarder’s horse’s feet, so it’s nice to know he has the capacity for corrective shoeing.

So I didn’t really ask questions, I was in a position both times to be able to look at the hooves of various different horses done by different farriers. I figure, even a bad farrier will get it right once in a while, but looking at multiple horses helped.

[stb]

I just went through this myself. I attended a nearby trail ride that had probably 50 or 60 horses in attendance. I walked around from trailer to trailer and checked out hooves and asked owners who they used. I got several suggestions. I then went home and looked on Facebook to see if they had any pictures of their work posted. I found one who had before and after pics of a long toe/underrun heel correction that looked really good. One of my guys has this issue, and I have found that most farriers don’t have a clue what to do with it.

I’ve been happy with the new farrier. He’s done a great job with both of my horses and both have shown improvement in their feet since he’s been working on them.

If you don’t have a local trail ride you could try a horse show or fox hunt. It is helpful to be able to actually see what kind of work somebody does before you let them loose on your horse.

[JB]

Yes, if you are more or less comfortable with knowing what healthy feet look like, then look at the work of that farrier. If a farrier you’re considering does a few barns in the area, ask the BO/BM if you can come take a look at feet since you are considering using him.

If you don’t yet know names, call up some local barns to see who they use, and then ask if you can come take a look at feet.

Any references a farrier gives you will be what he thinks is his best work and his most adoring client, so keep that in mind. But do ask for them. It’s a red flag if he says he can’t do that. He may have to get back to you after asking clients’ permission, but he should be willing to give you names and numbers if they agree.

In addition to local trail rides, check out local shows and do the same hoof snooping and then ask who someone uses if you like their horse’s feet.

Always keep in mind that some farriers are really great at keeping healthy feet healthy, but not very good at fixing/improving troubled feet.

[luvmyhackney]

When I hired my new one, I moved, I asked for pics of current clients horses feet, minimal of 5 different horses. Had two farriers willing to do this, I pay a bit more above the standard rate for a barefoot trim, but I have a lovely balanced foot and a reliable farrier that shows up on time every time.

[blitzkrieg]

Just to share an experience as I recently faced this same problem - do you know of any serious eventing farms in the area? I switched states and had absolutely no clue who to use for anything. I don’t typically trust one or two-off recommendations since I’ve known people to unknowingly recommend horse professionals with horrendous track records (knowledge only acquired when you’ve been in the area enough years). I find that eventers in particular have a really low threshold for questionable work and tend to utilize more services (just the nature of the sport) and develop a deeper insight into the advantages/disadvantages of local horse professionals. They’re also more of a helpful “community” amongst one another and they tend to pass along recommendations and experiences to one another between barns and trainers rather freely. This is obviously a generalization and there are certainly exceptions.

Obviously not a fool-proof method but I felt a TON better when I called 3 eventing barns locally for gen vets, sports med specialists, farriers, and chiros and found some common names offered up. Just an idea, even if just to confirm any names you come across

[candyappy]

I have moved quite a bit and several farriers I used because people I met used them and I loved the way their horses feet looked. One farrier I found by chance using the internet and he has been the best one ever. I have also had many 1-2 time visits between the good ones as I was looking.

It can be a very frustrating experience.