Farrier recommendations, South Warks area

chrissie1

chrissie1

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Long story cut short, previous farrier moved miles away, many miles away, and was so unreliable it was untrue. Which was very inconvenient when you are standing in mares and foals, some of which have had mild sedation which had worn off, or was wasted the times on the occasions he just plain didn't turn up. I should add that I was by no means the only person he did this to.

So, I have a new chap, 100% reliable, but he likes to give what I'd describe as a 'good value' trim. I don't need these trims, they are all done very regularly, and if one grew extra foot between trims I get the farrier back out.

But last time he overdid it, and I had sore horses, oddly enough the foal he did wasn't, but my one mare had raised DP(seen by vet since she was there on another matter) and I was advised to restrict her grass, exercise and feed, plus Danilon twice daily for 5 days. This is not ideal when you have a month old foal that needs exercise etc. Mare is a WBxTB, and not overfat.

If anyone can tell me of a farrier that covers roughly south of Solihull/Stratford area that won't take too much off I'd be interested to hear please!
 
If you go onto the farriers website ... Worshipful Company of Farriers , that has all qualified farriers and you can put in your town/postcode and find whos near you . Also it will tell you their qualification and when they qualified .
 
Thanks! I know someone who uses Carl, and have looked at the list on the FRC many a time, but I need personal recommendations really. Ofcourseyoucan, I have had a horse crippled to the point of Laminitis (17hh Warmblood) by a farrier that is suggested, and even he struggled to be able to say she was overweight, and said she had great feet. Had became the operative word I fear. She was sound as a pound in the morning, crippled with L by afternoon, after being trimmed.

Another of them liked to pick a fight, and if a foal played up was very happy to fight it to the ground. Wasn't having that! Foals are well handled from day one, but a stranger doing their feet usually leads to resistance, hence I mildy sedate them so everyone has a positive experience for the first time or two by when they get the idea that this is all OK.

If I could get Spud Allison I'd be happy, but I have asked in the past and he won't take any more clients on, I think I'll try again, as we don't have anything shod, only require pasture trims, but need someone who is experienced with foals and youngstock. To be fair to current chap I think he does know what is what, but like some hairdressers who give you a 8 week haircut when you religiously go every 6 weeks, got carried away.

My vet said Joe Bryan was good, but I thought maybe we'd be too far away.
 
You won't get Spud Allison he is booked up to the hilt!

I and the majority of my liveries use Tom Heath (he does around 20 horses here), he is fab. Always on time, and brilliant with the horses and their feet. He is also very good at working with vets, as he is doing with mine at the moment with my horse.

Another fantastic farrier is Gavin Fields, very very good. However, his communication and organisation aren't fantastic, but if you don't mind that, he really is amazing.

Oh and Jason Tysoe is also excellent, although his prices reflect this.
 
I saw an example of Tom Heath's work at a show a few years ago now, friend of a friend's horse. I thought the feet looked fab so did ask who the farrier was, and was Tom Heath. Having looked him up, again, on the FRC website he is only the other side of Stratford so may well travel to us.

With Gavin, when you say disorganised, does that extend to his timekeeping?
 
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