Dr. Brian Eitelman, DVM, CJF, and Aggie Vet and Farrier Services provide veterinarian and farrier services in Parker, CO, Elizabeth, CO, Franktown, CO, Castle Rock, CO, Sedalia, CO and Larkspur, CO. To learn more, please visit us at www.vetandfarrier.com
In this episode, Dr. Brian explains how to find the right farrier for you and your horse as well as addresses some of the most common misconceptions about hoof care.
Picking your farrier is a tough decision that really merits some thought as your farrier plays a huge role in the soundness and performance of your horse. Just like car mechanics, not all farriers are created equally and it can be really scary and tough to sort out the good from the bad. Hopefully, I can help you with that in the next few minutes.
One reason it can be so hard to sort through the options is that there is no barrier to entry in the United States to professionally work on a horse’s feet. You have to go to vet school, actually pass boards, and get a license to practice vet med. You have to go to cosmetology school and get a license to cut hair.
Anyone, and I mean anyone, can go out tomorrow and call themselves a professional farrier or barefoot trimmer or podiatrist.
One of the first steps in picking your farrier is to understand that currently there are two main categories of hoof care professionals - The first is what most people tend to think about - the traditional farrier. Someone who can trim a horse and make or shape the shoe to fit the horse’s foot. If a horse isn’t getting shod, they’re more than capable of trimming the foot properly and safely to stay barefoot.
The second group is commonly referred to as barefoot trimmers and they primarily only trim feet - they don’t put shoes on. The great thing is, a lot of horses do just fine barefoot so there’s usually never an issue. However, because, just like we talked about in Part 1, there are times when horses need additional protection, barefoot trimmers address this need by using boots. Hoof boots are ok for hours to days but living in boots is usually a horrible option. They encase the foot in a dirty, wet environment and the feet do not respond well at all! So if your horse routinely needs extended periods of protection, a traditional farrier and shoes might be a better choice.
So what should you look for in a hoofcare professional:
Moving on to professional credentials: For me, of all the professional organizations out there, the AFA or American Farriers Association gets it the most right and their testing system is comprehensive and tough. So, looking at a list, I’m looking for initials after the names of CF or CJF. CF stands for certified farrier and indicates they passed the test that evaluates the fundamentals of farrier science. CJF stands for Certified Journeyman Farrier. This is the highest level attainable through the AFA and demands a much higher knowledge and skill set than the certified test. Those little letters are a good indication that the person is seeking to advance their skills and knowledge and that’s a great place to start your search.
Misconceptions: One I hear a lot is that shoes are bad for feet. Shoes are a tool. They should protect and enhance what is there. If a shoe is applied in a way that is harming a horse, it needs to get fixed and/or you need a new farrier. Since we know that the foot is always growing AND it is a dynamic structure, whatever was applied - boot or shoe - is going to stop fitting at a certain point and start causing harm. So, we manage that challenge by keeping them on a routine, appropriate schedule.
Another common misconception is that all those nail holes weaken feet. Fortunately, because the foot is always growing AND you’ve had a good discussion with your highly skilled farrier on the right cycle for your horse, the area of the wall with the nail holes in it, almost always grows down and is trimmed off before it becomes an issue.
Third and scariest is the idea that it is normal for a horse to be sore after their appointment. If your horse is sore after a trimming or shoeing - please tell whoever did the work immediately! If they’re good, they can likely recognize what is going on and have a good idea of how to fix it. Often, it might just be a technique adjustment - they didn’t actually do anything wrong - there is just something that your horse is uniquely sensitive to and it will be a one-time thing. Another common question is, don’t the tendons and ligaments and stuff need time to adjust to the new angles? Well, since you’ve kept your horse on a regular cycle, nothing should be so out-of-balance that it causes a problem. If that is the case, you have to keep your horse on a shorter cycle. Lastly, if your horse continues to be sore following appointments, it is probably time to consult a fresh set of eyes either with a farrier with more skill and/or a vet who really understands feet, or even better - a farrinarian!!