Farrier Information and General Knowledge

Scheduling: 

  1. I ask for your cooperation with scheduling, it is better for you and your horse to be on a consistent schedule. A consistent schedule allows for better accuracy in planning, record keeping and provides the best results for both you and the horse.

  2. Before leaving the barn, I will schedule your next appointment at an appropriate interval.

  3. I do not work on weekends except for emergencies.

  4. I try to allow enough time at each appointment to deal with any unforeseen circumstances for all of my customers.

  5. You will be notified if I will be more than fifteen minutes late for our appointment.

  6. You must notify me asap if you will be late for our appointment or unable to make our appointment.

  7. Please have your horse ready and available by the scheduled appointment time so that other clients aren’t inconvenienced.

Farrier Work Conditions and horse evaluation Procedures:

  1. The scope of farrier work is vast. In order for me to work comprehensively, it’s important for you to recognize your ownership responsibilities. As the horse owner, you are the primary care provider. Your frequent cleaning and inspection of the horse’s feet and legs, and following the farrier’s recommendations will help make the trimming and shoeing process effective.

  2. An appropriate place must be provided to trim and shoe your horse. The place must be located inside (Not outside), free of manure and mud, well lighted, flat and safe. Safety for the horse and the farrier is a joint responsibility.

  3. The horse is my primary client and the needs of the horse are my first concern.

  4. Have the horse ready, available, reasonably clean, dry and well mannered by the scheduled appointment time.

  5. If our appointment is during feeding time, please Do Not feed other horses while I’m working on your horse. This only serves as a distraction to your horse and a hungry horse does not stand well.

  6. Do not apply hoof dressing just before I arrive for our appointment.

  7. I do shoes for horses fit to the hairline not to the edge of the hoof. This may look different from your past farrier but is considered better for the horse.

  8. I may ask to observe the horse in motion (walk,trot,canter,etc). This will help me to evaluate your horse’s way of moving to make needed corrections, assess lameness, etc.

Horse Behavior:

  1. The horse will stand better and I’ll be able to work better, if you do not tie your horse up for an extended time period before your appointment.

  2. If your horse is energetic, I recommend that you lunge your horse before your appointment.

  3. It is your responsibility to discipline your horse if your horse is misbehaving as much as you can, however I may have to employ an open handed slap occasionally to set boundaries with your horse if it is aggressively trying to bite or strike me.

  4. I work with every horse patiently. I do not employ brutality. The horse may smell or nuzzle me, but I draw the line at them trying to eat me.

  5. If the Farrier work cannot be finished due to the horse’s behavior, then you may need to call in a veterinarian to tranquilize the horse. This may result in rescheduling your appointment to another day.

Common Sense:

  1. Any horses that are being worked on must have a handler present, preferably the owner, age 18 or over.

  2. The horse must have on a halter with necessary equipment to make it stand (lead rope, cross ties, chain, etc.).

  3. If your horse is energetic, I recommend that you lunge your horse before your appointment.

Massage Information and General Knowledge

Scheduling: 

  1. I ask for your cooperation with scheduling, it is better for you and your horse to be on a consistent schedule. A consistent schedule allows for better accuracy in planning, record keeping and provides the best results for both you and the horse.

  2. Before leaving the barn, I will schedule your next appointment at an appropriate interval.

  3. I do not work on weekends except for emergencies.

  4. I try to allow enough time at each appointment to deal with any unforeseen circumstances for all of my customers.

  5. You will be notified if I will be more than fifteen minutes late for our appointment.

  6. You must notify me asap if you will be late for our appointment or unable to make our appointment.

  7. Please have your horse ready and available by the scheduled appointment time so that other clients aren’t inconvenienced.

Massage work conditions and horse evaluation procedures:

  1. The scope of a massage therapist work is vast. In order for me to work comprehensively, it’s important for you as a rider/owner to understand how everyday work affects the horse. How you as the owner/rider can assist in making the horse more comfortable and perform better more consistently.

  2. An appropriate place must be provided to massage your horse. The place must be located inside (Not outside), free of food and any distractions if possible, free of manure and mud, well lighted, flat and safe. Safety for the horse and the therapist is a joint responsibility.

  3. The horse is my primary client and the needs of the horse are my first concern.

  4. Have the horse ready, available, reasonably clean, dry and well mannered by the scheduled appointment time.

  5. If our appointment is during feeding time, please Do Not feed other horses while I’m working on your horse. This only serves as a distraction to your horse and a hungry horse does not stand well.

  6. Do not apply hoof dressing just before I arrive for our appointment.

  7. I may ask to observe the horse in motion (Walk,trot,canter,etc). This will help me to evaluate your horse’s way of moving to make needed corrections, assess lameness, etc.

Horse Behavior:

  1. The horse will stand better and I’ll be able to work better, if you do not tie your horse up for an extended time period before your appointment.

  2. If your horse is energetic, I recommend that you lunge your horse before your appointment.

  3. It is your responsibility to discipline your horse if your horse is misbehaving as much as you can, however I may have to employ an open handed slap occasionally to set boundaries with your horse if it is aggressively trying to bite or strike me.

  4. I work with every horse patiently. I do not employ brutality. The horse may smell or nuzzle me, but I draw the line at them trying to eat me.

Common Sense:

  1. Any horses that are being worked on must have a handler present, preferably the owner, age 18 or over.

  2. The horse must have on a halter with necessary equipment to make it stand (lead rope, cross ties, chain, etc.).

  3. If your horse is energetic, I recommend that you lunge your horse before your appointment.