Ask yourself how much you understand about your horses needs and how you have learned this information. If a behavior or physical change is unclear to you, document it and ask an equine health professional and research the topic. Pass all health condition information on to your farrier, because it is important for him/her to know.
On the other side, the farrier should take time to look at your horse move and ask you how the horse has performed during the last shoeing period. Remember that the responsibility of the horse rests with you, so I will try to give you a few suggestions to help you be more engaged in your horse's hoof care.
First, you and the farrier should observe together how the horse is moving to make sure he is sound, traveling straight, and not interfering. Next, you will need to check the horse standing to look at medial/lateral and anterior/posterior balance. This is the time to inform your farrier of anything you have noticed or any concerns you have with the horse's performance and health. This should not be seen as accusatory or threatening, just presenting information so that the horse can be shod correctly. Since the farrier only has a few hours to work with the information you have gained over the whole shoeing period, it is invaluable for him/her to know in order to shoe the horse correctly. Once all the facets of the horse's health and performance have been presented and considered, it is time to talk about a plan.
As a farrier, I do not touch a hoof until I know what I want it to look like when I am finished, nor can I work on one hoof without considering the other three. Therefore, it is critical that I have a plan in place for the horse before I start. This vision should be shared with you, the owner/trainer, prior to starting, so that all parties are in agreement and that the best interest of the individual horse is prioritized. Fads in equine health can be just as dangerous and unfounded as they are in human health, and neither a farrier nor a caretaker should decide on a shoeing plan that is not tailored to a horse's unique needs. Shoeing appointments should comprise of well-thought out, incremental changes moving towards positive goals for the horse's health and performance.
There are many options, both in the hoof prep and the shoes, to be applied and if your farrier is aware of a concern they will be able offer suggestions to help. Keep in your records toe lengths, angles, and notes on how the horse responds in training. The best qualities to cultivate in yourself and to look for in a farrier are attentiveness and thoroughness towards your horse, and the relationship between all parties will be beneficial.
Posted by:
Andrew Elsbree, Certified Journeyman Farrier
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