Many farriers have a tried-and-tested method of working with microbial issues on a horse’s feet. But from time to time, a case might come along that is particularly stubborn — when nothing seems to work or it just keeps recurring, despite a hoof-care professional’s best efforts.

Like other farriers, Mike Bagley was getting client calls from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. Understandably, it is hard to keep your cool when it seems like clients don’t respect your private time. Now the Canton, Ohio, farrier leaves it to his voicemail to help. The voicemail greeting states his hours of contact and informs the caller that he does not work on Sundays. “By limiting the times I take calls I’m adding a human element to myself,” he says. “It tells them in a subtle way that I am human too and need my time away from work like anyone else does.”