Farriers! But not what you might think

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Jesstickle

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Mine was out this morning to do my knobber horse. He was there for nearly an hour, horse was a knob and he had to drive to me as well.

All this cost me £80. Driving home tonight I thought that really, even though everyone moans, that isn't very much money is it? I don't have an hourly billable rate but my OH does (he's a structural engineer) and it's about £80. And he doesn't have to leave his office for that, nor buy shoes or diesel or travel to and from the job. Nor does he risk injury on a day to day basis. And when he does (offshore work) he gets paid extra again! And he's one of the cheapest in his office as we are still pretty young in the grand scheme of things.

So, in short, considering how qualified my farrier is, what a skilled job he does, and how long he trained for, he's actually really cheap compared to other professionals.

So basically, yay to farriers :D

That was random I know but I was just musing in the car as you do...
 
Jess, can you PM me your OH's number because your clearly having an affair with your farrier and I need to tell him. Or your farrier is a cad, or your farrier is flirting with your horse. Which is it?
 
Well my hourly rate is about 8.50 so they're hardly getting a pittance but yes have to agree it is pretty reasonable considering the danger and materials as well (although mine is only 60 quid and the two times I have used him so far was for nobber horses!)

Is yours one of those prepared to 'go the extra mile' so to speak as I could point you in the direction of potential clients, nudge nudge ;-) ;-)
 
guido16 said:
Jess, can you PM me your OH's number because your clearly having an affair with your farrier and I need to tell him. Or your farrier is a cad, or your farrier is flirting with your horse. Which is it?
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My horse does like him. Maybe he is flirting with my horse :eek:

mandwhy said:
Well my hourly rate is about 8.50 so they're hardly getting a pittance but yes have to agree it is pretty reasonable considering the danger and materials as well (although mine is only 60 quid and the two times I have used him so far was for nobber horses!)

Is yours one of those prepared to 'go the extra mile' so to speak as I could point you in the direction of potential clients, nudge nudge ;-) ;-)
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OH doesn't earn that an hour. Not even close. But as billable rates go it isn't bad for a professional service.
 
Thanks for posting this JT.
There was an article in an issue of Forge last year(FRC newletter)and it broke down the cost of a set of shoes accounting for transport,gas,shoes,nails,tools,insurance,fees,phone,premises etc and it makes the average farriers hourly wage look pretty pathetic given the skill,danger and sweat involved.
I sometimes wish my OH had used his intellegence and strength to learn a more profitable,less dangerous skill!
 
well my farrier spends sometimes over an hour with knobber horse, gets thrown around the stable, gets squished and lent on and yet he charges me nothing........and yes I am sleeping with him ;-)
 
mrogers said:
well my farrier spends sometimes over an hour with knobber horse, gets thrown around the stable, gets squished and lent on and yet he charges me nothing........and yes I am sleeping with him ;-)
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I'm just wanting clarification as to whether it's you or the horse throwing him round the stable, leaning on him and squishing him:D
 
weebarney said:
Ive never met a poor farrier yet!
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No, but I don't know many poor lawyers or accountants either and I can tell you now they're billable hourly rate is just as high if not higher than any farrier and they have minimal outgoings. I think you might have missed what I was saying somewhat...

My point was not that farriers can't earn a decent living, just that if you think about what they charge they are cheaper than most other similarly well trained professionals. :)
 
Agree with this, particularly when they refit a lost shoe, examine a lame horse for no charge. Particularly when its urgent and you aren't even their client but they just happen to be on the yard.
Thumbs up for all those dedicated farriers out there.
 
My farrier is brilliant too. He never rushes, always turns up on time (normally early). He also charges the same as yours which is more than the other two farriers that come up to the yard I'm at, but considering how good he's been I think it's worth the extra £2 per week.
 
Jesstickle said:
No, but I don't know many poor lawyers or accountants either and I can tell you now they're billable hourly rate is just as high if not higher than any farrier and they have minimal outgoings. I think you might have missed what I was saying somewhat...

My point was not that farriers can't earn a decent living, just that if you think about what they charge they are cheaper than most other similarly well trained professionals. :)
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not agreeing or disagreeing with you on farriers, just stating that all the ones ive met are rolling in it, and they charge £20 less than yours. I would disagree that a solicitor has minimal outgoings though, I doubt offices and office equipment are very cheap.
 
It all relative isn't it really... If it didn't pay, no one would do it and be ale to pay apprentices.

Not everyone wants to be a lawyer or a doctor and a life being your own boss working with animals is a great way of life.
 
I know my stepfather (an accountant) works a lot less than my farrier and is a lot better off. Maybe this is not typical. I have no idea. :confused:
 
OH's a farrier, he pays £25 every other week to have his back put in again. He reckons he makes around £37 a set roughly (once you've taken out materials etc - not counting for fuel).

Oh bumped into a friend the other day and one of his mates workmen were there saying how farriers are loaded and rob people of there money as they only spend £10 Ish on material..

This is so wrong.. Not loaded at all. :)
 
Here is the breakdown for you.
4 standard shoes ......................................................................£12
Nails ......................................................................................£1.50
Rasps.....................................................................................£2.25.....or more if your horse has muddy hooves!
Gas.........................................................................................£0.80
Wear and tear on clothes and equipment.......................................£1.80
Insurance(stock,buildings, PL.......................................................£0.40
Professional fees.......................................................................£1.00
personal insurance,pension..........................................................£2.50
Telephone................................................................................£1.50
Vehicle depreciation/replacement..................................................£6.85
Fuel........................................................................................£3.75
Servicing.................................................................................£1.00
Tyres......................................................................................£0.75
Tax and insurance on vehicle........................................................£0.60

Total cost for normal set.............................................................£37.20

The above is for a normal set @£70,excluding VAT,before tax.......I will let you do the sums on how many sets per week a farrier needs to do to be in line with similarly skilled professionals.
 
Weebarney - To be fair most of them work fairly long hours and are continually on call (I've had one stay out at 9pm for an unrelated vet call during shoeing and others out on Sundays). They may not have to pay for offices but they travel (often long distances) and have the outlay of a suitably kitted out vehicle in addition to standard insurance etc. There will be easy ways to make it a good earner, but not necessarily ones people want to do.

I also know lots who slow down well before retirement with bad backs and wrists. Two I know who've had operations in the last few months.

So it's all relative.

And regardless of if they are rolling in it or not, they've worked to get qualified, they deal with a lot of difficult horses who do injure them and they are worth their weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. No foot, no horse, so I'd happily pay through the nose for a good job.
 
Yay to farriers mine in particular. My boy has his best feet ever in all the years ive owned him & farrier n me have a laugh.he texts me a reminder and texts if he is just 5 mins late..currently texting eachother ranting while watching rspca on horse hoarder and im waiting to spot his bro on another show! Theyre not all bad.
 
PandorasJar said:
Weebarney - To be fair most of them work fairly long hours and are continually on call (I've had one stay out at 9pm for an unrelated vet call during shoeing and others out on Sundays). They may not have to pay for offices but they travel (often long distances) and have the outlay of a suitably kitted out vehicle in addition to standard insurance etc. There will be easy ways to make it a good earner, but not necessarily ones people want to do.

I also know lots who slow down well before retirement with bad backs and wrists. Two I know who've had operations in the last few months.

So it's all relative.

And regardless of if they are rolling in it or not, they've worked to get qualified, they deal with a lot of difficult horses who do injure them and they are worth their weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. No foot, no horse, so I'd happily pay through the nose for a good job.
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Im not doubting some work long hours and are well worth their money and yes i know they deal with difficult horses! I have used farriers for years and never met a poor one, all drive flashy new cars and live in beautiful houses, thats not to say they dont end up on the poverty line when they hit 50 and their back is bust and havent saved up for retirement. Just speak as i find.
 
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