Okay, what exactly would I ask as a horse owner looking for help from a
prospective farrier/trimmer?  No matter what you ask, really truly, the
most important thing you can do is LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS!  You can share
info about your horse and how you got to where you are, but do NOT ask a
question and then talk over the person's answer.  So here are some
starter questions.

1) My horse has been diagnosed with [Cushings/IR] by XYZ vet. Is this
something you're familiar with?

(ideal answer to this is "yes")

2) My horse has [laminitis/x degrees rotation], and I have access to the
xrays.  Have you done rehab on rotated/laminitic feet before?  Are you
used working from xrays?

(ideal answer is "yes")

2a) How many cases like that have you done? [be prepared for answers to
be like "dozens" or "a few" or "I honestly can't count" rather than
actual numbers]

3) What's your general approach to this kind of problem?

(there are any number of good answers to this question - after a certain
amount of time on the EC groups, you will have a sense of what your
preference is)

3a) Would you say your approach is more aggressive or more cautious?

(no bad answers here, but important to get a "feel" of the person)

4) I'm just in the beginning stages of learning about [xyz problem].
Will you be able to help me understand more about how his feet are
changing while we grow better feet on him?

(of course the ideal answer here is "yes", again)

5) How often do you usually like to do rechecks on feet like this while
you're rehabbing them?

(ideal answers range from 2-4 weeks in severe cases, 6-8 weeks for less
severe cases)

6) Where did you get your training?  How long have you been practicing?
Who did you apprentice with?

(these are all sort of "conversational" sort of questions - if you start
with these it will not be such a chatty interview, but if you save them
for the end you will seem less confrontational)

7)  I've learned a lot about [this condition] from an internet study
group.  I know there are lots of people on the group who have a lot of
experience with rehab.  They do consultations and follow cases with
pictures and stuff.  I'd like to keep a case history on file with the
group.  Would that bother you at all?

8) Can you give me the names of a couple of your clients I could contact
as references?

**************************
Okay those are my questions.

-Abby


--
**************************
Abby Bloxsom
www.advantedgeconsulting.com

Eclectk1@... wrote:

> Also, on the "how many" questions -- if they reply with a
> very vague answer, I'd suggest you be SURE to carefully ask for rough
> numbers..... you know, how many, dozens:  Oh, ok, could you give me just
> a very ballpark range please???"


If a farrier tells me he's done dozens of laminitis cases, I don't need
anything more specific ... ;)  

-A