Farriers. Getting a tad annoyed

[poiuytrewq]

I really like my farrier. I’ve used him about 5 years and he’s done a great job, including fixing messes from previous farrier beautifully. He worked alongside my vet and got my laminitic TB looking great and sound when everyone said he was knackered.
I always book him in every 5 weeks to do my horses. He comes a bit further out to me than his usual route for a private small yard because he was my work farrier so got to know him there.
More recently I’ve been having issues with getting him out. 3 weeks ago now I called a vet to my older horse as he was really sore and I was unsure if he was reacting to the stones the farm has helpfully laid in the gateways or was a bit laminitic so wanted to be safe. She advised no sign of laminitis but to get shoes on ASAP and see how that helped.
Over the 3 weeks I’ve waited around 3 days for him not to arrive. No reply to phone or texts.
I sent a text saying I knew he was flat out and understood I was outside him normal route and would he rather I found someone local. Thinking it was a good get out clause for him but he replied no, he’d be here this morning. So I’ve sat here all morning on my day off and nothing.
Would you just go elsewhere?
Are farriers easy to get hold of these days?
If it were a horse I’d just decided to shoe it would be one thing but it’s a sore horse on veterinary advice.
I’m reluctant to bin off a good farrier who I actually like but this is really starting to grind now.

 

[fankino04]

I'd say that as the horse is sore I'd get someone else out then message him to say that as it had become an emergency you've had to book someone else but if he's still happy to continue coming out to you you would still like to use him and ask him to confirm when he will be up for the regular routine shoeings

 

[Bernster]

They do seem to be rubbish at staying in touch! Have you tried calling? Mine seems better with calls than texts.

 

[poiuytrewq]

They do seem to be rubbish at staying in touch! Have you tried calling? Mine seems better with calls than texts.

No answer. He’s usually good with text and that’s how he contacts me. (Sadly not when he’s not coming)

I did wonder about getting someone else to do that one set but continue with him for my fixed appointments. I wasn’t sure if another farrier would be happy to do that?
My horses luckily don’t loose shoes *touch wood* but it makes me wary of having an emergency situation

 

[poiuytrewq]

Our regular slot is next Friday. I had said if he wanted to just do them all today rather than come two weeks running that was fine. I had no reply to that either.

 

[HollyWoozle]

We have had same farrier for 10+ years and he has never once not turned up, been exceptionally late or been hard to get hold of. If he is running more than say 15 minutes late (he has been early the last few times and is generally pretty on time) then he sends a message. Last time I messaged him with some concerns about the hooves of our EMS pony he called me within 6 minutes! Always responds to messages quickly, despite being a well-respected and busy farrier. Once came out at 8.30pm when I was worried about my mare and shod her in the dark as she was footsore.

I do think we are very lucky but I would get someone else in your case. I know that good farriers can be hard to come by but I don't think that makes it acceptable for them to repeatedly let down a paying customer, especially when the welfare of a horse is at stake!

 

[Willowbankstables]

No answer. He’s usually good with text and that’s how he contacts me. (Sadly not when he’s not coming)

I did wonder about getting someone else to do that one set but continue with him for my fixed appointments. I wasn’t sure if another farrier would be happy to do that?
My horses luckily don’t loose shoes *touch wood* but it makes me wary of having an emergency situation

I've had another farrier come out as a one off when my old regular one was on holiday (he never did booking in advance, which was a pain and part of the reason I eventually switched). So I think some farriers would be fine to do a one off.

 

[sbloom]

A small part of the reason I went barefoot for mine, trimmers are generally more reliable and better communicators, sadly!

 

[AandK]

I would probably speak to him about it when he is there next week. No excuse for saying he is coming and then not turning up IMO. I have had the same farrier since moving to W Sussex 9yrs ago, very reliable and will let me know if he is going to be v late (generally he is on time or 10-15min late). Always responds in the case of lost shoes etc.
Have only had one unreliable farrier many moons ago in Hants, was great to start with and then went AWOL (not just me, had friends who used him), I switched PDQ as needed someone reliable!

In the case of your sore horse, have you thought about hoof boots for walking on the stones, instead of just shoeing him?

 

[Sealine]

My farrier is very reliable and easy to contact and usually arrives early. He always lets me know if he's running late or gives me plenty of notice if he needs to reschedule. Unreliable would be a deal breaker for me as I work full time. I would not be happy if he was late or didn't turn up without warning and with no explanation. I did know of a very unreliable farrier but he had mental health issues which, although it explained a lot, did result in him losing most of his customers. If your farrier has previously been reliable I wonder if he is experiencing personal problems or going through a difficult time at the moment.

 

[MuddyMonster]

A small part of the reason I went barefoot for mine, trimmers are generally more reliable and better communicators, sadly!

This has been my experience too.

 

[Regandal]

Boots and pads?

 

[Gloi]

Have you Cushing's tested the oldie?

For goodness sake I just typed covid tested ?

 

[McGrools]

I hate being dependant on farriers so mine are barefoot where possible and i trim them myself where necessary. They self trim well as hack plenty and i am blessed that they have good feet! Stress free and money free and sooo much better for the horses!

 

[windand rain]

My farrier is the best I would hate to lose him He has never been late without contacting me and comes same day or I can go to him in an emergency even if its just a chipped hoof before a show

 

[MinKo]

My farrier is great but never ever turn up when he is supposed to and because he is the yard farrier I feel like I can't change to someone else. He was due last Wednesday and he text my yard owner today saying the earliest he can be in next Thursday! Not a happy bunny I need hind shoes put on my old boy asap ?‍

 

[Hepsibah]

I'd change. It doesn't matter if he's a fabulous farrier or not if he isn't turning up.

 

[Equi]

I wouldn’t even know where to start anymore. I’ve been through so many for the old spud none were suitable for us (me ?) so when I found one I liked I kept hold of him. I too am waaaaay outside his area but he came specially for my spud and a mini or 5 thrown in. I text him when spud died and said I would understand if he didn’t want to drive half the day to trim 5 minis but he said no I’m your farrier for life. He’s never done anything wrong so I am willing to put up with the bit of messing about but thankfully he is also just as comfortable going in alone since he’s known 70% of the herd their whole life and is the only person who’s ever touched their feet bar me.

Bear just gets a trim at the yard when their farrier comes out 8xweekly he’s a very decent farrier too and I don’t need to be there he works away, I just didn’t agree with him on things for spud so I boxed to my house for my farrier.

 

[Sossigpoker]

It sounds like you're being ghosted. Time to get a new farrier

 

[fredflop]

I’ve found farriers hard work. One that came once, then just totally ignored me. (Horse was a prat which I can understand them not wanting to deal with again… but no thanks but no thanks would have helped.)

one farrier who did call me back, a month after I initially rang, and forgot what I’d asked for, and asked me to call him back. I rang back, no answer, and didn’t get a response for another week.

one great farrier who thought I was a waste of time; I had to cancel four appointments on the trot due to work changing my shifts around.

nightmare all round really

 

[Bonnie Allie]

Oh gosh this is my hot button, not just with farriers but all services in the equestrian industry.

Im super clear, you might be the best technically at your job but if you can’t use a watch, a diary and a phone with high competency then you are fired. Plus I will tell anyone that will listen that you are unreliable.

Horse industry service providers whine non-stop about how hard it is to make money. Maybe try communication 101 or Google “customer experience” and it might give you a clue as to why you are finding it tough to earn a decent living.

I wouldnt have been a patient as you are, I would find someone else even if it cost double.

 

[CMcC]

My farrier came with the first pony I bought 24 years ago. He has never once been late, in fact it is a joke between us that he is always early but I always manage to have them all in and ready when he arrives. If one of them loses a shoe he will be come back within a day or two, when one had laminitis he would come the same day if needed. When I moved last year and am now about 1.5 hours drive from him I begged him to keep me as I client, he did (apparently because I make a good cup of coffee!). His only quirk is he insists on payment by cash or cheque, as I don’t write cheques for anyone else I have to search for my chequebook every six weeks.
I dread him retiring because I am also hearing about farriers who are late, don’t turn up, can’t be contacted. I have no patience for that kind of thing and would operate my three strikes and you're out rule!
OP I would definitely be looking for another farrier.

 

[SOS]

My partner is a farrier and you’d be surprised how often his phone is going off with calls and texts from clients. He tends to respond instantly (unless he isn’t near his diary) as if not he may forget/it gets lost! That rarely happens though and he would never not turn up.

In fact he had a really hard time earlier this year as he lost a close friend. One day he rang me very upset saying he’d just walked off a yard as he just couldn’t be at work right now and didn’t feel he could concentrate. He couldn’t face telling everyone else over and over again he couldn’t attend for the next few days but was adamant he couldn’t just not turn up. I rang and explained to the yard (luckily a big client who was very understanding) and cancelled the rest of his week. That’s a person that shouldn’t of been thinking about other peoples feelings yet still did the decent thing.

Prior to my partner shoeing my horses I had a good farrier for sometime who retired, I then when through a state of people just not wanting the work. It was 4 horses, could be shod inside/undercover, well behaved but always people around just incase, always had clean legs and were always in and ready to go, cash paid or left in an envelope at the time, booked in advance and 5 weeks max. A few booked in then never turned up and another cancelled last minute twice. Other peoples farriers on the yard turned down the extra work. In the end I found a nice, reliable farrier whose work was good but not exceptional.

I’m not saying it’s the solution but it gets easier if you date one although I do sometimes have to write myself in the diary/drive him there!

 

[SOS]

My post has just made me think. If he’s always been reliable maybe he has a personal crisis going on?

My partners close friend was a farrier and so were the majority of his friends/family. Some really struggled and some days just couldn’t do the work. Unfortunately then they ended up getting piled up. In fact they all started shoeing the excess as a group for a few weeks, it was the only way they could manage.

The flaw as a self employed farrier is if you are off for a week or two it piles up and then on the next cycle you screw your self over as it’s super busy for a few weeks. It takes a while to even out again!

I would get an emergency farrier in and text yours explaining the horse has been shod. Then get booked in for your regular appointments. If he still is a no show then change.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I have thought of boots yes, I’d just figured shoes back on a quicker (!) option.
I bought him some Cavallo boots once when I tried to ride barefoot a few years ago and they didn’t fit well, I just figured when the ground gets softer they will surely pull off all the time ?‍ I could try again.
He is having a few personal problems I do know that but it’s been going on a fair while now.
I do feel like I’m being ghosted yes ?

Ok, so today’s mission is to dump present partner and find a farrier to date!

 

[poiuytrewq]

My post has just made me think. If he’s always been reliable maybe he has a personal crisis going on?

My partners close friend was a farrier and so were the majority of his friends/family. Some really struggled and some days just couldn’t do the work. Unfortunately then they ended up getting piled up. In fact they all started shoeing the excess as a group for a few weeks, it was the only way they could manage.

The flaw as a self employed farrier is if you are off for a week or two it piles up and then on the next cycle you screw your self over as it’s super busy for a few weeks. It takes a while to even out again!

I would get an emergency farrier in and text yours explaining the horse has been shod. Then get booked in for your regular appointments. If he still is a no show then change.

He is having personal issues yes.
He’s booked for my regular apt next Friday I’d like to think he will turn up for that. That would be a very definite ending if not. I just feel so bad my poor old boy has gone weeks now waiting sore. He’s in during the day on a deep bed to the door so hopefully gets some relief from that.
I’ll do a bit of research today locally and see if I can get a set fitted early next week. At least that way they will both be on the same cycle still.

 

[poiuytrewq]

He has been tested for cushings yes, I may get that redone though as it’s been a while.