If you have a horse, choosing the right farrier to tend  to your horse’s hooves is central to your buddy’s overall health.

First, look for someone who’s familiar with your horse’s breed and type of work. To start, you might get recommendations from your trainer or riders with similar interests.

Once you have some prospects, ask them whether they received on-site training at a farrier school, completed an apprenticeship and became licensed. Find out how long they’ve been in the field, how many horses they work on every month and — if applicable — whether they’re familiar with certain competition guidelines for shoeing.

Finally, schedule a trial visit to see how the farrier interacts with your horse. That includes noting how attentive they are to your buddy — both before and after hoof trimming or shoeing.