Farriers....Am i being unreasonable?

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horsefeed

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My farrier is becoming a bit of a nightmare.... he used to be able to do them whenever as a friend who was stay at home mum would go meet him at short notice etc to do them. She however now works so I have to arrange farrier around my work which is a lot or my OH is self employed so happy to meet him at the yard if he gives us a reasonably accurate time and in advance.
I text farrier on 6th August - no reply
Text again 9th August - he replied the 10th - asking whether I could do that day, I was at work and too short notice for OH
Replied saying at work - no response until Friday 12th again asking whether can do that day, tried calling him, didn't pick up - explained via text about work again and asked him whether can do Wednesday as OH could arrange work round him. - no reply
Text him Monday 15 - no reply
10pm Yesterday he text said he could do today during afternoon, asked him for a time and as yet still not got a reply so I have had to text him now and say OH had a job come in so has done that instead.
Am I being unreasonable just to expect a date and time?
I always pay on the day in cash, its always a minimum of 3 or 4 trims normally more and they are all well behaved. I also supply drinks for him and ponies are presented clean and dry!!
How do people manage to book appointments around full time work? Its a complete nightmare!
 
woah...i hear you.My farrier can be a bit of the same.He explained it to me: you're at one spot, and just when you think you're done, something else pops up - ah c'm on it's only 15 minutes..and so on. And since he's self employed, it's hard to turn down an additional amount of money. My agreement now with my farries is simple: only weekends.I'll ring him about 2 weeks before I need him to come out and he gets back to me a day or so beforehand which day it is and rings me on the day with the time.since it's weekend, it works for both...
 
I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. My farrier sounds similar, though not as bad. He sometimes doesn't reply for a while and has on occasion said 'can you do today?' which just isn't doable for me as I can't just up and leave work. But then he always gives an alternative day when I say no, not today.

I think it's a bit ridiculous for him to be expect you to just be able to drop everything that day to go to the yard. They must understand people have full time jobs and can't just leave at the drop of a hat and they need to book time in advance.

If he really is that bad I would maybe consider looking for someone else. I know some people use a farrier at my yard and when he turns up he then books them in for 6 weeks time (or whenever needed) so they know exactly when their next appointment is going to be. Much better way to run a business. At the end of the day it's his business and if he can't be bothered to book you in at a reasonable time in advance he's the one loosing out! I would look elsewhere if he doesn't understand this.

I find this alot in the horsey world and it really annoys me. i was trying to get my horses saddle checked for ages and the place I messaged/rang took ages to get back to me. She then said she could only do daytime and not weekends, difficult for me because of work. She gave me a date that week that i couldn't do but, I had a week off coming up so messaged her the week before saying I was free all next week any time, didn't hear from them till the following Thursday saying next available day was in 2 weeks time. Fair enough if they couldn't fit me in that week but they could have messaged back so I could arrange something else.
 
Can you not book next appointment in advance? (once you've got this one sorted, obviously!) I've always found that booking in 6 weeks ahead means I could slip it in around work without too much of an issue. I used to always have first slot of the day so that there were no issues with running late etc.
 
I understand about him being self employed etc I do a lot of travel with work and my OH is a self employed mobile mechanic and all over the place too and often has the 'oh while your here can you just....' type jobs and he often takes them and bumps everything back in his diary that day by 15/30 mins so I'm not expecting miracles, but I would like to have an approx. time of maybe with in an hour or even let me know that day more then 24 hours before would be good!!
 
No I don't think you are being unreasonable at all. I had one farrier that would say he was turning up at one time and then arrive 5 hours later or even not turn up at all; he never let anyone know and he didn't answer the phone. Luckily for me my horse was on livery at the time so I didn't have to deal with it personally. I now have a great farrier who arranges an appointment, texts you the weekend before to confirm and texts to let you know if he is going to be late (rarely) and that is even if only a few minutes late. I think you need to have a conversation with your farrier and explain the situation or find another farrier who understands your situation. Poor customer service seems to be rife in the horse world!
 
Not unreasonable to expect a date/time but as milliepops says get on a 6 weekly cycle if you can to make it simpler.
Alternatively - speak to your farrier rather than texting. Dad refuses to have a mobile, but rings all of them back the same day either when he comes in for lunch, or around 7pm when he's finished or following day at the latest - if he's back late for example.
 
milliepops said:
Can you not book next appointment in advance? (once you've got this one sorted, obviously!) I've always found that booking in 6 weeks ahead means I could slip it in around work without too much of an issue. I used to always have first slot of the day so that there were no issues with running late etc.
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This is what ideally I want, I cannot take time away from work at all during working hours I have a townee as a boss who doesn't understand horses and the need for farriers/vets etc, I once a verbal warning for missing a days work for waiting for the hunt to pick up a pony that we had to have PTS due to a broken leg!! Until now short notice for farrier has worked as friend has always done them for me as was at home, when I actually see him I will book it in advance and put it in OH's diary so he can plan around it .
 
Lanky Loll said:
Not unreasonable to expect a date/time but as milliepops says get on a 6 weekly cycle if you can to make it simpler.
Alternatively - speak to your farrier rather than texting. Dad refuses to have a mobile, but rings all of them back the same day either when he comes in for lunch, or around 7pm when he's finished or following day at the latest - if he's back late for example.
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He only has a mobile and have tried calling it and left a vm and no response. Maybe I should call your Dad and book him!
 
milliepops said:
Can you not book next appointment in advance? (once you've got this one sorted, obviously!) I've always found that booking in 6 weeks ahead means I could slip it in around work without too much of an issue. I used to always have first slot of the day so that there were no issues with running late etc.
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This ^
 
Have you explained to your farrier that the arrangement is no longer flexible as it used to be and that you need to make a firm appointment?
My farrier knows I am here most of the time and once I have sent a text to tell him what requires doing he will often give me very little notice, a few weeks ago he phoned and was here in 30 mins due to the weather his plans to play golf had been called off so he thought he would come and make some money instead, if I had been out then he would have gone home but he knew there was every chance I could fit him in and it suited me, it is not the first time he has done this and is rarely a problem.
If you have not been clear with your farrier then he may be like mine and think it is easy to fit you in as and when he is nearby, 3 or 4 trims is not much time or income so I would not expect to be top of the daily list, try booking all the horses together to make it worthwhile and arrange the next visit while he is with you.
 
Sounds like we might have the same farrier!

Mine is an older chap, friendly-ish in a monosyllabic kind of way, does a great job when he does show up - but good grief it's a nightmare trying to get him on the phone or via text. He often doesn't have his diary, otherwise I'd book in advance. He also dislikes rain and flies.

I, too, always provide coffee, always pay cash and my horse is a gentleman (arthritic, so stiff behind, but no badness).

I don't work, but I do have a life outside horses, and much as I'm flexible he assumes I'm able to drop everything at a moment's notice. I'd even be ok with an am/pm timeframe. Thirty minutes, sometimes less - not so.

He's not arrogant, far from it, but surely it's a form of arrogance to be so nonchalant about paying customers?

I've often thought about switching farriers, but when he's at the yard I forget my angst - until the next time!!
 
I don't understand why people put up with so much nonsense from farriers. Mine has been late once in 6 years. He's there when he says he will be & gets back to you reasonably quickly I work full time to and it just wouldn't work any other way for me.
 
be positive said:
Have you explained to your farrier that the arrangement is no longer flexible as it used to be and that you need to make a firm appointment?
My farrier knows I am here most of the time and once I have sent a text to tell him what requires doing he will often give me very little notice, a few weeks ago he phoned and was here in 30 mins due to the weather his plans to play golf had been called off so he thought he would come and make some money instead, if I had been out then he would have gone home but he knew there was every chance I could fit him in and it suited me, it is not the first time he has done this and is rarely a problem.
If you have not been clear with your farrier then he may be like mine and think it is easy to fit you in as and when he is nearby, 3 or 4 trims is not much time or income so I would not expect to be top of the daily list, try booking all the horses together to make it worthwhile and arrange the next visit while he is with you.
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Yes I have twice briefly as in texts, he also saw a good friend who works on a big yard who uses him and she explained how my circumstances had changed and said he would need to book actual time with me now
 
can you not just leave him to get on with it, ie have ponies in and watiing? mine is happy to do this since all well behaved
 
SusieT said:
can you not just leave him to get on with it, ie have ponies in and watiing? mine is happy to do this since all well behaved
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Private yard and only me there, its all locked up so someone needs to go down and meet him to unlock gates. I have no stable just yard area with field shelter but even in there 1 is awkward to catch if she doesn't know you. Once caught she is a darling. He is happy for us to leave and him put them back when he's done but that doesn't help with letting him in :(
 
My farrier has a diary and works strictly to it.
At any point in time I have two appointments booked in advance every 6 weeks and first thing in the morning so I do not have any waiting about as he is always there on time.
Fail to understand why other farriers and their clients can't do the same thing.
 
Gosh reading some of these I think I must be blessed with my farrier. I have used him for the last 7 years and he has cancelled on me only once as he did his back in (understandable). He always turns up on time, with a smile and lets me book in advance for the following set.

If ever the horse loses a shoe and I need it putting back on asap, farrier will tell me to stick horse in the stable while I am at work, he will come over and pop the shoe back on for me and stick nag back in the stable (has also been known to top up water if he's noticed it's low as well)

Actually, putting this in writing makes me think he is well overdue for a 'thank you' bottle of whiskey!

I would be looking elsewhere I think if I was in your situation.
 
Not unreasonable, but as others have suggested best to book in advance so you can make arrangements work wise for that day. I always book my next appointment in when he has finished the current one (my horse is shod every 4 weeks in summer and 5 weeks the rest of the year), that way he can plan his diary and fit me in when he is next in area/check he is not away etc. My farrier always texts the day before to confirm time as well. There is no way I would put up with being called to confirm on the day he wanted to come with no notice, sounds like poor time/diary/customer management to me.
 
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AandK said:
Not unreasonable, but as others have suggested best to book in advance so you can make arrangements work wise for that day. I always book my next appointment in when he has finished the current one (my horse is shod every 4 weeks in summer and 5 weeks the rest of the year), that way he can plan his diary and fit me in when he is next in area/check he is not away etc. My farrier always texts the day before to confirm time as well. There is no way I would put up with being called to confirm on the day he wanted to come with no notice, sounds like poor time/diary/customer management to me.
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It's exactly why it drives me nuts. My heart sinks when he announces he doesn't have his diary. It's two entirely different experiences "diary" or "no diary" - because once the appointment is made there is no need for communication. That's what my farrier can't or won't do - communicate. Why the heck not?!!!
 
I sacked my last farrier for this. New farrier has his tablet with him, books the next appointment on the spot and prints off an invoice there and then, he runs as an actual business- if he's going to be more than 5 minutes late he texts and so far, in 18 months he's never not turned up. It's blissful. And unusual in a farrier! I just don't get how others who operate in the way you've described OP survive, surely there can't be that many owners out there who can and will accommodate last minute visits etc?
 
I'm another who books in advance - I have to do this or chances are it will take me a fortnight to get hold of my farrier! Yet he does such a good job with my old mare that I'm reluctant to use anyone else. She can get very sore after a trim and this farrier is the only person I've used (including barefoot trimmers) who leaves her as sound as he finds her. He's a nightmare if you have to get hold of him between appointments - doesn't answer his phone, often doesn't reply to texts and takes ages to reply when he actually gets round to it!
 
I text my farrier the week I want him to come and he turns up Saturday morning. It's worked for years. If he can't make it he just texts me and he comes the following week. He will never book in advance and never has. He us amazing and skilled so I work around him. If I have an emergency I ring his mobile and he will come out ASAP.
It is more difficult when you work but if you chat to them about it most are understanding.
 
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