Dealing with farrier cancellations has gotten complicated with all the scheduling chaos in the equine world right now. As someone who has been stood up by farriers more times than I’d like to admit, I learned everything there is to know about handling these frustrating situations. Today, I will share it all with you.
Don’t Panic — Seriously
First things first: take a breath. Most horses can go a week or two past their normal trim schedule without any real issues. I used to freak out when my farrier cancelled, thinking my horse’s hooves would fall apart. They didn’t. Just keep an eye out for cracking, chipping, or any signs that your horse is uncomfortable. A short delay is almost never an emergency.
Keep Those Feet Clean in the Meantime
This is your job whether the farrier shows up or not, but it matters even more when you’re between appointments. Pick hooves daily. Look for stones lodged in there, check for thrush (you’ll smell it before you see it), and if your horse is shod, make sure nothing is loose or shifted. Basic maintenance prevents small annoyances from snowballing while you wait.
Line Up a Backup Farrier Now
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Every horse owner needs at least two farrier contacts. Not because your primary farrier is unreliable — life just happens. People get sick, trucks break down, emergencies come up.
Ask around at your barn. Post in local equine Facebook groups. Check with your vet — they usually know who’s good. I found my backup farrier through a recommendation from my feed store, of all places. Having that second number in your phone takes the stress out of cancellations completely.
Schedule Smarter Going Forward
Here’s a trick I picked up after one too many last-minute reschedules: book your next appointment on the early end of your horse’s trim cycle. If your horse goes six weeks between trims, schedule at five. That builds in a buffer for cancellations, vacations, weather delays, whatever. You’re never scrambling because you’ve already got wiggle room built in.
Be the Client Farriers Want to Keep
Good farriers are slammed. That’s what makes reliability endearing to us horse people — we know a farrier who shows up consistently is worth their weight in gold. So be easy to work with. Have your horse caught and ready when they arrive. Keep the work area clean and dry. Be flexible on timing when you can. Pay on time, every time.
Farrier cancellations are annoying, but they’re part of horse ownership. Having a backup plan and building in schedule cushion turns a potential crisis into a minor inconvenience. And hey, your horse probably doesn’t mind the extra few days.
Leave a Reply