Farrier..... oh boy how do you cope?

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How do you cope with your farrier? Our's seems to have lost the plot. He doesn't stick to the times/day he says he going to come! He doesn't have the courtesy to call to say he's not coming! He did once shoe really well and now on one of our horses especially he's making a mess!

Problem being we're not graced with that many farriers in our area. It seems to always be the case that you have the same one for a few years and then they get sloppy in their work etc. It's not like we're bad customers either - horses are always in ready with dry feet, we are as flexible as possible for when they come, they get cake and coffee and although it's not roomy they shoe undercover in the wet.

My dad is getting really stressed as it's his horse who's feet are getting out of shape. How do you guys cope, do you speak openly and firmly to your farrier if they're taking the pee - even if you risk them turning round and saying their not coming again? Dad has tried saying that his horses feet are not good but the farrier just makes up excuses.

Any suggestions???
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In my experience you have to be very careful with farriers because they take offence really easily. Mine is very good, he turns up, bang on time, every time and he does a good job. However he does not take kindly to any messing around and drops customers left right and centre. I live in Surrey and we have plenty of farriers to choose from, but you still need to walk on egg shells.
 
where about in the country are you? Lets see if i can give you a hand.
I tell my farrier what i want, if he cocks up he knows im going to correct him, in the same way if i cock up he'll tell me.
Then i am on his wavelength as i did training as a farrier.

Lou x
 
i think i would be looking for a new one, but watch what you are doing as they do tend to talk to each other. i am lucky with mine, i really trust him to do the job even though he is usually a wee bit lare but thats not the end of the world. he is also quite good looking which is always a bonus
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Oh what a nightmare! My farrier is totally the bees knees. You can set your watch by him, he always has a supply of terrible risque jokes and on the very, very rare occasions he can't make it (flu or van knackered) he rings me up! I'd marry him if he wasn't married!
 
I'm S Wales Nailed and he is Howard D? You know him? He's an MWCF and great. I live in constant fear that he will retire. He's so good with my one eyed veteran and also takes no nonsense off my R&R mare - that's Rescued and Rude! The liveries that had qualified for Broomies last year were going to kidnap him and tie him up in one of the lorries just in case they needed a farrier!
 
My farrier is ALWAYS late!! this time by a week and 3 hours!!!but he does a fantastic job and is very patient with my nervous mare. He always rings to let me know when hes half an hour away, and he too is rather tasty indeed so I can forgive the shoddy time-keeping!!
If I were you I would look for someone else, having horses shod is expensive so you shouldnt settle for poor quality work.
 
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How do you cope with your farrier? Our's seems to have lost the plot. He doesn't stick to the times/day he says he going to come! He doesn't have the courtesy to call to say he's not coming! He did once shoe really well and now on one of our horses especially he's making a mess!



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I used to use one like this a few years ago that lost the plot too - I got rid!
 
My new farrier is the opposite and always early. Not just early, like over an hour early! I want to always be there when they are getting work done so it frustrates me. I'm at work but he doesn't even text to say he's there and when I get there he's caught and done 2 of them (one of my mares won't let a random catch her). Like you there are limited farriers in my area and this one is teh last one available. He is a good farrier but my horse's feet aren't great because of previous (by 1) farrier.

Long story but sounds similar to yours. I was there for every shoeing, told him my concerns nicely, then more firmly. I happened to have my vet out and vet agreed with my concerns and told me to ask for X, Y & Z. I duely did and farrier still ignored me and carried on regardless and got really snotty with my when I said "my vet said", apparently my vet could just shoe the horses to see how easy it is... So that was him sacked.

I got a good farrier but moved yards and now I'm using a new (good) farrier but I have NO other options if things don't work out with him. Not a nice position to be in! You have my sympathy

I think you have to speak to your farrier though, for the horses' sake if nothing else. Good Luck!
 
I am quite lucky over here, we have sever farriers on the island. My farrier in paticular is good. I am on a big livery yard and he does all of the part liveries first. He has occasionally forgotten to do Poutu or run out of time but is more than happ to come out after he is finished and do her quickly so I don't mind if he runs out of time as long as its done at some point! His prices are reasonible, hes a lovely guy. I can't say a word against him!
If my farrier was messing me about and was messing my horses feet up I'd get rid. If I said to my farrier "hmm her toes seem to be a bit long, what do you think?" He would get the hint and rectify it, hes rather good like that
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Get rid of bad farriers, remember what you could be risking if your horses feet aren't done properly!!
 
Farrier rolled up the other day as agreed - early too
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. Dad asked him to do two horses (same number of shoe's had he just done the one horse) so they would both last the next few days hunting without the risk of loosing a shoe. Fronts needed doing - hinds were ok. Farrier said he would tighten clenches on one as he'd last!!

Dad took that horse hunting today...... guess what......

He lost a shoe
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Haven't seen dad yet to really speak to as he just tx me but I can imagine he's absolutely fuming. Now we've got to get the farrier back.
 
My farrier is always late and not hours late....days late! and those are the days when he turns up.
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Not only that but I get abuse from him (constantly take the mick out of me and my oss!) so I've just got used to it, I appreciate he's very busy and trying to please everyone is just not possible, I just get my own back on him and take the p*ss out him when he does turn up
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....it kinda works!

As long as my horse is shod well, I can live with the late arrivals I guess.
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i used to have a farrier like that, went from brill to impatient, grumpy arrogant pig!! put up with him for ages until i saw an ad for a newly qualified farrier in local paper. I rang him, gave him a try,- brillo!! Firm but very fair with stroppy ones, patient with oldies, and rings or text when an hour away. Cant fault him, friendly and always likes a laugh and gossip, worth his weight in gold I would say!! Comes from Wakefield by the way, shoes all south Yorks and leeds, wakefield areas.
 
Spotsmum-would you mind letting me know who he is please? Im in Leeds too.

I left my old farrier as my TB kept loosing shoes, I asked him many times to tell me what to do-any cost or time, not a problem.

He told me to either sell it of find another farrier, has he couldn't be bothered with him anymore. I alway pay (in cash), Im on time and the horse is shod every 4 weeks.

My current farrier is doing my horse and feet are getting better, but getting answers out of him is a nightmare and I'm still not 100% convinced about TBs feet.
 
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I'm still waiting for one farrier since July...........

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sure its not mine? he seems to have gone missing
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i have had to get a different farrier which i didn't want to do as i was very happy with old farriers way of doing them and the shoes stayed on, new farrier seems very good though so here's hoping
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