Changing farrier - how?

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dannykins

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I've used the same farrier for four years now, but I'm not happy with the work he's doing - my horse only has front shoes on, but he keeps losing them, i can guarantee he will lose one within a week of being shod, and then possibly again before the next pair. Annoying as it is I've always put it down to one thing or another, but recently I've heard a lot of negative things off different people about the quality of his work, and I don't really want to continue to use him. But, at the same time, hes a really nice man, always on time, comes out straight away to put a shoes back on when he does lose one and so i dont know how to go about changing farriers. I don't want to just stop using him with no explanation but at the same time theres no way i would dare say i was changing farriers because im not happy with his work!

Any advice, or been in a similar experiene?
Thanks!
 
When I was unhappy with a farrier I used, I just rang up & said that I had decided to move my business elsewhere. Luckily I got his answer machine, but he never rang back to ask why!!!!
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have you got any photo's off the feet and farrier work in question ? mine used to loose shoes all the time, cause of cracks so put him on farriers form. but if you think it is farrier then do change it. i bet it costs you a small fortune at the mo !!

xx
 
Last time I changed I was so appalled with the job they did I phoned up and complained, and told them I wouldn't be wanting them up again. I think I've also just not booked them again, don't think they actually notice, not if they've got tons of customers.
 
Aww it really is horrible when you have to do this. My farrier in England was wonderful, he shod well, he was patient and kind with all the horses and all in all he was a terrific farrier and I had him for over 10 years.

Then one day, he changed the metal nails and the shoes he had previously been using - well shoes were falling off left, right and centre. They were wearing unevenly and the nails didn't seem to be in the correct place (not that I know much about shoeing a horse mind you - I only have years of watching).

At the time I let my farrier go, I was competing an awful lot, every week and I just couldn't be doing with all these shoes falling off. Anyway, thankfully one of my liveries was also having the same problem and she isn't quite so reserved or tactful as me (if you can ever believe that of me, LOL!!) in real life, so she made a big song and dance about it.....farrier turned and said fine get someone else!

Well I deliberated for at least 2 weeks about stopping using him, as we had now become quite good friends over the years, but one day I just called him up and said that I was having the same problems with my horses shoes and that I was going to have to use someone else. He was absolutely lovely - I couldn't believe it! I expected him to be really really angry and hurt, maybe he was but he certainly never showed it.

We had another farrier who was okay - not like our old one though, and we kept him for the other couple of years and then when I sold my stables, and then my pony came down with very serious laminitis, I called my old farrier up. He was by far the most knowledgeable farrier I had ever met, and I felt nothing lost, nothing gained if I didn't pluck up the courage to speak to him.

Anyway, as I say, he was absolutely lovely to me and came out that night to look at my little girl. He fixed her! No question about it - he saved that pony's life. He taught me how to trim her feet and spent a long time every 6 weeks showing me everything I needed to know about her feet as he knew I was leaving for Canada with the pony in tow and might not be able to find another highly experienced farrier immediately.

Sooooo, sorry to ramble on so much; but the moral of my story is, when/if you call up your farrier, do it in a nice way; try not to be diplomatic as you never know when you may need him again.
 
Hi Dannykins, May be you could speak to your farrier, tell him that you are worried by the loss of shoes, ask him if it can be prevented. Premature shoe Loss can usually be avoided once the cause has been identified. If you have any pics or a description of the horse/hooves it may be possible to see the problem. If your farrier cant help he may be able to recommend somebody to you, there should be no need to apportion blame and a farrier will hopefully deal with it in a professional way. I look forward to hearing how you get on.
 
Firstly you need to find out why your horse is always losing shoes - is he a TB with poor hoof quality? If so, feeding a supplement such as Formula4Feet would help. You might switch farrier and find yourself in a worse position - still losing shoes but with a farrier that doesn't come when booked and certainly wouldn't keep coming out to put them back on. Have you got another farrier lined up? Good farriers are usually pretty booked up, so they are difficult to find.
 
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