Garber Equine Services

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from my herd to yours ❤️

12/23/2025

Kelsey Garber Helming

I’m having a baby!

With that being said, I’m still trimming horses as long as I can. I’ve been blessed with this pregnancy and my body that I’ve been able to continue working.

March-April I will not be doing horses. So I will try and catch everyone up January/February if I’m still able to and then I’ll see everyone after my postpartum recovery!

Thank you to everyone for supporting me all these years! I appreciate you very much!

If you have questions or concerns shoot me a message!

Merry Christmas!

12/11/2025

Coffee Talk ☕️
A place where we can respectfully talk about and discuss debatable topics in the horse world.

Today’s topic: You can’t compare domestic horses to feral “wild” horses — here’s why 👇

I see this argument a lot: “Wild horses don’t need shoes… wild horses don’t need blanketing… wild horses don’t need special feed… so why do domestic horses?”

Because domestic horses and feral horses live in two completely different worlds.
They are not comparable — not in environment, genetics, nutrition, or daily life. Here’s the reality:

Feral horses live in an ecosystem, not a human setup.
They travel 10–20+ miles a day over hard ground, 24/7. Their hooves are shaped by constant movement, terrain, and the simple fact that the weak don’t survive long.

Domestic horses live in artificial environments.
Soft pastures, limited turnout, stalls, selective breeding, grain diets, and low daily mileage all change how their bodies and hooves develop.

Feral horses are shaped by natural selection.
If their feet can’t handle the terrain or their metabolism can’t handle the forage, they don’t survive to pass on those weaknesses.

Domestic horses are shaped by human choices.
We breed for color, size, specialty disciplines, temperament—not survival traits. So yes, many domestic horses need modern farriery, nutrition plans, and management.

Different nutrition = different outcomes.
Feral horses eat low-sugar forage around the clock while moving.
Domestic horses often get lush grass, grain, and limited movement… which affects everything from hoof health to metabolism.

Bottom line ➜ Domestic horses depend on us. Feral horses depend on nature.
Different lives = different needs.

So no… you simply can’t compare the two. And your domestic horse deserves care based on its reality, not a wild horse’s. 🐴💛

What do you think? 🤔

11/20/2025

🚨 EHV-1 Precautions for Farriers Traveling Barn to Barn 🚨

With the recent EHV-1 outbreak in North Texas, this is a good time for farriers to tighten up simple biosecurity steps to protect the horses—and barns—we all work so hard to keep healthy.

🔎 What to Know About EHV-1

EHV-1 (Equine Herpesvirus-1) spreads primarily through nasal secretions, coughing, snorting, shared water, and contaminated surfaces or clothing.

The incubation period is typically 2–10 days, meaning a horse can appear normal while still shedding the virus.

Most common signs include fever, nasal discharge, lethargy, and in some cases neurologic signs.

The virus can survive on surfaces (including tools, clothing, and equipment) long enough to travel barn-to-barn if precautions aren’t taken.

🛠 Helpful Steps for Farriers These are easy, practical ways to reduce risk:

Disinfect Tools Between Barns
Isopropyl alcohol (70% or higher) works great for wiping down nippers, rasps, knives, and other tools.

Change Shirts/Hats Between Barns
EHV-1 is mostly shed in nasal secretions, but clothing can still act as a mechanical carrier. A simple shirt change reduces that risk significantly.

Talk With Clients About Exposure
A quick conversation goes a long way. If a barn is having active cases or known exposure, it may be safer to reschedule the appointment until things stabilize.

Avoid Shared Equipment
Don’t set your tools, bags, or shoeing box where horses may have slobbered or snorted.

Wash Hands or Use Hand Sanitizer
Especially after handling any horse’s face, halter, or nasal area.

📌 Why This Matters Farriers travel more barns in a day than almost anyone in the industry—and that makes them vital partners in stopping virus spread.
By making a few simple adjustments, the risk of transmitting EHV-1 between barns becomes extremely low.

Together, we can help keep horses safe and prevent further spread across North Texas.
Stay safe, stay sharp, and thank you to all the farriers doing their part. 🔨🐴💙

11/19/2025

**photo taken after glue cured, not after cleaned up** also I was sent beige glue instead of black 😂🤦‍♀️

Vet diagnosed navicular client fitted with glue shoes and support pads for comfort. Videos were taken to verify shoe integrity and comfort of horse.

Now offering glue shoes as well as traditional steel

09/30/2025

Pierre area—

I’ll be around for trims October 6th-17th this trip. If you’d like your horses done please shoot me a message.

Thanks!

06/24/2025

Hoof trims, horse rides, and cattle drives

06/17/2025

Yearling’s first trim and tacked some shoes on 3 horses.

Not perfect, but getting better every time

05/28/2025

Hi yall! I’ll be back June 10-June 27th this trip to trim/shoe horses in the Pierre area. I’ll also make a trip to Brookings/Sioux Falls area sometime during this trip.

Let me know if you’d like to get on the schedule!

04/28/2025

🥲

12/25/2024

I hope you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Since I’m a foot gal, here’s an interesting fact about reindeer hooves:

Reindeer have fur on the bottom of their feet (hooves)! It helps with gripping on snow, ice, and muddy terrain.

They also are the only deer species to have their nose completely covered in hair!

I hope you all enjoy the holidays with your family and animals. I’ll see you all next year!! 🎄🎁

11/28/2024