Between your farrier’s schedule and your own, you may not have the luxury of choosing an appointment time—you take what works. But the time of day when your horse is shod can have an impact on the stress levels and safety of all involved. With that in mind, here are the best times to have your farrier come out:
• Well before turnout time. Your farrier doesn’t want to be working on a horse focused on going out with his buddies.
• After mealtime. A hungry horse anticipating his next meal may not be willing to stand patiently to have his hooves tended to.
• At a low-traffic time of day. You horse is more likely to be on edge if your barn is buzzing with lessons, departing trail groups or other activities—and can make your farrier’s job more difficult. Wait until the barn area is nice and boring, if you can.
• After a riding session. A horse who has expended some energy in the ring or on the trails is more likely to stand still to during farriery work. (Give him ample time to cool out and relax before standing still, though.)
