Steve McConnell (Waterford, Ont., Canada)
Much like finding that special horse, finding that special farrier can be a long, exhausting and disappointing process. That flashy, safe, eight-year-old 16.1 hand gelding in the ad can quite easily turn out to be a crippled, nasty 15.2 hand beast who hasn’t seen a curry comb in months. That farrier who promises to show up on time to tack a shoe back on can easily turn into a hack with a hammer and an education from a YouTube video.
Crossing paths with Steve McConnell put an end to the search. We met over a client horse. I was pretty deflated with the farriers I had met and worked with in the region up until that point, and my dissatisfaction was growing more and more evident with each new farrier I phoned. I was pretty straight up with Steve, “If you can show up on time, make my horses go well, deal with my poor-footed Thoroughbred, and, if your ego isn’t bigger than your truck, I have a barn-full you can do.” His response sealed the deal, “I take my job seriously. I’m a professional. If you respect me, I’ll respect you.” And that’s exactly what has transpired.
Steve has done a phenomenal job on everything from show horses to minis at our farm. His attention to detail is exceptional. His desire to continuously better himself as a professional farrier is admirable. He is punctual and prompt and takes his job seriously. He takes time to explain what he’s doing, and how it will influence the horse. His passion and enthusiasm for what he does is infectious.
Even more importantly, my horses all dance thanks to his craftsmanship. His goal of making my horses forget about their feet has been achieved in a matter of months. The difference is notable and spectacular. No longer are they compromising their quality of gait in order to preserve their feet. It truly takes an entire team to get the best out of every equine athlete, and I couldn’t imagine working with anyone as knowledgeable, committed, educated and, for lack of better word, awesome, as Steve.
— Jenny Jelen (Ridgeville, Ont., Canada)
