Sometimes we get enquiries from owners of horses who have had bad experiences related to their feet - either extended bouts of lameness, or less than kind treatment from previous owners or farriers. Some horses bear these experiences better than others, but we never know until we meet them how they'll react to having their feet trimmed or shod. We recently received this email from Angel, a lovely Percheron mare, and her "mom", Kim.
"Erin & Darren,
Thank you again for the excellent trim and extreme patience and kindness towards me. I have found that farriers aren't bad people after all!
My mom (Kim) has lunged me a little since the trim and I actually trotted without limping and even cantered (with a fair bit of prompting) which I have not done before.
Although I am still taking it a bit easy to get myself in shape and not put too much stress on my newly trimmed hooves right away, I really like my pretty, well shaped feet and I don't trip on them like I was before.
I have told my mom to call you as soon as my hooves need trimming so that I can grow out those nasty cracks that make her worried.
Take good care of yourselves.
Love, Angel :-)
Ps Mom says she really enjoyed her chat with Erin too!!"
"I started using the services of Darren Suszczynski in 2014 when my small standard donkey showed signs of founder. This was a rescued donkey that had come a long way with having anyone work on her feet and I was concerned that bringing in a new farrier would take her quite a few steps backwards. I couldn't have been more wrong. Darren is a very patient and knowledgeable farrier. He gave my donkey "Fiona" time to get comfortable with him before he even attempted to lift up her hooves and then he was careful of the fact that Fiona could only hold up her hoof for a short period of time due to the pain in her other hooves. He took whatever time was needed to give her a therapy trim to make her as comfortable as possible and to help her hooves grow appropriately. At every chance, he showed me what he was seeing and made recommendations to her after-care. I have Darren come out on a regular basis to trim Fiona and one of my other donkeys that had a hoof injury. Although I trim many of my own donkeys, he will be the first person I call should I need any of my donkeys trimmed. I have also referred him to many of my client and friends. I can always count on prompt communication, a flexible time schedule and excellence in the care and trims on my donkeys. It is great to know a farrier with such absolute skill and deep understanding of the animals he is working on. It makes a world of difference and I would highly recommend him for any farrier work you may need for your animals.
Sincerely,
Sherry Leitch"
Sandglass Miniature Donkeys
"I started using Darren at the beginning of 2014, during which time my horse Summer was coming back from a trim that made her unsound for almost a month. When I first contacted Darren, I explained her feet had been botched and also that Summer was young ( she was just turning 4). I also explained I was super concerned because of the last trim she had and I didn't want her to go through that again.
When he first came out it was very evident Darren was knowledgable and wanted the same things for Summer that I did. Her first trim with him was difficult as she was very fidgety and I think scared her feet were going to be hurt again. Darren was extremely patient with her and didn't force or reprimand her. He gave me his professional option and gave me a plan of what we were going to do with her feet. He took into account her work load and that we were in training.
Over the course of the year I have worked with Darren, I have had nothing but positive experiences. He has been a huge part of how Summer has come along in training and he has been so accommodating in regards to the decisions I have made with Summer. I have watched my mare from her initial visit where she was somewhat frightened of getting her feet trimmed to the most recent visit where she barely moved. I owe Summer's renewed trust to Darren. When I have felt there was something going on with her feet I had no hesitation messaging him and asking questions. At one point I even sent him pictures of cracks I was concerned about and he provided me with the proper information to deal with this.
Darren is by far the best farrier I have ever had. I would highly recommend his services to anyone and everyone. I have never had a more flexible, patient and accommodating farrier. This year I will be eventing Summer at pre-entry and entry level and I am so fortunate to have Darren as a part of our team to keep mare at her best.
Paige McCutcheon"
"Erin & Darren,
Thank you again for the excellent trim and extreme patience and kindness towards me. I have found that farriers aren't bad people after all!
My mom (Kim) has lunged me a little since the trim and I actually trotted without limping and even cantered (with a fair bit of prompting) which I have not done before.
Although I am still taking it a bit easy to get myself in shape and not put too much stress on my newly trimmed hooves right away, I really like my pretty, well shaped feet and I don't trip on them like I was before.
I have told my mom to call you as soon as my hooves need trimming so that I can grow out those nasty cracks that make her worried.
Take good care of yourselves.
Love, Angel :-)
Ps Mom says she really enjoyed her chat with Erin too!!"
"I started using the services of Darren Suszczynski in 2014 when my small standard donkey showed signs of founder. This was a rescued donkey that had come a long way with having anyone work on her feet and I was concerned that bringing in a new farrier would take her quite a few steps backwards. I couldn't have been more wrong. Darren is a very patient and knowledgeable farrier. He gave my donkey "Fiona" time to get comfortable with him before he even attempted to lift up her hooves and then he was careful of the fact that Fiona could only hold up her hoof for a short period of time due to the pain in her other hooves. He took whatever time was needed to give her a therapy trim to make her as comfortable as possible and to help her hooves grow appropriately. At every chance, he showed me what he was seeing and made recommendations to her after-care. I have Darren come out on a regular basis to trim Fiona and one of my other donkeys that had a hoof injury. Although I trim many of my own donkeys, he will be the first person I call should I need any of my donkeys trimmed. I have also referred him to many of my client and friends. I can always count on prompt communication, a flexible time schedule and excellence in the care and trims on my donkeys. It is great to know a farrier with such absolute skill and deep understanding of the animals he is working on. It makes a world of difference and I would highly recommend him for any farrier work you may need for your animals.
Sincerely,
Sherry Leitch"
Sandglass Miniature Donkeys
"I started using Darren at the beginning of 2014, during which time my horse Summer was coming back from a trim that made her unsound for almost a month. When I first contacted Darren, I explained her feet had been botched and also that Summer was young ( she was just turning 4). I also explained I was super concerned because of the last trim she had and I didn't want her to go through that again.
When he first came out it was very evident Darren was knowledgable and wanted the same things for Summer that I did. Her first trim with him was difficult as she was very fidgety and I think scared her feet were going to be hurt again. Darren was extremely patient with her and didn't force or reprimand her. He gave me his professional option and gave me a plan of what we were going to do with her feet. He took into account her work load and that we were in training.
Over the course of the year I have worked with Darren, I have had nothing but positive experiences. He has been a huge part of how Summer has come along in training and he has been so accommodating in regards to the decisions I have made with Summer. I have watched my mare from her initial visit where she was somewhat frightened of getting her feet trimmed to the most recent visit where she barely moved. I owe Summer's renewed trust to Darren. When I have felt there was something going on with her feet I had no hesitation messaging him and asking questions. At one point I even sent him pictures of cracks I was concerned about and he provided me with the proper information to deal with this.
Darren is by far the best farrier I have ever had. I would highly recommend his services to anyone and everyone. I have never had a more flexible, patient and accommodating farrier. This year I will be eventing Summer at pre-entry and entry level and I am so fortunate to have Darren as a part of our team to keep mare at her best.
Paige McCutcheon"