Farrier problems

[Bexster]

My TB cast 2 shoes, 1 front & 1 back I am now on my 2nd very unrelaible farrier! So much to my upset he had 2 shoes missing and looks foot soar. I have got a farrier coming to look at his feet later to see if he can do the remidal shoeing he requires, apart from this I am struggling to get a farrier whos relaible and good enough to do heart bars etc.....................any ideas of what I can do??????????:(

[Bay Mare]

I'm not sure if you're the Sheffield side of Derbyshire but there seems to be a lack of good farriers :( They seem to be either ok or crap. The one decent remedial farrier in the area is notoriously unreliable. Someone that I know who had a remedial farrier ended up taking her horse barefoot ... successfully!

Just for interest, why does your horse need heart bars?

[Bexster]

Yeah I am the sheff side of Derbyshire, he had heart bars first put on by the farrier at leahurst, he has several problems, he is an ex racer and was tripping etc all the time, he hooves were in poor condition, he clipped the hooves short and applied heart bars to circulate the blood better around the frog. If you could recommend any farriers in the Bakewell area would be greatly appreciated.Thanks

[Est]

Oh dear :( I really feel for you. I've had to use some farriers in the past who were less than ideal.

The FRC has a search page (http://frc.gotadsl.co.uk:7000/frc/findafarrier.asp?page=findafarrier) to find a farrier near you.

I found my first really good farrier (remedial specialist and widely considered the best in the area) by visiting my vet. He called the farrier for me and referred my horse to him. Once this farrier had sorted out the main problems with my horse's feet, he referred him to another farrier who used to be his apprentice, and we stayed with him for about 6 months.

When we had to change farrier for the final time, we asked for recommendations from friends. After calling a few of their farriers and asking for assistance we were put in touch with one of their apprentices who had just set up practice on his own. His books were filling up fast, so we were lucky to call in time. He's a very good farrier and can do remedial work as necessary.

So I would also try your vet, and if that doesn't work try phoning friends/livery yards/local PC club DCs/RC secretaries etc etc and asking who they use/know of. Someone, somewhere will be able to recommend a farrier and if that farrier can't fit you in, chances are they will know someone who can.

Letting them know that you come to visits armed with flasks of tea/coffee and a generous supply of biscuits always helps too ;) :D