Effective communication is key to maintaining relationships. Working with veterinarians to assess and treat hoof pathologies is common, but verbal and nonverbal miscommunication can get in the way. Though an equine professional’s goal is to do right by the horse, a farrier and vet may disagree on the best way to accomplish that. This can occur because a farrier’s knowledge base is different from that of a veterinarian, so they approach the hoof differently, or it could be beliefs and attitudes that get in the way of open communication

People interpret nonverbal communication differently based on their life experiences — or whether they had a bad day. Katie LoPresti, DVM, of Friendly Vet Clinic in Greensboro, N.C., showed a group of equine professionals at the 2024 International Hoof-Care Summit photos of various facial expressions to prove this point. While some people thought one face looked skeptical, others found it judgmental, proud or amused, which can lead to misinterpretation or a negative interaction. Included in nonverbal communication are body language, voice inflection and even texting. 

As with any professional relationship, being mindful of how you appear to others is important. Crossed arms may signal defensiveness, while short texts can indicate irritation. Overcoming these miscommunications or even barriers means understanding why they occur.