Any one else fed up with bad farriers with bad attitudes

[englund]

Who else has had enough of putting up with farriers who turn up on their yard with a bad attitude and a superiority complex as long as their arm.

Would you fire them?

Or are you like the majority of women who run around their backsides for fear of losing the farrier?

I watched a friend of mine this morning almost licking the boots of her farrier even though he was rude and heavy handed with the horses.

Why do the majority of horse owners put up with this?????

 

[fizzer]

My farrier is great, always early, very polite and we have a good chin wag about life. If I had a farrier that was as you described he would only have been on my yard the once.

There are some fab farriers out there, why have a horrid one, they do not deserve your business.

 

[PandorasJar]

I'd never touch half the farriers on the past two yards. They are not irreplacable.

Not turning up or being late is fine with me... if I have a heads up. I am happy with this as don't expect them to rush a horse or not turn up to an emergency case. I do however expect a time arranged very soon after, not 3 weeks later.

Being blunt... fine if there is genuine reason about quality of care and horse is put first. But remember I'm a customer.

Being heavy handed... I don't expect a farrier to beat a horse, equally I do not expect them to work on something willing to kill them.

Shoeing... I would never touch a farrier who told me a horse could not ever go unshod on first look. I have no problem with shoeing a horse who can't, or taking the time to decide either way. I have a big problem with farriers who would rather charge for shoes than look to the horses best solution, whether that be shod or unshod.

Pan

 

[Capriole]

Ive only had one of these. Id moved stables and he was new, first thing he did when he arrived was get heavy with a surprised horse, who then started fidgeting understandably I thought. Bloke then battered his dog in his van and told me even gypsies wouldnt bother to steal my horse. I paid him for a trim and threw him off.

 

[Paint Me Proud]

I changed farrier when the first one became heavy handed with Chico and was elbowing him for no good reason which was upsetting Chico.

I just swapped to a new farrier who was much more sympathetic in his handling and generally a much nicer guy.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

My farrier is a legend. Not only is he very good at shoeing and works closely with my vet but he also always responds to my texts and turns up pretty much when he is supposed to. I don't worry if he's a bit late because I'm either at home and its fine or he is doing horse when I'm at work and I can trust him to do horse and leave everything as it should be.

If my horse is being a willy, he will tell her off but is never heavy handed and knows he has my permission to be firm with her.

However, when he was off with a broken foot, we had to use someone else who was absolutely awful in every aspect of his work - the actual shoeing, behaviour towards clients and all mainly because he knew we needed him more than he needed our business. He was absolutely dreadful!!

 

[StormBlade]

I have a great farrier so I'm lucky, but there are some farriers who are very heavy handed, and not to mention unreliable. I don't understand why people continue to use farriers they are unhappy with though?

 

[HaffiesRock]

I have a barefoot trimmer and she is amazing. Came to do my new boy who we think has been beaten by a farrier in the past. He was very nervous but the trimmer was amazing. She spent half an hour giving him a fuss and a groom and relaxing him before she introduced him to the rasp and tools (on both his sides) She really took her time with him and stopped when it was too much for him. Took her about 2 hours and she managed to do 3 feet fully but he was very worried about 1 of his hinds so she only managed a bit.

Hopefully next time he will be much calmer, but I cant even bare to think about what the previous farrier has done to him...

 

[Frosty89]

I just wish I could find a farrier in the first place. Since moving yards my old farrier wasn't willing to travel.

I have now left answer phone message/ text messages to all the farriers I have numbers for and so far no reply :/

 

[pootleperkin]

I understand completely why people don't change farriers, despite grumpiness etc....because they can't get another one.

They are as rare as hens' teeth round here, so you have to put up with all of the above.

I'm quite lucky that mine is tame now.....he had a horse with EGS like symptoms and rang me in a flap about it. After I spent a bit of time helping, he has been great ever since

 

[matt_m]

Have met my fair share of rude ones - impolite, poor time keepers (understandable a lot of the time but turning up late with no explanation is pretty rude) you wouldn't accept it from any other business/service so why farriers?!?!

Pretty annoying when your horse loses a shoe and you repetitively try to phone farrier to arrange them to come and sort out the issue to be told you'll be called back the next day when he has checked his diary...then told the next day again...and again...and again...all the while unable to do anything with your horse because it has 3 shoes. And then finally said farrier not being able to get out at all so arranges for a 'friend' to turn up who then charges you another £30 for the privilege.

Have seen farriers being heavy handed with horses too and it's not nice (not talking about beating here!) but just a general impatient attitude and rather than reassuring a nervous horse, reprimanding it.

I also would never ask that my farrier swept up after himself but it is nice to have it offered, why should we just assume that it is the done way that farriers will not clean up the mess they leave behind. It's not like they're underpaid...

My current farrier is perfect and will be sticking with him.

I do honestly believe that a lot (and I am NOT saying all) of farriers are in the trade because they honestly feel like they can get away with a lot and boss the mere stable-yard people around and get paid to do so. Have seen it with a lot of my horsey friends and they don't seem to care?!

 

[MrsNorris]

I've had 3 over the years, first was a nice person but a rubbish farrier so didn't last long, second one was a good shoer, but rough with the horses and a pretty nasty character, so he was gone even sooner. I have now found an absolutley perfect one!! Happy to shoe or go barefoot, clued up on barefoot trims and all the latest research and a pleasure to have around. Cant believe my luck!!

 

[oldhat]

It'd be good if mine would actually turn up when booked or if not then LET ME KNOW !!!! Aggggh

 

[smokey]

I have a fantastic farrier, always has my horses best interests at heart, is fair and honest, and above all pleasant to have around

 

[Lexie81]

Changed farriers 3 times in the past few years in order to find one I liked. First one was a nice enough chap but insisted on shoeing my warmblood with racing shoes when we did lots of roadwork in hacking....we went through shoes like no ones business. Also refused to try our welshy without shoes. Was always at least an hour late (not ideal when you have left work early as he refused to be flexible about timings of appointments) and would cancel at the last minute again when I had taken time off work.
Second was supposedly one of the best in the area but was rude and had a very arrogant attitude, believed he was far better than any other farrier and openly slagged off his competition.

New one is great, he is often late but always rings to warn me and is extremely helpful if I need advice or am worried about anything he will come same day.
He also has a card machine which is a blessing for me!

They sometimes forget we have a choice and that a little customer service goes a long way!

 

[Littlelegs]

Mines fab. And while like in any group bad ones are about, in all honesty I think they are in the minority. Plus percentage wise I'd say there are far more unreasonable owners around than farriers. I generally find it works both ways, with the rare exception, if you are a considerate customer you get a considerate farrier. Mine has been slagged by a few owners locally. However as I know the owners, I know who's side I'll take. And wtf should a farrier clean up after himself? Would you expect an instructor to offer to pick up droppings in a lesson at your yard?

 

[quirky]

I had a horse who had one shoeing before I bought him. He had a good experience.
I was with him every time he was shod and the farrier treated him well and with patience. He was a nightmare to shoe
When I moved to a new yard and new farrier, his behaviour changed completely

So, spottyfallula, don't be so quick to assume a farrier has battered your horse!

 

[criso]

I understand completely why people don't change farriers, despite grumpiness etc....because they can't get another one.

Or they won't let you change.

Round here if you ask a new farrier they will ask you who shoes your horse currently and are they OK about you using a different farrier.

One farrier told a friend he couldn't shoe her horse because he didn't shoe in that area so she got a new one. Her horse was difficult so he didn't want the hassle. When I moved to the same yard I starting using her new farrier, after all old farrier had said he didn't shoe round there so I was allowed to change.

Old farrier bumped into new farrier and had a go at him for stealing one of his clients i.e. me. This was passed on to me by new farrier in the manner of a friendly ticking off as if I was in the wrong.

Ridiculous way to carry on.

 

[horseandshoes77]

Well i hope i never upset my farrier lol..but i dont feel obliged to bow to him...hes a fantastic farrier and very understanding of the horse never uses force or brutality...my girl used to be a nervous wreck and now shes a sweetie with him...he understands her and i feel lucky to have found him but i wouldnt put up with any bad behaviour from him just because hes good....im his customer and i have rights like i would in any other transaction ! ... Oh and hes good crack and rather goodlooking so bonus lol

 

[flowerlady]

I just wish I could find a farrier in the first place. Since moving yards my old farrier wasn't willing to travel.

I have now left answer phone message/ text messages to all the farriers I have numbers for and so far no reply :/

What area are you in? Maybe someone on here can recommend a good farrier in your area

 

[FreddiesGal]

Thank God I have now moved and will have a new farrier. My old stables had one farrier who was assigned to my horse.

Yes, he is difficult with the farrier, but I don't expect him to be punched in the face, have his ears pulled and eyes covered, and be hit numerous times.

 

[flowerlady]

Thank God I have now moved and will have a new farrier. My old stables had one farrier who was assigned to my horse.

Yes, he is difficult with the farrier, but I don't expect him to be punched in the face, have his ears pulled and eyes covered, and be hit numerous times.

You allowed this

 

[FreddiesGal]

You allowed this

And you have come to that conclusion how?

 

[Natz88]

Thankfully my farriers are great, good with the horses, always on time & happy to pop by if one looses a shoe & they normaly come that day if not day after. They come to our yard every Thursday as alot of people use them so always good to know they will be there every week if need them for something. Only thing I can say is their jokes are bad

 

[lincolnlady]

At my old yard they all used the same farrier had used him for years so when i bought my boy i used him but because my horse can be a pain by trying to yank his hoof back and sometimes just trying to push his luck this farrier whacked my horse with a rasp then said to me im not doing him hes dangerous!!! he only did the one hoof and had a right go at me so i obviously told him if he tried to hit my horse again he would be eating his rasp!

i walked off with my boy turned him out and another girl on the yard came to find me n said the farrier asked her to come n get his payment off me (£20) i went back to yard gave him £5 and said you did one foot ill pay for just one foot!

managed to get a new farrier and he is absolutely brilliant (albiet a bit grumpy at times) he always talks me through what hes doing and gives me lots and lots of advice. even when my boy had really bad thrush he let me have some thrush spray and pet me pay the next time he came as only had enough for the shoeing on me. he knows my horse can be a bugger and will let me horse know whos boss (not by hitting him) and now my boy is brilliant with him. only moan i have about him is when i text him i dont get a reply for a day or two but he always gets back to me in the end lol.

hes also quite good looking so thats a massive bonus!!

 

[LeannePip]

prepare for an essay! i've had so many farriers due to ones leaving, some being awful and moving yards/up the country! i've encountered a number of farriers the first used to come to the yard with his son as they worked together on big jobs the father was very good often raised his voice but shoed well - the son was another matter - if i'd had a horse at the time he wouldnt have been allowed within 100feet of it! he was exceptionally rude, heavy handed and once hit a 9month pregnant broody in the stomach with the rasp i know a lot of people who refused to have him on their yard and he was often turned away if he turned up instead of the father.

pips first farrier was a nice chap - quite quiet not heavyhanded or rude but at one point i was getting him out every 3/4 weeks because they were begining to split - she was only 2yo so in no work so therefore not wearing much away and he was not cutting back enough so after a week or too they were long again

when i worked away i had to use the yard farrier every one sang his praises and he had alot of qualifications but i think he over thought everything! he tryed to explain to me how my horses foot was asymetrical and if i didnt have pads put on, in a few years her joints would be destroyed from weight baring - i put this off as it had never been mentioned before by any of our old farriers - he also charged £66for FRONTS!! at home thats what i would pay for a whole set - he was good and would send someone out the next day if they pulled a shoe but i think thats because the people i worked for were really good friends with his girlfriend - who he sent over one time to put a shoe back on :S pip had also never pulled a shoe before using him and she pulled one if not both off before he came out every time! he also had a very good growl which worried mine and made her play up even more

since moving home i've got my wonderful farrier back!! he is awsome - NEVER late always cheery - never raises his voice doesnt growl and even when our youngsters play up he just holds onto the foot never says a word and they get the idea and ALL are now fabulous to shoe and no one on the yard ever has had to call him out to put a pulled shoe on in the 20years his fathers been coming and 15years hes been coming! he also showed me upon my return the differnece in the quality of the shoes he uses compared to the competition yard (above) he uses a very good stockholm shoe where as the competition yard used the cheapest shoe on the market he'd also managed to alter the shape of her feet which has now been corrected and he is also the only farrier who never tries to sell you anything - if the horse needs it he'll mention it - he wont put shoes on for the sake of it and will take them off if you as him - he explains everything and charges reasonably - i did pay £33 for fronts but when i was away we all got a generic very apologetic text/email say due to a rise in the price of his shoes as of 2months time there would be a small increase - we all thought great here we go - good bye bargain farrier - when he came out on monday to shoe the girls a set of fronts had gone up by a whopping £1 and a full set had gone up by £2 and trims hadnt changed

and back to OP's previous question - i can see why people do stick with awful farriers but im lucky that in my area we have a good few decent ones so if forseom reason i needed a new farrier and they were awful i would be straight on the phone!!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Know what OP means.

I have two farriers: one for my own horse, and another for my horse I've got on loan as that is in the contract that I use this particular farrier. I don't have a problem with that, its just that the guy himself is so totally up his own @rse that basically if he ever wants to see the light of day again he'll need a Satnav to find his way out.........

 

[englund]

Thank you very much for the replies it would seem we are all in the same boat, luck of the draw where you live seems to determine the type of farrier you get.

I have noticed one thing though they are not so quick to have a go at women if their blokes are about. I know my husband would knock my farriers head off if he was rude to him.

 

[JFTDWS]

Nope, my farrier is lovely. Despite my pleb of a two year old being a total thug last time he was out, he's got the patience of a saint and is both reliable and polite.

If anyone wants a trained farrier who specialises in barefoot / unshod trimming in Devon, pm me

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

had the same farrier for over 20 yrs! yes he can be grumpy. yes he will put rude horses in their place (appropriately so!!)yes he turns up on designated day though can be late tho does let me know! yes he is a bloody good farrier!! And he travels 150 miles to shoe my yard and i am grateful! as some of the farriers round here are not worth boiling the kettle for!