In my last post I talked about my customers saying how my services saved them close to $1000 a year in maintenance costs per horse — so let’s look at that savings and how it can be verified.
I did some research and found, at least in my area, when a horse owner calls out a veterinarian for their horse it is, in most cases, for a lameness issue. I have also found that over 70% of the ranch calls that a veterinarian does make is in response to lameness issues — which a good farrier can eliminate with good shoeing practices and save you money!
In order for a farrier to have those good shoeing practices they must have a solid foundation rooted in education, experience and ability and that only comes from time and dedication. Farriers today need much more experience and mentoring then they receive before they are classed as skilled tradesmen. The type of experience and mentoring that they do need comes from day after day guidance that is received in a well-balanced and monitored structured educational program that is present in other trades that have highly qualified personnel.
It has also come to light over the last few years that there is a drastic change in the attitude of veterinarians when it comes to recommending a farrier to their clients. To be quite honest, in what I have seen, you can’t blame the veterinarians fully. After all; the majority of the newer farriers that veterinarians come into contact with don’t have the training or the experience that is necessary to accomplish the high level of skill that is required to meet the goals and needs of the programs set out by the veterinarian.
That one fact alone has created a great rift between the veterinarians and the farriers and is getting worse each year. What is needed is a quality program that is on going and has a solid foundation with 3rd party verification that the veterinarian associations can put some trust and faith in, get behind and support.
As in any relationship that has suffered a crisis — one side has to make the first effort and I believe that it is up to the farrier trade to make that first effort and show the veterinarians that they can once again work with and trust the trade.
Your Thoughts ……….
Until next time. “Ride for the Brand”.
About Bob Burdekin
Bob Burdekin grew up in the mid-western United States where his family raised Arabian horses. His first structured riding lessons began at the age of three to learn forward seat. This early love for horses solidified at the age of sixteen when he first began to learn the farrier's craft from former US cavalrymen.
A keen desire to expand his knowledge took Bob on a 40-year journey from Montana, across eleven western states and Canada, until finally settling in California. Along the way he learned pathological and corrective farrier skills from Scott Simpson (American Farriers Assoc.; inductee, Farriers' Hall of Fame); insights from Gene Overnick (developer of the Equine Digit Support System and creator of the Natural Balance shoe) and equine anatomy and physiology from noted veterinary specialists, Drs. Richard Scott, Bob Clark and Dean Essex.
In Canada, Bob was licensed to shoe Thoroughbreds at the racetracks in British Columbia, and all across Canada for Standardbred racing. There he met and was mentored by Bob Marshall, Sr. (a well known 3rd generation English farrier and father of noted farrier clinician Bob Marshall, Jr.). He also received additional training for work with hunter/jumpers and dressage horses from Kevin White, farrier for the Canadian Olympic Equestrian team. Bob was back-up farrier for Mr. White while he resided in Canada.
Upon returning to the United States, Bob was licensed by the California State Horse Racing Commission to work on race tracks throughout California. He was also on staff at UC Davis as the relief supervisor for the farrier staff at their veterinary medical teaching hospital.
Bob Burdekin's career has given him extensive experience in all facets of the horse industry. From backyard pleasure horses, cutters, reiners, 3-day eventers and dressage competitors to driving, halter and gaited horses, Bob has improved the comfort and performance of thousands of grateful horses.
Bob’s extensive knowledge base grew and expanded whenever he worked with horses, whether it be shoeing, ground work or riding. Bob made it his number one goal to learn to understand horses and learn what allowed them to become part of their society. Taking this approach allowed Bob into their world and an acceptance was realized that working with horses was learning their rules and learning to work within them.
Not satisfied with shoeing and corrective farrier work, Bob has devoted years to research and development of an educational program for horse owners, trainers, veterinarians and farriers to enable them to treat the whole horse with prevention of injuries and overall wellness in mind.
Bob Burdekin Classic Horse Care 