It Usually Ain't the Shoe...it's the Nails

[DVeritas@aol.com]

    A lost or pulled shoe is extremely frustrating, no doubt.  It can be
terribly aggravating for the horse, the rider and the farrier.
    My endurance horses are shod with eight nails in the front...but accidents
DO happen and if I pull one in the rocks, Bad Luck and if my horse's foot
growth is such that he doesn't need reshod (typically the case), my farrier
zips on over and slaps another on.  I always offer to compensate him and he
never accepts.  I believe that is the manner a truly symbiotic relationship
between farrier/horseowner should go.
    IF I have been conditioning enough to wear the nail heads down and my
horse throws a shoe, then I feel compelled in insisting that he take a few
bucks to compensate him for his time.  (After all, it was I who shortened the
life of the iron.  I feel this pays dividends for an owner/horse down the
trail, so to speak.
    Not every farrier conducts business in this manner, but then, not every
horseowner is realistic when it comes to shoeing and riding in such a manner
as to prolong the length of a shoe job (at least for six weeks or so).
    I hate paying high dollar for a good shoe job, but I HATE a POOR SHOE JOB
EVEN MORE!
    Good Luck.

Frank Solano
Gering, Nebraska
Eastwind Valley Ranch


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