A Delicate Farrier Issue...

P

PercyMum

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 June 2010
Messages
775
Visit site
I have used my Farrier for around 5 years now. I get on really well with him and I think he is great, but...

...Last time he shod my horses he charged £160 for 2 horses. Now he wants £180 for 2. I queried this and said that he had charged me wrongly last time. I have noticed that his charges have been sneaking up for a while now and I don't know what to do. Also, he is always asking for cash now which makes me a bit suspicious as I know he isnt everyones cup of tea and I wonder if he is losing clients for some reason.

The problem is that he has been an excellent farrier and has kept my awkward horse sound. However, of late he has started making mistakes. He stuck a nail through my horses foot and made it bleed and then tried to make out it was nothing. Two days later horse was crippled. I called him back and he tried to charge me for his mistake! I know that no-one is perfect but I think £90 per horse is a bit steep for normal shoes. No idea how to broach the subject - I'm such a wuss I know. I'm worried if I stop using him that any other farrier will not be as good and then he might not shoe my horses if I go back to him.

Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.
 
£90! I wouldn't be happy paying that if he was starting to make mistakes (if they continue) although I think that's a bit steep anyway, I guess it depends on your area and the prices they charge, no farriar is perfect all the time I appreciate and yes I'd rather pay a bit more for a good farrier, best thing to do is just have a chat with him, I'm sure he'd prefer you to bring up any issues with him rather than not say anything, bad mouth him (not saying you or would ...I just mean in general to other people) and go elsewhere.

Have a chat with him, your paying for a service remember, so you have a right to say if your not happy with things.
 
PercyMum said:
I have used my Farrier for around 5 years now. I get on really well with him and I think he is great, but...

...Last time he shod my horses he charged £160 for 2 horses. Now he wants £180 for 2. I queried this and said that he had charged me wrongly last time. I have noticed that his charges have been sneaking up for a while now and I don't know what to do. Also, he is always asking for cash now which makes me a bit suspicious as I know he isnt everyones cup of tea and I wonder if he is losing clients for some reason.

The problem is that he has been an excellent farrier and has kept my awkward horse sound. However, of late he has started making mistakes. He stuck a nail through my horses foot and made it bleed and then tried to make out it was nothing. Two days later horse was crippled. I called him back and he tried to charge me for his mistake! I know that no-one is perfect but I think £90 per horse is a bit steep for normal shoes. No idea how to broach the subject - I'm such a wuss I know. I'm worried if I stop using him that any other farrier will not be as good and then he might not shoe my horses if I go back to him.

Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about the price, but I'd worry if his work was slipping. Personally I'd ask around locally about peoples recent personal experience with the farrier in question and if worried get local recommendations.

Our farriers wouldn't dream of asking for money that soon after having done the horses feet, some of ours are expensive (same+ as yours) but worth every penny.

Pan
 
ohh very awkward indeed and understand your dilemma totally! i have recently changed farriers since my previous ones prices were going up every visit i now pay less to have 5 trimmed than i did to have 4 done by the previous chap! can you get any reccomendations for a new farrier from any friends? try a new one and see how you get on before telling your current chap that you no longer require him:)
 
Its an awkward situation, but he doesn't sound so brilliant now. You want the best for your horses, so come on, brace yourself and thank him for his services and move on.

I've been there too. Hated it, agonised about it, but couldn't betray the horses whose well being is down to me.

Its not so bad, you won't be blacklisted, local farriers may have their own opinion about your current farriers work and charges, so no need to justify yourself to the new one.
 
Nobody else uses him on my yard, or if fact anywhere near me. I would never bad-mouth him as he is pretty good at getting out to me when I ask and he is undoubtedly good. If £90 is about right (I'm in the South) then thats fair enough. The standard of farrier varies on our yard, but my two have crappy feet and he has got them looking pretty good. However, I do object to the price going up everytime I get them shod, and that one of them keeps getting problems after he has been shod. But then is that just the weather we have had?

And I would feel horribly guilty parting company with him - I've known him longer than my husband :p
 
From what I've read, he sounds desperate and grasping.

£90 is very steep, mine is £60 for a full set of normal shoes.
 
PercyMum said:
I have used my Farrier for around 5 years now. I get on really well with him and I think he is great, but...

...Last time he shod my horses he charged £160 for 2 horses. Now he wants £180 for 2. I queried this and said that he had charged me wrongly last time. I have noticed that his charges have been sneaking up for a while now and I don't know what to do. Also, he is always asking for cash now which makes me a bit suspicious as I know he isnt everyones cup of tea and I wonder if he is losing clients for some reason.

The problem is that he has been an excellent farrier and has kept my awkward horse sound. However, of late he has started making mistakes. He stuck a nail through my horses foot and made it bleed and then tried to make out it was nothing. Two days later horse was crippled. I called him back and he tried to charge me for his mistake! I know that no-one is perfect but I think £90 per horse is a bit steep for normal shoes. No idea how to broach the subject - I'm such a wuss I know. I'm worried if I stop using him that any other farrier will not be as good and then he might not shoe my horses if I go back to him.

Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
I did not read all answers. just find another farrier.
 
It sucks when a long-time farriers' work starts slipping but it happens. It's a hard job. They can get burned-out. They get bad backs, tired of hoisting horse's feet around, standing around in the heat/cold/whatever. Several months before my mare and I left the US, my farrier of many years trimmed the mare too short and she was quite sore on her front feet for a few days. She was short to the point that random boarders at my barn would walk by and say, "Wow, your farrier took a lot of foot off!" The mare has always had the easiest feet in the world to shoe, never (knock on wood) had any foot problems, and is always impeccably behaved during shoeing, so I was befuddled. Word around the barn was that this farrier was starting to burn out and a lot of people had become unhappy with her work and stopped using her. Anyway, I mentioned, nicely, to her that mare's feet seemed a wee bit short so could they be longer next time. The next shoeing was fine. Then the one after that, horse was trimmed too short AGAIN. Luckily we were leaving the country several weeks later, which saved me a very awkward conversation in which I would have had to tell my farrier that she was no longer going to be my farrier. If I hadn't been leaving, it would have had to be done. If your farrier is getting so burned-out that they are consistently sloppy, your horse shouldn't have to suffer for it, however horrible and awkward the ensuing conversation may be.
 
Last edited:
9tails said:
From what I've read, he sounds desperate and grasping.

£90 is very steep, mine is £60 for a full set of normal shoes.
Click to expand...

You've said exactly what I was thinking but felt bad about saying... I thought about £70 for down here was ok. When it went to £80 I thought ok, he is a good farier but 5 weeks later and going up to £90 is alot. Less than a year ago I was paying him £90 for specialist aluminium fronts and wedges behind with pads.
 
Mine is £65 for a full set of shoes. I think £90 is ridiculous! But then I am in the midlands and not the South. What are others at your yard paying? I would look around for another farrier, and when you find one, I would explain to your current farrier that you really cannot afford £90 a set of shoes, even though you have been very happy with his work. If others are paying the same, then you should stay with him unless he makes another mistake. It does sound as though he is having some sort of money troubles, especially if he is asking for cash. Sounds like tax evasion.
 
Caol Ila said:
It sucks when a long-time farriers' work starts slipping but it happens. It's a hard job. They can get burned-out. They get bad backs, tired of hoisting horse's feet around, standing around in the heat/cold/whatever. Several months before my mare and I left the US, my farrier of many years trimmed the mare too short and she was quite sore on her front feet for a few days. She was short to the point that random boarders at my barn would walk by and say, "Wow, your farrier took a lot of foot off!" The mare has always had the easiest feet in the world to shoe, never (knock on wood) had any foot problems, and is always impeccably behaved during shoeing, so I was befuddled. Word around the barn was that this farrier was starting to burn out and a lot of people had become unhappy with her work and stopped using her. Anyway, I mentioned, nicely, to her that mare's feet seemed a wee bit short so could they be longer next time. The next shoeing was fine. Then the one after that, horse was trimmed too short AGAIN. Luckily we were leaving the country several weeks later, which saved me a very awkward conversation in which I would have had to tell my farrier that she was no longer going to be my farrier. If I hadn't been leaving, it would have had to be done. If your farrier is getting so burned-out that they are consistently sloppy, your horse shouldn't have to suffer for it, however horrible and awkward the ensuing conversation may be.
Click to expand...

I know he has been doing alot of work for some very wealthy people out of the county. Maybe hefeels he needs to do mine as a favour but is charging me the mega-bucks he charges others. I would chat to him but I am not sure he would respond well to me pointing out the amount he charges and the mistakes he has made, no matter how tactful I am and how well we get on :(
 
Am also in the south - 10 mins M25 & 10 mins M3 - & around where I am the going rate is £60 - £75 per set, depending on farrier & location (more pricey if a bit off the beaten track, or you have just the 1 to do).

I just would not make another appointment for the future.

Yes, its scarey when you have to change farier - mine retired due to knee injury causing him long term probs last autumn, after doing ours for over 28 years since he qualified, new farrier is taking time to get to know me & me him too :)
He's not the same as old farrier (and why would he be?) Big Fuzzy likes him and he's doing her feet just fine, so he's staying :)
 
If you can't be frank with your farrier without being rocketed, you need a new farrier!

I'm in Essex, so South East.
 
Wagtail said:
Mine is £65 for a full set of shoes. I think £90 is ridiculous! But then I am in the midlands and not the South. What are others at your yard paying? I would look around for another farrier, and when you find one, I would explain to your current farrier that you really cannot afford £90 a set of shoes, even though you have been very happy with his work. If others are paying the same, then you should stay with him unless he makes another mistake. It does sound as though he is having some sort of money troubles, especially if he is asking for cash. Sounds like tax evasion.
Click to expand...

I think they all pay around the £70 mark. I knew I paid more than most, when it was £80 but figured it was ok as he kept my horses sound but thats changing, although I cannot definately saythats him. The 'Cash in hand' thing worries me - he keeps phoning me saying can he have cash. I just feel like I might be getting taken advantage of. I used to be in a well-paid job and he knew that. He also knows that I am no longer in a well-paid job so if he is trying to fleece me, thats pretty mean. Or I could just be over-thinking the whole thing.
 
I reread your OP. If a farrier hot nailed my horse and tried to charge me for it, I would not be impressed. Probably time to have that awkward conversation.
 
I am in Essex and its £69 for a full set with road nails.

This is with a very good farrier who sorted out my last horses dodgy feet (even the vet commented on the improvement) and was extremely patient and came out all hours/days whenever my horse pulled a shoe. He never made mistakes and a couple of times B had an abscess he came out and investigated his hoof for me free of charge.

I would be changing farriers asap if it was me
 
Caol Ila said:
I reread your OP. If a farrier hot nailed my horse and tried to charge me for it, I would not be impressed. Probably time to have that awkward conversation.
Click to expand...

I would have rocketed him as the horse he was shoing is the most patient and well-behaved you can get. Unfortuneately OH was there, not me, so didnt really twig that bleeding horse post-shoes is bad. He queried it TBF but farrier said it was fine. Which annoys me now I think about it because clearly it isnt and he knows that hubbie knows nothing about horses.

I think I know the answer now I have talked it through. He is due to shoe them tomorrow and they desperately need doing so I think that I will stop using him after that.
 
I had a similar prob with my farrier, was recc by the vets for remedial shoeing and got my horses feet sorted so I felt I owed it to him to stay a client.

Then my horse was losing shoes every week, to the stage where I was thinking of not competing/doing a lot with him as I couldn't rely on him to have all shoes on each day : I didn't want to swop instead I started having probs again with his feet.

Finally bit the bullet and swooped to a farrier recommended by a friend and touch wood he has only lost 2 shoes in the past 12 months!

I didn't have a conversation with my old farrier (yes I'm a wimp!) just didn't rebook! At the end of the day it's a business and they have to keep up with the competition both quality wise and price :)
 
Many years ago I had a similiar situation. The reason my farrier was charging me a lot was that I was the only one left on the yard using hi9m so paid the full callout charge myself. I managed to get another farrier who came to the yard and charged les to take me on and explained to the first farrier that I could not manage the cost of having him come to the yard to just do my horse. He accepted my reason and was ok about it.
 
Mine charges 60 for a full set and trim, 10 to put a shoe back on, 15 to replace a shoe and 20 for a barefoot trim. He isn't perfect but he can be at the yard so quick if there's an emergency. I wouldn't be paying that price if I were you!
 
I'm in the south west and around here most pay £60-80. I pay £75 and I feel it's very steep but I appreciate how petrol prices have affected them so much. £90 is absolutely ridiculous, particularly when making mistakes. If I was paying that kind of money I would expect the most perfect feet imaginable. I also don't like the way he handled that mistake as evidently hooves are not supposed to bleed!
The upside is you can use the price as your leverage during that awkward conversation if you choose to have it. As it's so expensive you can justifiably say that you cannot afford that long term.
 
In Surrey £90 isn't that unusual i'm afraid but reading your post, time to get another farrier. I noted the recommendations on here when I was looking for a new farrier in my area (as mine had retired) and the new chap is great.

The longer I live :cool: the more I just ditch anything that is hassle!
 
RebelRebel said:
In Surrey £90 isn't that unusual i'm afraid but reading your post, time to get another farrier. I noted the recommendations on here when I was looking for a new farrier in my area (as mine had retired) and the new chap is great.

The longer I live :cool: the more I just ditch anything that is hassle!
Click to expand...

My farrier is doing work in Surrey most of the time. If its the standard there then I guess thats why he is charging me that much. But its notthe standard here and the bleeding foot thing is pretty poor I feel.
 
I would just make the next appointment with another farrier. I pay mine cash, and wouldnt be worried about that side , but the level of the charge and the fact you have lost confidence is a concern.

Farriers dont offer clients any formal commitment about shoeing for the next x years in a contract, so dont feel you have to.

It could be worse. Up here in NE Scotland it is so hard to get a farrier at all, you dont have any option about who you have, but you do where you are so I would move.
 
Bloody hell - I used to pay £45 for a full set + two stud holes in each and shoes putting back on was free. He came up to 5 times between shoeing once for lost shoes, my farrier was a legend! He then trimmed my little one for free as she usually only needed reshaping. I'm sure his prices may have gone up (this was November) but not £90!

I'm another one in the get rid camp. Mine was brilliant when my warmblood went lame due to his apprentice, did remedial shoeing for no extra cost etc. However he never seemed to get on with my loan TB's feet who were like butter, shoes just used to slip off nevermind how many boots he had on. He ended up going too long in the toe and having back problems which his owner thinks may have been caused by his shoeing. Guess we'll never know...

You could always swap back if you don't like the new one?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top