2025 Respective Responsibilities
At Big River Equine, my first priority is your horse’s comfort and soundness. Every trimming or shoeing appointment is a partnership between horse, owner, and farrier.
When we each do our part, your horse thrives — and the process is safer and smoother for everyone.
These guidelines are here to make things easier for all of us. When we work together, your horse gets the very best care I can provide.
(Click HERE for the Cliff Notes version of the Respective Responsibilities.
Farrier Work Conditions and Horse Evaluation Procedures:
Farrier work covers a wide range of care, but the day-to-day attention your horse receives makes the biggest difference. You know your horse best and see them every day, which makes you their primary caregiver. By regularly checking legs, feet, and shoes (if shod), and following through on recommendations, you set the stage for each appointment to be safe, effective, and comfortable for your horse.
A safe, comfortable space makes trimming and shoeing smoother for everyone. Ideally, this means a flat, well-lit, uncluttered area that’s dry and out of the weather. Keeping the space free of mud and manure helps your horse stay relaxed and keeps my tools working properly. Safety is always a team effort — when the environment supports us, your horse gets the best care.
At the heart of every appointment is your horse — their comfort and wellbeing always come first.
For everyone’s safety, I’ll need a responsible adult present to hold your horse during the appointment. If you can’t be there, please arrange for a family member, friend, neighbor, or staff member to step in on your behalf.
To give your horse the very best trim or shoeing, it’s important that their feet are picked out and reasonably clean before I arrive. This helps me focus fully on balance and accuracy instead of spending time clearing mud, gravel, or manure. If you have multiple horses, please have them ready in a clean, dry area so we can move smoothly from one to the next. What may feel like a quick task on your end adds up to dozens of feet each day for me, and preparing your horse ahead of time protects both my back and the quality of work your horse receives. Thank you for helping me give them the best care possible.
To get the best results, please have your horse caught, haltered, reasonably clean, and with feet picked out before your scheduled appointment time. A quick groom ahead of time helps me give a more accurate, thorough trim or shoeing and keeps the process safer for both of us.Muddy legs, wet feet, or extra gear (like blankets, wraps, or fly boots) make it harder for me to work safely and can even damage my tools. During fly season, a little extra fly spray goes a long way toward keeping your horse comfortable and still. If needed, I’m happy to use mine and will add a $5 charge per horse to your bill. Thank you for helping me create the best possible environment for your horse’s care — these small steps make a big difference in the quality of the work I can provide.
During shedding season, please wait until after our appointment to brush or shed your horse.
For your horse’s safety and to ensure I can do a proper, balanced job, I may need to reschedule if a horse is too wet or too dirty to work on. If that happens, it will be treated as a same-day cancellation and a 50% charge of the estimated bill will apply. I’ll be happy to get you back on the schedule as soon as possible.
Wet legs can be slippery and unsafe for both horse and farrier. If your horse’s legs are muddy, it’s best to towel them off rather than hosing right before our appointment —. If you do hose, please allow plenty of time for them to dry or have towels handy so we can keep things safe and comfortable.
Grinder training: Farrier work is extremely physical, and after years of strain I now manage ongoing back pain. To protect my health and ensure I can keep serving you and your horse long-term, I’ve transitioned to using a grinder instead of a manual rasp. This allows me to work in safer, less painful positions and still give your horse my best work.
The grinder also benefits the horse: it creates less vibration than a rasp, lets me hold their legs in more comfortable positions, and allows for a precise trim in less time. Many horses — especially older or arthritic ones — actually seem to prefer it.
During your horse’s first few appointments, I’ll spend time acclimating them to the sound and feel of the grinder. I use ear pom poms to soften the noise, and most horses adapt quickly. If extra training is needed between appointments, I may ask you to help at home. In rare cases, we might consider temporary sedation until your horse is fully comfortable.
If a manual rasp trim is required during the transition, there is a $15 upcharge. Rasping by hand is significantly harder on my back, so I reserve it for situations where it’s truly necessary.
If our appointment falls during feeding time, please hold off on feeding nearby horses until we’re finished. A hungry or distracted horse has a much harder time standing quietly, and avoiding this makes the trim safer and more comfortable for everyone. I know it can be tricky to juggle feeding schedules, but this small adjustment really helps your horse stay focused and relaxed.
Please hold off on applying hoof dressings or Hoof Armor right before our appointment. Fresh products can make it harder for me to work effectively, and waiting until after ensures the trim or shoeing goes smoothly and gives you a fresh clean canvas for application.
For the sake of consistency and quality, I don’t refit or adjust the work of other farriers. I’ve found it’s best for the horse when I work from my own trim and shoeing plan.
At times I may ask to see your horse walk or trot. Watching them in motion helps me understand how they’re moving, make necessary adjustments, and catch any signs of discomfort or lameness early on.
Horse Behavior:
Horses stand more comfortably — and I can work more effectively — when they’re not tied up for long periods before the appointment. A fresh, relaxed horse makes the process easier and safer for everyone.
If your horse has a lot of extra energy, a short lunge or ride before our appointment can really help them settle and stand more comfortably. I may recommend this if I feel it would make the experience easier and safer for both of us moving forward.
You know your horse best, so I’ll look to you for guidance if they need correction during the appointment. This helps keep things safe and ensures your horse understands what’s expected.
I handle every horse with patience and respect — never harshness. I don’t mind a curious sniff or nuzzle, but I do draw the line at being treated like a snack.
In rare cases where a horse shows dangerous behavior (such as biting, kicking, or striking), I may need to give a quick open-handed correction to protect my safety and set a clear boundary. This is never done harshly, only as an immediate response to unsafe behavior. My goal is always to keep interactions calm and positive, but safety must come first for both the horse and myself.
If we aren’t able to finish due to your horse’s behavior or discomfort, the next step may be to involve your veterinarian for support (such as sedation, blocking, or Dormosedan® Gel). In that case, we may need to reschedule for another day. Please note that the appointment fee still applies, since the time and effort are committed whether or not we’re able to complete the trim. My goal is always to work patiently and calmly, but if extra help is needed, we’ll make a plan together that puts everyone’s safety first.
Scheduling:
A consistent trimming or shoeing schedule benefits everyone — it makes planning easier, keeps records accurate, and most importantly, gives your horse the best possible results. My standard schedule is every 5 weeks, which helps maintain balance and comfort. If appointments are stretched much longer, I won’t be able to support your horse to the standard I hold myself to.
Consistent scheduling keeps your horse on track — and helps me plan fairly for all clients on each route.
Extending past the recommended 5-week cycle can be harder on your horse, my body, and my tools.
I do my best to accommodate everyone, but within my service areas, I have to keep a steady schedule to make it work for us all.
Of course, true emergencies (family, horse illness or injury, etc.) happen. If you need to reschedule within 48 hours for an emergency, I’ll do my best to work you back in as quickly as possible.
Non-emergent reschedules or cancellations within 48 hours of your appointment will result in a charge of 30% of the estimated bill. I’ll work you back in as soon as possible.
Within 24 hours: 40% of the estimated bill.
Same day, after confirmation, or no-call/no-show: 50% of the estimated bill.
To keep costs fair, I carefully plan routes by area. If reschedules or one-off appointments require an extra trip outside my normal rotation, a travel fee of $1.75 per one-way mile may apply. I’ll always let you know ahead of time if this is the case.
If frequent rescheduling becomes an issue, we’ll need to talk through whether my schedule can realistically support your horse’s needs. My goal is always to find a rhythm that works well for everyone but that’s not always possible.
Before I leave the barn, we’ll schedule your next appointment at the appropriate interval. That date will also be included in your emailed notes and receipt. You’ll receive a text reminder 2 days before your appointment, and if you’d like, I can also set up a one-week reminder. Please make note of your appointment and check your email for details. This helps avoid missed visits — and any cancellation fees — while keeping your horse on track for the best results.
I build extra time into my routes to handle the unexpected, but last-minute changes make it hard to stay on track for everyone. If you’d like to add or remove a horse, or switch a trim to shoes (or vice versa), please let me know at least 48 hours in advance. I’m always happy to accommodate when possible — early notice just makes it easier to plan fairly for all my clients.
I’ll always let you know by text if I’m running more than 15 minutes ahead or behind schedule.
My regular working hours are weekdays only — I don’t schedule routine appointments on nights or weekends. The only exceptions are true critical cases where both the veterinarian and farrier are needed together. Non-urgent calls, texts, and emails will be returned the following Monday during business hours. If your horse is experiencing a true emergency, please contact your veterinarian first — they are your horse’s primary line of defense in urgent situations.
My regular appointment hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 am–4:30 pm. Fridays are set aside for new emergent cases, vet appointments, consults, and weather-related reschedules. Mondays are my office day, reserved for scheduling, records, and administrative work.
Please plan to arrive a little early so your horse is caught, groomed, and ready to go by the scheduled appointment time. Having them prepared ahead of time keeps the visit smooth and ensures I can give your horse my full attention.
I’ll replace a lost shoe (can’t be found) or a cast shoe (shoe that’s found) as soon as I can. Unless a horse is foundered or seriously injured, a lost/cast shoe isn’t an emergency.
Composite shoes typically stay on 5–6 weeks when all recommendations are followed. Many losses are preventable, so please use the “shoe inspection guidelines” I provide and let me know right away if you spot a concern.
Not sure if a shoe is loose or a cast is failing? Snap a few clear photos and email them to sara@bigriverequine.com—I’m happy to take a look and advise on next steps.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding with scheduling. Because I work with many critical cases, there may be rare times I need to adjust an appointment last-minute. Please know that if you ever face an emergency, I’ll extend the same consideration to you and your horse and get to you as soon as possible.
I truly appreciate the trust you place in me to care for your horse’s hooves and overall soundness.
When we work together, your horse gets the very best outcome — and that’s always the goal.
And if you’ve read all the way to the end of this document… congratulations, you deserve a gold star (or at least a cookie)!
Thanks for taking the time to learn and understand how we can work together as a team to create the best possible outcomes!