Marilyn's farrier at that time was one of the best I've used... I did not realize until much later in life how many NOT GOOD farriers there are. Mike was excellent; he typically cold shod but could and would hot shoe if needed, and the horses all kept excellent feet, and usually were able to stay barefoot with him. Mike got out of shoeing after a riding accident, sadly, but years after Cappy's tale.
The farrier we had at university was excellent, a certified Journeyman farrier... my saddest day is when he moved out of state, and I am tempted to NOT have a horse again unless I can move there!
His teammate for shoeing competitions and an excellent farrier in his own right was J's farrier.
Cappy came with front shoes on, and I had Mike shoe him in front again the first time he was out. Unfortunately, there was a longer than usual stretch between visits due to everyone else being barefoot and the farrier being an hour's drive away, and Cappy threw a ten week shoe. Two days later, we discussed his hooves and decided on leaving him barefoot.
He was turned out in grassy fields without much rock,after all, and we worked in a neighboring landowner's large grass yard, not a sand arena to wear down hoof. Even his first winter at Crazy But Lotta Fun Farm, who had a gravel outdoor, Cappy did well barefoot. The deep gravel footing did a great job of exfoliating sole, let me tell you, and the farrier often complained that I called him too often (8 weeks) and to stretch out the visits, as he was largely self maintaining with such an abrasive riding surface.
I blame his stone bruises on the fact that he had been in such a soft environment all spring, then left to eat and stomp for hours on unforgiving, submerged boulders. Quite different from riding on gravel footing on a hoof acclimated to the surface. He never really did get stone bruises after the two incidents.
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During his first summer at J's, Cappy remained barefoot, but having the stall right at the aisleway crossties where the horses got worked on, he would hang his head out over the stall guard while the other horses were trimmed and shod.
I think this is the BEST way, if at all possible, to get a young horses acquainted with the smells and sounds of hot shoeing. His nose was often literally 8 inches away from the action, and he got plenty of nostrils-full of burning hoof while a calm, Steady Eddie or Edwina was being done. Other than a snort the first time or two, the youngster gets to see and experience it all, and when their time comes it is much, much easier.
J's (and thus Cappy's) farrier had certain rules:
1. If you kept the horse in bell boots, he would come out and replace any thrown shoes without charge. He appreciated if you could provide the thrown shoe, but still no charge if you couldn't. Cappy only needed the thrown shoe clause one time.
2. If you gave his name to someone else needing a farrier, he would take them... but drop you. He was busy enough, thank you, and liked that he only worked on sane, quiet horses.
Our travels will take us to some farriers with very different ideas...
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