During the daily grind of horseshoeing, how often do you stop and scan your surroundings for potential hazards before pulling your rig into a barn? Do you knowingly check the shoeing area for fire hazards before hot shoeing?

These are just two of the many things that you can easily overlook, placing yourself in a position of liability if an accident occurs.

Here, a few in­structors from horseshoeing schools across the nation share tips on how you can avoid putting yourself at risk of liability expenses.

Communicate With Owners, Trainers

One of the first steps to avoiding any major problems when shoeing a horse is to communicate well with your customers and establish trust. “When you shoe a new horse, it’s a good idea to ask the owner to tell you what they know about the horse,” recommends Nate Allen, instructor at Mesa Technical College in Tucumcari, N.M. “Ask these types of questions to protect yourself and get as much information about the horse as you can.”

Safety In Numbers

For safety, it’s always a good idea to have someone else present when you’re shoeing. Allen requires a horse’s owner or trainer to be present when he shoes. “That’s not always a practical situation, because sometimes that means shoeing horses in the evening rather than during the day,” he says.

HAZARD CONTROL. Be aware of hazards in your shoeing area, especially children and pets, which can be unpredictable.

“Many farriers prefer cross-ties and that’s fine if the horses are trained…