Here are some tips to learn if your farrier is competent:
* First know that there are farriers, and there are people who nail shoes on
horses. A good farrier will study how your horse moves before ever picking up a
rasp. He will ask you questions and welcomes yours. If he blows in and slaps
four shoes on and roars off in a cloud of dust, better look for another farrier.
* If your horse still looks like he hasn't been done the day after your farrier
leaves, better look for another farrier.
* Ask him/her how long he has been shoeing and where he went to farrier school.
This doesn't ensure a good farrier (many farrier schools are three weeks' long),
but it's a start. Has he apprenticed with anyone in your area? Likewise, AFA
certification might mean a certain level of competency, but it might also mean
he likes going to farrier competitions and is real good at putting bar shoes on
fast.
* Ask what types of horses he regularly works on: pleasure, show, endurance,
draft, gaited? Get a sense if he has worked with horses like yours, with your
special needs and concerns (such as distance horses with interference and
forging problems.) Be really careful if he shoes around the racetrack -- these
guys are notorious for encouraging long toe/low heel syndrome. Ask for the names
of people in your sport he shoes for, and call them. See if they are happy with
his work -- see how their horses are performing.
* Does this farrier interact with you, and is he willing to share what he sees
with you? A good farrier is open to your questions and ideas and won't treat you
like a "dumb owner." He will *show* you the foot as he is working, explain why
he is making a particular change, and will tell you the results he hopes to
achieve. He won't pretend to be a magician; he'll be upfront if he confronts a
problem he hasn't seen or isn't sure how to handle.
* Is this farrier neat, professional and workmanlike in appearance? Does he show
up on time, and call you if he is delayed? A great rule-of-thumb is the inside
of a farrier's truck: a messy truck with tools thrown in akimbo often equals an
equally messy, unsystematic farrier (not always, but it's another piece of
information.)
* Learn what a balanced foot looks like so you can be an educated consumer. Know
your horse's feet so you can assess any changes.
* Finally, what is your intuitive "hit" off this person? If your "gut" tells you
he's not right for your horse, then listen!
Much more could be said here, but I hope these ideas will give you a running
start.
Good luck!
Bobbie Lieberman
and Fine Print ("Look ma, I'm balanced!)