Questions for Choosing Your Professionals

How do you choose a farrier, veterinarian, or trainer?  Here are some questions I use when I've moved to a new area and need to screen potential professionals for my horse.  Since the list of people to phone interview from the google online search can be quite long, it can be helpful to start interviews with a list of professionals who were referred to you.  If you find a trainer you like, get names of farriers and vets from her.  If you find a vet you like, see who he has had good experiences with for a farrier or trainer.  Word of mouth is powerful in the horse world, so take everything with a grain of salt, but use the information presented to you.


Farrier

How long have you been working as a farrier?
Do you shoe horses or only do barefoot trims?
Is therapeutic or corrective shoeing available?  What types?
What are your certifications?
Who have you apprenticed with?
Can I watch you trim/shoe a horse?
What do you charge each for a trim, front shoes only, and all-around basic shoes?

Garmin's feet 2012

Garmin the pony's feet 2010

How do you feel about working with a veterinarian?
Do you do all your own farrier work, or do you have apprentices?
Can you provide references? (Get them, then call them!)

I ask these types of things partly to get the answers, and partly to see how the farrier communicates.  I want to make sure this is someone I can talk with comfortably, and someone who will take the time to listen to my concerns, questions and thoughts.  The answers you want from the farrier depend on you, your horse, and your horse's needs.  I do ask the corrective shoeing questions even if I have a horse who does well barefoot, because that may change at some point for medical reasons or changing horses, and I want to keep the same farrier if I like him. 

Veterinarian

How long have you been practicing veterinary medicine?
What are your specialties, what cases interest you the most?
What other professionals in the area do you work with/collaborate with?  Trainers, other veterinarians, farriers?
What services do you offer?  (If you want them to work on your cows as well, make sure they do bovine medicine!  Similarly, if you want your veterinarian to be competent in acupuncture, laser therapy, chiropractic or body work, ask about it)
How far in advance do routine appointments need to be scheduled?
What is your availability for emergencies?
Do you bring a technician with you to handle the horse?
Do you recommend and/or perform humane euthanasia when necessary?

Dentistry using hand floating

Do you do equine dentistry with power tools and/or hand floats?  Why?
Do you recommend vaccination?  Which vaccines?
References available?  (Get them, then call them!)

Again, these questions are partly to get the answers, partly to see how the veterinarian communicates.  You want a vet of whom you are comfortable asking questions.  It is important that you are able to understand the vet's recommendations, and that he can explain things to you in a way that makes sense, not just in veterinary terminology.  If you initially get a receptionist, ask her questions, but also ask to speak with the veterinarian as well.  This will tell you how busy the vet is, and whether he can make time for new clients.  The answers you want from the vet depend on what you are planning to do with your horse, for example a broodmare will have different special needs than a competing performance horse. 

Trainer

How long have you been training?
What types of horses do you mostly work with?
What type of horse is your favorite to work with?
What is your background and what kind of riding do you currently do?  english, western, trailriding, jumping, reining, dressage, cattle sorting?  If you know what discipline you want to pursue, ask about it.
What is your training philosophy?

Do you offer circus pony training?

Give the trainer a training scenario, and ask how she would handle it.  Good examples are difficulty trailer loading, bucking, starting a horse under saddle, teaching a horse ground manners.
Do you have a barn vet and barn farrier?  
Am I allowed to come watch you train my horse?
How involved can I be in my horse's training process?
Can I take lessons on my own horse?  Do you have lesson horses?
Do you have any certifications?
Do you carry equine liability insurance?
What is your barn like?  What are your typical clients like?
Is showing/competing a requirement for working with your barn?
Do other trainers work out of your facility?
Do you travel to other facilities?
Do you require helmets?
Before I commit, may I watch you work with a horse?  Teach a lesson?
What is your commission on sale horses?  How many do you sell in a season?
Prices for training including how many training sessions per week, price of lessons, etc.
References available?  (Get them, then call them!)

The answers you want to these questions will vary depending on your circumstances.  It is very important that you are comfortable with the trainer and can ask her questions, especially if you want to be able to work with horses on your own when the trainer is done with them.  Even if you are just placing a horse in training to get it sold you want to ensure that the trainer is ethical and will treat your animal kindly, as well as be honest with you and potential buyers. 

What other things do you look for when screening potential professionals for your horse's "team"?