10 Things That Drive Farriers Crazy
Farriers put up with more than most horse owners realize, from muddy hooves to lost shoes at the worst times. Here are ten funny but all-too-real things that drive them crazy.
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I’m sitting in my barn aisle on my computer, idly gossiping with my farrier — probably my favorite person when it comes to my horses’ upkeep. Because I run a boarding barn (and have Thoroughbreds), we see each other pretty regularly. Today is about the perfect day for it — it’s cool (finally!), a little overcast, there’s even a breeze, and even the flies seem less intent on bugging all of us (pun intended).
For years, my farrier and I have joked about starting a farrier confessional — and we’ll get to that. But for today, here is a list of 10 things that drive every farrier crazy (try not to be one of them).
1. Horses that act like angels… until the rasp comes out.
2. Owners who swear their horse was “just trimmed” (six months ago).
3. Mud, mud, and more mud — because clean hooves are a myth.
4. Horses leaning like they’re auditioning for the Tower of Pisa.
5. Owners who insist their horse is never bad… while it tries to kick your head off.
6. Shoeing in 95° heat while the horse decides now is the time to dance.
7. Lost shoes right before a big show— bonus points if it’s midnight.
8. Being asked to “just do a quick trim” on a draft horse — or a mini.
9. Hooves packed with mysterious substances you’d rather not identify.
10. People who think shoeing takes “just a few minutes.”
What else drives farriers up the wall? Let us know!
