At what point do you walk away from a farrier?

Nearly two years I go I changed farriers from someone I had had all my life ( 30 years) and my mum had since 16. It felt like we were losing a family member but....

1) pony has lost one shoe in two years not one or 3 a set!
2) we book an appointment! No chasing for 10 days
3) pony used to trip badly, that's gone!
4) farrier has mobile and facebook and uses it. I never contact unless an emergency and he respects this too. He knows I won't abuse his down time
5) always early, nearly caught me out last time as turned up 1/2 hour early
6) doesn't have a fit if muddy or raining or hot with flies!

3 months later my mum decided to have him do hers too, we save hours!
 
Major pet peeve of mine, I wont deal with someone who thinks my time is not valuable. If they have lack of regard for me I wouldn't trust them with my horse.

Back when I shod my horses I chased my farrier up re shoeing (had rung earlier in the week) only to find he had already done them that day while I was at work, awesome guy that one. He regulary did them by himself as taking time off work was a mission for me.
 
Honey08 said:
Being 30-60 mins late now and again wouldn't bother me. My farrier is sometimes late but usually rings. He also lets all clients know his holidays well in advance and if both he and his son are going leaves an emergency contact for someone else.

My last farrier was a lovely man, he was always on time, usually early, and so polite. Once he came two hours early, brought the horses in, shod them and turned them back out again. Then text me to say hope I didn't mind but he'd taken the money I'd left for him in the feed room (we had an agreed place I'd leave it in case he came early but he didn't feel happy going into a building without someone around, even with permission!). Unfortunately he wasn't a very good farrier and I didn't like how the horse's feet were, so let him go. I still miss how lovely he was.
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I am amazed that some people seem to put customer relations above skill when it comes to choosing a farrier.

Mind you, I was 'trained' by a brilliant farrier in the days long before mobile phones, to wait patiently in the school holidays until he arrived -sometimes it was the next week! We weren't on a livery yard either - just rented a stable and field from a local farmer, so he couldn't have phoned, even if he'd wanted to. His excuse was usually that he had had to go to one of the local RS. His apprentice became famous in the area for not turning up 'because I was at very well known SJ yard' - no-one could actually believe that they had their horses shod so frequently!

Our current farrier is pretty good at time-keeping and on the very few occasions he hasn't been able to get to us has let us know - once when going to a funeral he put a note through the door as he was passing the day before. I don't get upset if he is a bit late, as I want him to take the time necessary to accommodate my horses, if there is a problem, not to rush them because he is due at the next appointment.
 
I have used uncontactability and lateness as a reason to stop using a farrier before (started using his brother instead who was a good farrier AND used to answer his phone... downside was I had to travel the horse over to him cos he technically didn't cover my area, mind you meant I never had to sit around waiting for him!). Horse is now barefoot and I'm in need of rather a lot of shall we say moral support so now will be using someone different (also not really good sense to pay £50 a time to transport the horse to farrier just for a trim / check of him feet anyway)
 
bec81 said:
I had the same issue with a farrier - I changed farrier.
I could put up with the lateness, as frustrating as it was, because he was a very good farrier. Got fed up of him never answering his phone/texts, generally not being able to get hold of him, or not turning up to appointments, again I put up with this for a couple of years but the final straw came when I had an emergency and could not get hold of him for over a week.
I asked around for recommendations for another farrier and changed. Been with this farrier now for for a few years and he is always on time, or lets me know if he's going to be late/has to cancel. He always answers his phone/texts, lets me know when he is going to be on holiday in advance and arranges with another farrier in the area to cover emergencies. Happy with his work too and don't feel I have had to sacrifice quality for service - I now get both :-)
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Yeah, I had one who I always booked at 6 week intervals before he left the yard. One time he put me in his diary then went on holiday that week. I couldn't get hold of him to find out why he hadn't turned up (he rarely if ever answered his mobile) so I stood on the yard ALL DAY with nothing to eat and just the yard tap for something to drink and wasted a day's leave into the bargain. No apology was forthcoming when he finally did shoe my horse who by that time was well overdue.
 
The question is, are there any other good farriers in the area? If so, are they taking on new clients? If so, then swap. Otherwise just put up with the fact that you will be waiting for your farrier to turn up. Having seen some shoddy farriery I would say the priority is the quality of work. No foot, no horse.
 
I'm alas of what I should do! My farrier is brilliant; however 2 weeks ago he wanted to re-schedule said that's fine & he hasn't got back to me. After numerous texts/phonecalls. She's now over 2 weeks over due.
It's slightly out of character for him as he's a lovely guy. Hes going to my friends yard in 2 weeks; so if I've not heard anything going to get her to remind him or has he changed his phone!! Feel really disappointed :( and reluctant to change but at this rate il have to get someone to do her!
 
OH is a farrier. He does have an appointment book, but people are prone to looking at the feet the day before and cancelling as they will go another week, in their opinion-hence a big hole in the next day which can't always be filled. So it works both ways. But-he always gets back to people, though he does not appreciate weekend calls, and will always attend an emergency such as an abcess. I think you are entitled to good communication from your farrier so long as you cut them some slack given the unpredicatability of the job.
 
The only times I needed him to put a shoe back on he came within 2 days. So really don't know what's going ok. He's not the type to just Ignore on purpose. Forget yes; so going to call first thing tomorrow again.
 
My farrier can be a late but that is often due to the fact is he does livery yards and despite asking the yards to let him what needs done ahead of time, extras or problems that arise or liveries that don't let YO know in time, then he will be asked to do them whilst he is there which causes some delays.

If I need him in an emergency or weekend he is always very obliging and comes out of his way to help or I have the option to travel to his forge which can be very interesting!
 
I hate them been stupidly late... Anything over half an hour without a call/ text drives me mad but I'd give them another chance. If they blow that then I'd find another. Working full time, I want to make the most of my days off not wait around for a farrier to turn up so I'm not very patient if they are late :P
 
My horse gets shod regularly and promptly without fuss, and I pay my bill regularly and promptly without fuss.The two seem to go hand in hand.
 
Maclinda said:
I've had the same farrier for years and have never ever had a problem with him shoeing my horse, he's always been exceptional. However!

Last year he branched out on his own, and I decided to go with him. Since then I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the way he treats me as a client. He is ALWAYS late for appointments, anything from 20mins to over an hour. When he does arrive he has a very nonchalant attitude "it's your day off anyway what does it matter". If I have to contact him re early shoeing etc he always takes ages to get back, and this time my friend contacted him a week ago as she thought her horse had an abscess, and he still hasn't returned her call (I know he's been on holiday but has been back four days).

My issue definately isn't about his shoeing, but frustration as I feel professionalism is lacking, so original question, do you "suck it up" because he's good, or find someone else.
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Find someone else. I have just changed farriers for the umpteen times
 
I feel very lucky as I have an amazing farrier who doesn't book himself back to back and always allows for the unexpected, he always rings me to say he's available earlier if it suits me and always turns up when he says he will. I would say maybe have a look around to see if there are any other personally recommended farriers in your area, it is hard to find a good farrier but unprofessionalism would drive me mad and doesn't matter if it's your day off and he thinks you have nothing better to do, your day is as precious as his. X
 
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