In Southern California, the availability of farriers is limited, and the highly skilled and established farriers already have a full roster of clients. Consequently, if you are a new customer with a horse that hasn’t been trained to stand calmly during hoof care, it will be challenging to find an experienced farrier willing to work with your horse.

This is primarily due to the inherent risks involved in farrier work. Introducing an “unhandled horse” into the equation significantly increases the likelihood of injury to the farrier.

A farrier once explained to me, “As a self-employed individual, my ability to earn a living is directly tied to my ability to work. I don’t receive sick leave or worker’s compensation, and disability insurance costs are exorbitant. No amount of compensation can justify working on a horse that isn’t trained to stand for shoeing!”

Therefore, if you have an “unhandled” horse that requires the services of a farrier, you have two options:

Begin handling the horse and train it to stand calmly for the farrier.

Seek out a farrier who is willing to work on such horses, likely an individual trying to build their clientele. However, their experience and the quality of their work may be uncertain.

If you have a horse that hasn’t been trained to stand for farrier work and you lack the knowledge to train them appropriately, it is essential to acknowledge the gravity of the situation. Engaging the services of a professional trainer to work with your horse would be your best course of action.

In the event that you have an unhandled adult horse with severely neglected feet, requiring immediate attention to prevent permanent damage, involving a veterinarian becomes necessary. The horse will need to be sedated and properly restrained, allowing the farrier to work safely. Administering tranquilizers or sedatives is a task that should be handled by a veterinarian.