Understanding the Bigger Picture

By Will Clinging, CJF, AJFC

“The farrier crippled that horse.”

Over the past few months, I have heard this from at least two people complaining on behalf of a friend whose horse had gone lame. The farrier was implicated in both cases, and I was asked to consult on one of them. I am going to talk about several issues we farriers deal with all the time, and why it is highly unlikely that the farrier was responsible for the lameness.

These two stories describe the circumstances surrounding complaints in which a horse’s lameness was attributed to the farrier.

Story #1:

The first story concerns a horse that became severely lame, prompting the owner to call on several different farriers for help. While I don’t have details about the cause of the lameness, this situation strikes me as an example of a difficult client rather than a farrier issue. It seems there was little or no communication with the attending farrier, nor was the farrier given an opportunity to address the problem. The owner likely provided no diagnostic information and instead moved from one farrier to another until the horse eventually improved.

It’s extremely challenging to solve a problem when you don’t know what the problem is — or even that one exists. In such cases, blame often falls unfairly on the farrier, who may be doing their best with very limited information.

Farriers build their businesses around their clients, and good clients are not easy to come by. Unfortunately, many horse owners don’t recognize when they are being poor clients. Issues such as poor communication, refusal to involve a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis, failure to keep horses on a consistent trimming/shoeing schedule, or maintaining substandard stabling conditions all contribute to this. These factors make the farrier’s job unnecessarily difficult and compromise the horse’s care.

Story #2:

In the second story, a client asked me to examine one of their horses — although another farrier had been providing its care. The client had been told by a fellow boarder that the farrier had trimmed the horse too short and crippled it.

Upon inspection, I found no evidence of over-trimming. Instead, the horse was suffering from a solar fungal infection that had weakened the sole of the already flat-footed, thin-soled horse. In this case, genetics and environmental conditions — not the farrier’s work — were the cause of the problem.

A maintained hoof but one of poor quality due to genetics — very brittle and prone to cracking. This horse must wear shoes to keep him sound. Photo: Kailey McIntosh

This situation is a good example of the Dunning-Kruger effect, defined as when individuals with limited knowledge or skill in a particular area believe they are far more capable than they actually are. Unfortunately, such misunderstandings can be extremely damaging to a farrier’s reputation. The horse industry is relatively small, and reputation is critical to sustaining a business. Unfounded accusations can unfairly tarnish the standing of skilled professionals doing their best for the horses in their care.

These are just two examples of how farriers often end up being unfairly blamed. Farriers receive input from many different sources — the trainer, the lessee, the owner, barn staff, even the spouse of the horse’s owner — and of course, the most important source of all, which is the horse itself. However, this information is often incomplete. Over time, we learn more about each horse’s needs and develop a trimming or shoeing protocol tailored to that individual. This process relies heavily on accurate, up-to-date feedback, especially when it concerns the horse’s soundness. Unfortunately, farriers are not always kept in the loop. Without new information, we can only assume that the current approach is working.

I believe farriers and trimmers must do better — and that owners, trainers, and veterinarians also must step up.

FARRIERS AND TRIMMERS: THE REALITIES

Lack of Regulation

The farrier and trimmer industry in North America is completely unregulated. There are no standards for training, education, knowledge, or experience. No mandatory schooling, testing, or accreditation exists.

Training can range from:

• A weekend course.
• Learning informally on a ranch from untrained handlers.
• Watching YouTube videos and buying tools.
• Taking longer structured courses or apprenticeships.

The result? Many farriers and trimmers are severely undereducated and underprepared to handle complex hoof-care issues. A three-month (or shorter) course may provide just enough knowledge to be dangerous. Longer eight- or nine-month programs provide a stronger foundation, but without years of practice, competence is limited. The best-trained farriers are those who complete apprenticeships, achieve certification, and continue learning through clinics, competitions, and conferences.

Related: Build Your Equine Team This Winter

A team of farriers shoeing a horse for competition. Conferences and competitions are excellent forms of education for farriers and something to ask about when looking for a new farrier. Photo: Chad Lausen

We all start with little to no experience and ideally improve over time. But farriers who isolate themselves from the farrier community often plateau. Fatigue, injury, and overwork can creep in, leading to shortcuts and declining work quality.

The Horse Owner’s Role

A farrier’s work is heavily influenced by factors beyond their control:

The horse: Temperament, behaviour, and training matter. A well-handled horse with good ground manners is safer and allows for higher-quality work.

The environment: A well-lit, dry, hazard-free workspace makes a difference.

The schedule: Horses kept on a consistent four- to six-week trimming/shoeing cycle with updated veterinary diagnostics allow for the best results.

The best-case scenario for the farrier to provide excellent, precise care is a calm, well-mannered horse, standing quietly in good working conditions, with recent vet diagnostics and well-maintained feet.

Related: A Farrier's Perspective - Safe Horses, Safe Spaces, and Farriers Today

A nice healthy pair of hind feet, on a strict six-week schedule. Photo: Kailey McIntosh

The worst-case scenario is a horse pulled in muddy with a soaking wet blanket, overdue for farrier care, standing in a slippery driveway in the rain, and upset from being separated from herd mates at feeding time. No farrier can provide the same quality of work in those circumstances — and it’s their fault.

This horse is standing in a safe, flat, debris-free area and is behaving nicely for the farrier. Photo courtesy of Rowan Kohl

Another issue is the decline in basic horsemanship. Horses with poor ground manners not only endanger the farrier but make it impossible to deliver a safe, balanced trim or well-fitting shoes. If your horse requires sedation just to be shod, that’s not the farrier’s fault — that’s an owner responsibility.

Current veterinary diagnostics are essential. Outdated or missing veterinary information limits what a farrier can accomplish. For example, one client handed me a 15-year-old report for a horse suffering from navicular — no follow-up, no recent diagnostics. This was an “I’ll call you when I need you” client, and the horse was not on a regular farrier schedule. Working on an overdue horse with no clear, up-to-date medical information only sets the farrier up for failure, and yet we often shoulder the blame when the horse ends up sore.

Veterinarians and Hoof Knowledge

While many veterinarians are invaluable partners, hoof care is not always their specialty. Equine-specific vets are often excellent resources, but many general large-animal vets may lack the depth of knowledge and latest research in lameness and foot-related issues. This is not a criticism — it’s simply a reality of their broad scope of practice.

Misinformation Abounds, Collaboration is Key

Many in the horse industry are uneducated when it comes to hoof care. Owners frequently rely on advice from trainers, barn managers, vets, or farriers — but much of this information is anecdotal, outdated, or sourced from online forums, Facebook groups, and echo chambers of opinion rather than science.

Related: The Role of Therapeutic Shoeing in Equine Lameness Recovery

“As a farrier, I don’t advocate one method over another. I advocate what’s best for the horse.” — Will Clinging. Photo courtesy of Will Clinging

Owners tend to trust trainers first, then vets, bodyworkers, fellow boarders, and lastly the farrier. Unless the guidance comes from a vet with proper diagnostics (x-rays, ultrasounds, etc.), it may not be reliable.

The best results happen when the horse care team works together:

• The trainer/rider provides feedback to the vet,
• The vet investigates and diagnoses,
• The farrier applies therapeutic or supportive shoeing/trimming.

This collaborative model is the gold standard.

Legal Limits of Farriers

In British Columbia, where I work, the Veterinarians Act prohibits farriers from diagnosing lameness. Yet farriers are often asked to address lameness without veterinary input. While I may use hoof testers and experience to form a hypothesis, only a vet can confirm a diagnosis. Without that confirmation, I risk causing more harm than good. Ultimately, it’s the owner’s responsibility to provide proper veterinary care.

Veterinarian, farrier, and owner collaborating on a lameness issue. Photo: Clix Photography

Complex Hoof Challenges, Practical Options and Costs

Even a normal-looking hoof can hide serious issues such as bone remodeling, soft tissue injuries, environmental damage, or genetic predispositions.

Farriers must contend with:

• Environmental stressors: mud, rocks, bacteria, fungus.
• Genetic traits: flat feet, thin soles, shelly walls.
• Work stress: jumping, spins, stops, circles.
• Philosophical debates: barefoot vs. shod, steel vs. synthetic, nail-on vs. glue-on.

As a farrier, I don’t advocate one method over another. I advocate what’s best for the horse — considering age, breeding, workload and working surface, living environment, hoof condition, health status, owner’s goals, and financial constraints.

Practical options include:

• Barefoot with hoof boots: Least expensive if the horse is comfortable.
• Steel shoes: Next step if barefoot isn’t viable.
• Pads, synthetic shoes, glue-ons: More options but with higher costs.

The choice depends on the horse’s individual needs, rather than a rigid philosophy. I am well aware of the cost of caring for a horse and at times I must offer the least expensive option that will help the horse.

Related: Healthy Hooves, Happy Horse

What Really “Cripples” Horses

Farriers are equine health care providers, and there are many diligent, competent, and conscientious farriers doing their best for horses. Although farriers can and do make mistakes (a short trim, a hot nail, an imbalance), most horses recover quickly. Serious long-term damage usually stems from:

• Poor conformation,
• Overwork, exacerbated when the horse has poor conformation,
• Lack of maintenance,
• Failure to keep the horse on a consistent hoof care schedule,
• Overfeeding and under-exercising,
• Genetic weakness, often the result of irresponsible breeding.

Farriers do not cause laminitis, founder, arthritis, or most abscesses. We may influence the management of these conditions, but they are rarely the direct result of our work.

The Reality of Farrier Life

Being a farrier is difficult physically and mentally. Many leave the trade early due to injury, fatigue, or difficult clients. We care deeply about your horses and often lose sleep over their well-being. But remember: We are only one member of the team.

Appreciate the farrier you have or find one you trust. Despite varying levels of training and experience, most of us are doing our best for your horse’s long-term soundness.

Related: Healthy Hooves Hoof Care Guide

Resources:

• Western Canadian Farrier Association
  
• Ontario Farriers Association
• Quebec Farriers Association
• Association of Farrier Trainers of Canada
  
• American Farrier's Association
  
• The Worshipful Company of Farriers

Related: The Essential Role of Farriers in Hoof Care: Why Certification Matters

Related: Daily Hoof Care: A Vital Responsibility for Horse Owners

More by Will Clinging

Main Photo: AdobeStock/Dawn