Farriers, Donkeys And Ponies

I will not pretend that my donkeys and ponies love the farrier visits; however, having their feet routinely trimmed is an essential part of their care that must be endured.

I always ensure the ponies and donkeys are in their stable, surrounded by familiar things and wearing their head collars before the farrier arrives. This saves the farrier time and enables me to groom my equines before their feet are looked at. It is always time well spent. It allows me to check them and ensure they are calm and ready for the farrier’s arrival.

I have to say that the donkeys are by far more well-behaved than the ponies when having their feet looked at, and they do, usually, stand quietly whilst they have their feet cleaned and trimmed. The ponies, on the other hand, see it as a time for fun and games. When one pony has their feet done, the other will usually try to pinch some of the farrier’s equipment or give him a cheeky nip on the rear!

Owners of horses, ponies, and donkeys need the services of a good farrier. Visits should be arranged every six weeks or so to ensure the animals’ feet are kept healthy and free from infection. The farrier will clean, trim and, if necessary, shoe the animal. They will cut out excess hoof walls and trim dead soles and frogs. Without this, the hooves will become overgrown and extremely uncomfortable for the equine.

Farriers need to be confident and have physical strength and stamina, which is evident even with my miniature donkeys and ponies, who will sometimes kick out or rear up. Often, it is more strenuous for the farrier to work on miniature equines as the job entails more bending.

Farrier costs will vary depending on the amount of work needed and whether the equine requires shoeing. All my ponies and donkeys are booked in simultaneously, so only one visit is necessary every six weeks. If your pony or horse is kept at a livery, then it might be worthwhile speaking to other owners and booking farrier visits in conjunction. A farrier will most likely charge less if he is seeing several equines in the same place at the same time.

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