How many times have you been sure of a vet’s diagnosis — or of your gut feeling, only to be proven wrong later? Yeah, me too. It’s humbling, and it just plain sucks. The problem isn’t the mistake; it’s the certainty that got you there.

Certainty is comforting, but it’s also dangerous. When you think you’ve found the solution, that’s when you need to start asking more questions. Is the frog being properly engaged? Are you sure the horse’s posture isn’t a contributing factor? Is the farrier work the issue, or are we dealing with metabolic stress manifesting in the hoof?

A solid relationship with the vet is crucial. Otherwise, you’re nothing but another tool in their toolbox and probably not the sharpest one either. Always beware of that bus speeding at you — someone is there, waiting to throw you under it.

You need to become your own worst critic. Treat every assumption like a ticking time bomb. Be able to argue politely, yet thoroughly. Be prepared to dismantle everything you thought you knew. When a horse doesn’t respond to treatment, the issue is not always with the horse — it may be your approach. You missed something. Go back. Rethink it. That’s not failure. It’s progress. If you’re walking away from every hoof without a shred of self-criticism, that is true failure. We can all be better. We can all do better.

Gain more insight from Nicholas Denson by reading “Thinking Outside the Box in Farriery” in the January/February 2025 issue of American Farriers Journal.