Editor’s Note: With the hard work of every day shoeing, it’s easy to get caught up in the rat race. But keeping the following tips in mind will make the tough season go better for everyone.

1. An Appointment Is A Two-Way Situation.

I venture a guess that I could ask thousands of horse owners the same question and get the same answer most of the time.

The question would be, “What is the biggest problem you have with farriers?”  The answer I’d expect would be some variation of, “He doesn’t show up.”

I have lived and worked in various parts of the country from California to North Carolina, and I’ve concluded this shortcoming is all too common to our trade. Maybe it is a reflection of our independent nature. But no matter how you slice it, it’s rude.

Many horse owners take time off work and care enough about their horses and  farrier to catch the horses and have them ready for the shoer’s arrival. If we fail to show up — or don’t let them know when we’re going to be late — we show a lack of respect for that customer. Folks have told me that often when a farrier was a no show, he or she never even called to say why the appointment was not kept.

I can’t see how anyone can run a business that way. Most of us pride ourselves on being professionals. But behaving in this manner is diametrically opposed to the…