Hels_Bells
Well-Known Member
This is really just a moan cos I'm so fed up and everything seems stacked against me at the mo! A pint of tea and caramel buscuits for those who read it!!
Have been going to the same farrier forever (about 20+ years). They've always done a good job and not really had any problems. Then a few weeks ago I decided to get stud holes put in for the first time as we were starting to do our first few BE100s and I thought its probably a good idea at that level.
Farriers came and put the stud holes in. After they had gone I had a look at the holes and one of them seemed a bit mishapen compared to the others, but only slightly and I thought that it must be me imagining it!!
So that afternoon I put my new shiny studs in to try them out whilst doing a bit of flatwork. When I got back the one that had been in the mishapen hole had fallen out!!
So i phoned up the farrier's wife who does the officey bit and said, I thought perhaps there was a bit of a problem and she literally went ballistic on me. Screaming and shouting "I hate studs" "I've got people on holiday" etc etc. After a minute or two I interrupted and said "look I'm sorry, if it's such a problem, I will try to find another farrier to sort it out"... she screamed at me again then sort of apologised and said she would see what she could do. I was a bit flabberghasted at it all. Anyway she sent someone round the next day and the problem was fixed (bill followed).
However, after that I was quite frankly loathed to give my business to someone who behaved like that for something that was clearly not my fault. So I paid my last bill and looked for another farrier.
I found a brilliant new farrier who is a lovely guy and really interested in the horse and how best to shoe it. He is also cheaper than the older guys. Bonus!! Problem is he is a one man band and both times I've had to have him out it's because my horse has lost a shoe... just days before a BE event. This is the second time this has happened and I am supposed to be eventing on Sunday, he can't get to me until Tuesday but his wife is trying to fit me in (and not succeeding).
My boy lost his shoe on Monday after about 15 mins of schooling. I have literally had the phone by my side since Monday afternoon and yesterday I went out for half an hour to get some groceries (no reception) and missed the farrier's wife calling to fit me in. By the time I got the message it was too late. I almost cried. It's now Thursday and I'm going bonkers not being able to ride, also desperately worried that my horse has done nothing all week and we haven't even practised our test.
I REALLY don't want to go back to the old farrier after the way I was treated but if I don't get him shod tomorrow we aren't going to be able to take part on Sunday.
In short I'm fed up to the back teeth and just feel like crying!! I think I might take out an apprenticeship for 7 years (or however long it is) so I can shoe my own and not have to go through all this trouble again.
What would you do - swallow pride and go back to old farrier or withdraw and lose entry fee of £50????
Have been going to the same farrier forever (about 20+ years). They've always done a good job and not really had any problems. Then a few weeks ago I decided to get stud holes put in for the first time as we were starting to do our first few BE100s and I thought its probably a good idea at that level.
Farriers came and put the stud holes in. After they had gone I had a look at the holes and one of them seemed a bit mishapen compared to the others, but only slightly and I thought that it must be me imagining it!!
So that afternoon I put my new shiny studs in to try them out whilst doing a bit of flatwork. When I got back the one that had been in the mishapen hole had fallen out!!
So i phoned up the farrier's wife who does the officey bit and said, I thought perhaps there was a bit of a problem and she literally went ballistic on me. Screaming and shouting "I hate studs" "I've got people on holiday" etc etc. After a minute or two I interrupted and said "look I'm sorry, if it's such a problem, I will try to find another farrier to sort it out"... she screamed at me again then sort of apologised and said she would see what she could do. I was a bit flabberghasted at it all. Anyway she sent someone round the next day and the problem was fixed (bill followed).However, after that I was quite frankly loathed to give my business to someone who behaved like that for something that was clearly not my fault. So I paid my last bill and looked for another farrier.
I found a brilliant new farrier who is a lovely guy and really interested in the horse and how best to shoe it. He is also cheaper than the older guys. Bonus!! Problem is he is a one man band and both times I've had to have him out it's because my horse has lost a shoe... just days before a BE event. This is the second time this has happened and I am supposed to be eventing on Sunday, he can't get to me until Tuesday but his wife is trying to fit me in (and not succeeding).
My boy lost his shoe on Monday after about 15 mins of schooling. I have literally had the phone by my side since Monday afternoon and yesterday I went out for half an hour to get some groceries (no reception) and missed the farrier's wife calling to fit me in. By the time I got the message it was too late. I almost cried. It's now Thursday and I'm going bonkers not being able to ride, also desperately worried that my horse has done nothing all week and we haven't even practised our test.
I REALLY don't want to go back to the old farrier after the way I was treated but if I don't get him shod tomorrow we aren't going to be able to take part on Sunday.
In short I'm fed up to the back teeth and just feel like crying!! I think I might take out an apprenticeship for 7 years (or however long it is) so I can shoe my own and not have to go through all this trouble again.
What would you do - swallow pride and go back to old farrier or withdraw and lose entry fee of £50????
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