I frequently receive calls from potential clients with only one concern. “How much do you charge for your services?”

I have come to the conclusion that most horse owners do not realize that there are many levels of competence in this industry. When I asked owners about the criteria they use in selecting a person to care for their horses’ feet, 95% are only concerned with the amount of charges.

Many owners believe shoers only provide labor, some steel, nails, and little else. They seem to think that all shoers have the same level of ability, therefore, they pick the cheapest one.

There is a lot to be said for education, longevity, capability, compatibility and timeliness while choosing a care giver for your horse. It does not take a gifted person to have all of these abilities, but it does take dedication.

A person with a reasonable education knows the value of continuing to learn. This can be done by going to clinics or seminars. A person can have been shoeing for 20 years and have never gone to a clinic or seminar to learn more. This person is doomed to make the same mistakes over and over. It would be similar to having 1 years’ experience 20 times!

How long a person has been involved in the craft of tending horses has a direct bearing on their ability to recognize problems or potential problems, and their ability to render a proper solution. Sharing of information with peers helps prevent getting oneself into a rut.

A capable shoer has the ability to make many different shoes. The necessity for this ability has become less important with the great numbers of factory made shoes of today. However, herein lies a major problem. Most shoers are NOT capable of correctly shaping a shoe to a foot, much less, knowing how to measure a foot and cut the correct length of steel in order to produce a shoe that fits the foot.

Many of the ‘under-skilled’ shoers of today use inventory of various shoes that are pre-clipped, or fashioned in other ways, that they may spread or close the shoe slightly, pull it back until the factory clips come into contact with the foot and now nail it on. Obviously, this is not in the best interest of the foot or the horse. A fit that looks okay but in reality is no where near right may render a lameness over a period of time that can become permanent!

Horsemanship is an important part of being a good shoer. The ability to read or ‘FEEL’ a horses’ body language is paramount in the scheme of keeping it sound. Good Horsemanship will enable you to tell if the horse is comfortable at all four corners, or if it is favoring a corner that can lead to serious problems.

Communication, or the lack of it, plagues many industries. This one is no different. The second reason Owners look for another shoer is: “My shoer will not return my calls. This has been going on for a couple of weeks.” A professional shoer returns calls, makes appointments and KEEPS THE APPOINTMENTS!!!

All of the above things I have mentioned are worth something. Not many people are willing to pay for any of them. The only interest is the ‘bottom line.’ When logic fails, another approach has to be used. The ‘bottom line’ is also a place most only want to know what it is, not how you get there.
 

Shoer 1 charges $75 every 6 weeks. This person finished a 6 week course of ‘How to shoe a horse’, 18 months ago. This person shoes your horse 9 times in a year, $675 per year/ $3,375 in 5 years If he doesn’t go up on his prices or has forced you to find another shoer, you are finding your horse does not run as fast or is not completely sound all of the time.

A ‘Certified’ or ‘Certified Journeyman’ shoer is in your area, Shoer 2. He belongs to the American Farriers Association and the local chapter horse shoers organization. He probably has lived in the area for a number of years and has a family. He goes to all the clinics and seminars that time and money allow. This person charges $110 for a shoe job. He performs a quality job that lasts 14 days longer than the previous jobs. Whom do you spend the most money with in 5 years???

The great reluctance for a person to spend almost half again the cost of a service is expected and reasonable in these times. However, if one does the math and also realizes that the cheapest is usually the ones just starting out and has the least experience and abilities, then one realizes they are not coming close to getting their moneys worth, especially over a long period of time.

THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD THAT SOME MAN CAN NOT MAKE A LITTLE WORSE AND SELL A LITTLE CHEAPER. AND HE WHO CONSIDERS PRICE ONLY IS THIS MANS’ LAWFUL PREY. John Ruskin 1819~1900


If all you expect from you shoer is slapping something on the hooves of your horse, price may be your only concern. However, you run the risk of permanently damaging your horse every time it is re-shod .

The least expensive way to do anything is to do it properly the first time. Doing anything properly requires proper experience. Serious professional organizations use Certification to assure that practitioners understand and properly apply the proven techniques of their trade. The best assurance of proper care is for the Owner to insist on properly certified practitioners.

Only by the owners’ participation and understanding of what ‘CERTIFICATION’ means, can the standard of shoeing be raised.

Shoeing just provides the opportunity, on a regular basis, to assure that the horse is well and to identify potential problems before they get out of hand. If all you are getting is a change of shoes, done by a shoe-changer, you are not getting good value for the money you are spending.

The health, well being, and long service of the sound horse is the reason for these pages.

Thank You:
Lynn Jean
Certified Journeyman Farrier
AFA #1004