I was dead set on solo work until a chat with a feed store clerk
For years, I believed doing hoof trims alone was the mark of a real farrier. I'd brush off any help, even from stable hands. Then, one afternoon at the feed store, the clerk mentioned how her uncle, a retired farrier, always worked with a handler. She said it cut his injury rate in half and made the horses calmer. I laughed it off at first, thinking it was soft. But I had a tough pony job the next week and decided to ask the owner to hold the lead. The difference was night and day, the pony stood still and I finished faster. Now, I see that accepting a bit of help isn't a weakness, it's just smart. That random conversation honestly improved how I handle every appointment.