Other Evaluate exrays?

While I know some trainers who don't keep their farrier bills current, though the owners have been billed and paid for the service, I don't know any that try to mark up the price they're paying. That sounds like an almost instant and effective way to lose owners.

As for trainers directing farrier work, I would say that would apply to the brand or type of shoes, but not to the actual work. I think I'll use David Hall's words here to describe how that works. "Always difficult to know what to say, it may be easier to find a new farrier than get this guy to improve." I know people, other than myself, who have hoof problem after hoof problem, and discuss with their farrier what can be done to address the problem, instead of treating symptoms, and they get nowhere. There is a disdain shown on the part of some shoers here for any input from trainers/owners. In my case, that has happened even when I've gone to the expense of exrays to try to support changes that needed made.

Here the same farriers work the same race meets, year in and year out, and they're working on the same horses much of the time. Six months here, six months 150 miles to the north, or to the fair meets scattered around the state. There is no moving on in 6 or 8 weeks to a whole new crop of horses to foul up, or to a whole new set of owners and trainers..

I have seen young horses get to the track with ridiculous feet. I don't know what percentage are neglected like that, but even if the number is small, it certainly makes an impression. This country is wet more of the year than dry, and the ground is soft or muddy a lot. Makes that an even more stupid decision.

Agree more than 100% that racehorses need quality work for what they are asked to do. But with all the work in one place and no drive time, I don't know why quality farriers wouldn't be attracted to racehorses. The ignorant ones don't stay ignorant. It's actually pretty rare to see a horse being a pain to work on. Ace? Maybe.

You're right about this having the potential to go on and on. Cheers from the other side of the pancake.

He clinches?

Aha, damning with faint praise......

Graduates from the 'Daddydiditthataway School of Race Plating', eh?

Maybe start looking at horses other than cheap claimers......

Perhaps its time to broaden your horizons?

What part of Oregon? If you're anywhere around Portland I could recommend someone perhaps. I moved from there Sep. '12. And even if you're not from the Portland area I could get your request into the grapevine.

"He clinches? "

Dang...I thought you all did that.

"Aha, damning with faint praise......"

Pretty much.

"Graduates from the 'Daddydiditthataway School of Race Plating', eh?"

Yes, or everything I need to know I learned 40 years ago.

"Maybe start looking at horses other than cheap claimers......"

You're not saying that shoers save their good work for higher end horses and then hack through the blue collar horses, are you? Quite a few cheap claimers didn't start out that way.

"Perhaps its time to broaden your horizons? "

That would be wonderful.

Hi Ray,

I took him home in January. I've kept him barefoot since so I could work on him every couple of weeks or so. I'll take new pictures soon for your review. He'll be starting back to work this month. Hopefully the reference you got for me will be just the shoer he needs to finish his rehab.

Thanks for thinking of him! Maybe there will be a win picture, or two, of him to share with you later this year.