At last winter’s fifth annual International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, two veteran farriers tackled a number of frequently asked questions about the footcare industry. For the second straight year, this “Point/Counterpoint” discussion proved to be among the highlights of this annual event.

This unrehearsed, fast-paced session sparked a number of differing viewpoints for Summit attendees. In this article, Rick Burten of Champaign, Ill., and Chris Gregory of Lamar, Mo., share views on pricing and scheduling issues.

Q: Are there good ways to explain or demonstrate the importance of regular shoeing and trimming intervals to clients who may be inclined to let their horses go a little longer to save a few dollars?

Gregory: If I have a horse scheduled and a client doesn’t want me to do it at that time, it’s very hard for me to get that horse scheduled again. As a result, clients can be taken off my schedule books a lot easier than they can get back on the books. I simply don’t allow customers to go off my schedule.

Burten: I carry several Horse Science-Horse Sense hoof models with me and if I have somebody who wants to stretch out the footcare schedule when it shouldn’t be stretched out, I’ll show them what can result with the hoof models. I’ll explain why I want to do what I want to do and when I’m doing it. If they don’t like it, they can find another farrier.

Q: A horse owner wants to schedule