Farriers inability to follow simple request has set us back months!

amymay said:
Is it:confused:
Click to expand...

To be fair, yes it is Amymay. And even on DIY livery yards it's quite common for liveries to help each other out by sharing the job of being there for the farrier while a group of horses are shod. Last time I was looking for livery I even had YO's telling me that everyone had to use their farrier...
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
I'm lucky in the my farrier has been very encouraging of getting my horses out of shoes. But at the same time I've been very vocal in that I don't want a pasture trim that suits horses with a sturdier hoof structure. I have/had thin soled flat footed horses that were in shoes way too long. I had to be specific in needing the back of the foot to strengthen and not chopping off that toe. But he does do my 2yo who seems to get 2 trims a year. She wears her feet correctly all by herself.

I was the biggest negative Nancy concerning barefoot. But the more I kept researching the more I realised this isn't rocket science. Some horses never require a special diet but mine do. I'm also careful on grazing. But I was while shoes were on. My other attempts at bare failed because when the shoes came off they were trimmed into perfect little hooves. The feet on my horses couldn't handle this change. Taking the shoes off carefully myself and letting them be was such a difference.

Farrier's should just try and listen. There are some out there. Mine has been very good. Thankfully as I trust him and not really in the mood for looking for someone new to trust.

Terri
Click to expand...

You are lucky I would have loved to keep the farrier
A
 
amymay said:
Is it:confused:
Click to expand...

Happened at my last yard. There was a "yard farrier" who YO used and so did pretty much everyone else. He came once a week (say, Monday morning) and shod whatever needed doing that day. That yard had a lot of full liveries so YO would coordinate when each horse needed shoeing. I used their farrier for a while so I'd just say to YO the week before that mine needed doing when he next came. When I stopped using their farrier there was uproar at the yard and they all got quite uppity that I wanted to use someone else. Current yard doesn't really do it unless liveries use YO's farrier in which case I think she books them in. When I moved yards I was quite specific about being able to use my own farrier.

To answer the OP.. you need to discuss the issue with your farrier. I don't see that ranting on a forum is going to get you anywhere. If he can't give you a good reason why he did it then it's time to look for another farrier or trimmer. Personally I had an equine podiatrist out once to my horse and was really unimpressed so I've stuck with farriers. I use a remedial farrier now who is amazing - my new horse is a Connie type with great feet so we took his back shoes off a while back and he hasn't pushed to put them back on. He doesn't trim the backs, doesn't touch the sole or frogs, just tidies up the wall if it gets a bit untidy. He gives my big horse a break from shoes every year and advocates this for most horses too. So there are good farriers out there who are open to unshod horses :)
 
Tinypony said:
To be fair, yes it is Amymay. And even on DIY livery yards it's quite common for liveries to help each other out by sharing the job of being there for the farrier while a group of horses are shod. Last time I was looking for livery I even had YO's telling me that everyone had to use their farrier...
Click to expand...

Oh, absolutely agree that liveries will help each other out.

Just never come across a mass 'organising' by a YO for shoeing to take place. Or being told which farrier to use:o
 
amymay said:
Oh, absolutely agree that liveries will help each other out.

Just never come across a mass 'organising' by a YO for shoeing to take place. Or being told which farrier to use:o
Click to expand...

On "Livery" yards as opposed to DIY yards, it is very common. I was once on a yard with 60 horses, and they had two farriers. One was by far the best farrier in the area - luckily because I wasn't allowed to get my own farrier in. In the end when I moved I was trailering my horse up to be shod by him until I found an equally good one in my area. The "other" farrier did all the horses owned by the establishment (About 25-30 of them) as he was more economically viable I believe, still a decent farrier.
 
amymay said:
A livery yard, is a livery yard - whether it's DIY, full or part.
Click to expand...

It isn't quite the same when you have a full time manager on a full livery yard (i.e we don't have DIYs) On our yard we can use what ever farrier we like and our livery includes them holding the horse/getting the horse in etc for farrier if required. My YO is one of my best friends and is very involved in the management of my horse any way so I am rarely present for the farrier.
 
amymay said:
Oh, absolutely agree that liveries will help each other out.

Just never come across a mass 'organising' by a YO for shoeing to take place. Or being told which farrier to use:o
Click to expand...

We did on last yard, not our choice though! The liveries requested we arranged it with the farrier previous owner used to use. He was rubbish and lazy, regularly wouldn't turn up for weeks but liveries didn't want anyone else. We were very happy when liveries wished to use their own farrier/recommendation and do it themselves and I would never have used the 'yard' farrier!

Pan
 
But unless I haven't received the update op hasn't been back to clarify the situation. There's a difference between ops full livery ym specifying ops wishes on farriers arrival & leaving horse tied up to get next horse & the farrier ignoring those wishes, & op ringing farrier 3wks before & vaguely indicating her requirements then her mate being around while horse done, offering no further clarification of ops wishes.
My mare has large, quite flat feet, which she goes barefoot on with no problems or special requirements. But, they do need keeping on top off, or they would be prone to spreading or flares. My very good farrier if confronted with feet like hers left overdue & overgrown would recommend he trimmed a little, then came back in a few weeks to do some more, rather than taking off enough to leave horse sore. But if a client regularly let horse like her go overdue, & no representative of the client was around, I can well see the farrier being faced with the choice of making horse slightly sore for a day or two, or leaving feet to become more overgrown with spreading, flares etc. So until op can clarify what the situation was, its very hard to judge.
 
I don't think this should be seen as some sort of farriers vs trimmers discussion. We've agreed over and over that there are good and bad in both professions. Op, you need to talk you this farrier and find out what he thought he was doing. Then decide whether to change, in which case you need to find someone recommended who you think might look after your horse more appropriately.
 
Batgirl said:
It isn't quite the same when you have a full time manager on a full livery yard (i.e we don't have DIYs) On our yard we can use what ever farrier we like and our livery includes them holding the horse/getting the horse in etc for farrier if required. My YO is one of my best friends and is very involved in the management of my horse any way so I am rarely present for the farrier.
Click to expand...

all the yards I've been on have been mixed full part and diy but all have had a yard manager that coordinated farriers.

what annoyed me a bit was that me turning up on farrier Monday was almost seen as a nuisance. My horse was having remedial shoes and supports at the time and there was some mysterious phone block that prevented farrier and vet talking directly so I was trying to pass on instructions and x rays but it was very clear that they'd rather get on with it without owners.
 
Just to add my twopenneth......I am astounded that owners don't want to be there when the farrier comes. One of hubby's bugbears is that so few owners take the bother to discuss with him how the horse is going etc. and any problems from one visit to the next..... He is always more than happy to discuss bf too and actively encourages it in some cases for various reasons. He also always takes a view on weight and will advise owners accordingly even if they don't all heed that advice.
 
YasandCrystal said:
Just to add my twopenneth......I am astounded that owners don't want to be there when the farrier comes. One of hubby's bugbears is that so few owners take the bother to discuss with him how the horse is going etc. and any problems from one visit to the next..... He is always more than happy to discuss bf too and actively encourages it in some cases for various reasons. He also always takes a view on weight and will advise owners accordingly even if they don't all heed that advice.
Click to expand...



Exactly, this is your time to ask questions and discuss any problems.
 
But what about when the yard farrier comes on a Tuesday morning and you work Monday - Friday?

Do employers understand, "I can't be at work on Tuesday because I need to be with the farrier"?

Do that mean that you must demand the farrier comes on another day for your horse alone?

I can't be there for my trimmer's visit sometimes. We talk on the phone or email afterwards, so there is still communication. If there was an issue - he'd ring me and we'd agree what to do together.
I have to use time off work for family emergencies only - not to watch my trimmer work.

I understand that it is much better to be with your horse.

But it's unfair to tut at people who can't do so every time.
 
Whilst my farrier is good, I cry every time he rasps some of the hoof wall away, which he does for cosmetic reasons only apparently, because the thickness of the hoof wall is what I have been trying to get with all the good barefoot feeding, I don't know
 
putasocinit said:
Whilst my farrier is good, I cry every time he rasps some of the hoof wall away, which he does for cosmetic reasons only apparently, because the thickness of the hoof wall is what I have been trying to get with all the good barefoot feeding, I don't know
Click to expand...

So ask him / tell him not to.........
 
Do employers understand, "I can't be at work on Tuesday because I need to be with the farrier"
Click to expand...

My appointments have always been made well in advance - so I have either nipped up and taken the time as my lunch break (give or take 15 / 20 mins which I make up). Or if it's the summer, will often take a half day and ride afterwards.

Failing that - farrier just get's on with the job. Have known the man for 15 years, and he's more than capable of shoeing whilst I'm not there (and happy to do so).
 
I use to take a half day of annual leave same as I do when waiting for tv repairmen etc. I would ask ym and farrier if I could have an early slot so I could then head back to work in London.
If I was travelling for work then occasionally I couldn't be there and often found my carefully passed on instructions usually from the vet were ignored.

Nowadays I use someone who can visit at the weekend but I will put it off a week if I'm away.

Note this isn't just farriers, i make a point of being there for vets, dentists, back people etc but know lots of people who don't.
 
I wish hubby didn't work the hours he does to accomodate his working clients - he is usually out of the house by latest 6.30 am and not home before 7.30pm and he works Saturdays :(
 
My annual leave was always reserved for school holidays and family emergencies - not the horses :o.

I certainly couldn't walk off the ward - even on my break. You're expected to drop your sandwich and run back on the ward if the emergency alarm goes off ;).
 
Oberon said:
My annual leave was always reserved for school holidays and family emergencies - not the horses :o.

I certainly couldn't walk off the ward - even on my break. You're expected to drop your sandwich and run back on the ward if the emergency alarm goes off ;).
Click to expand...

Yes, not every job / lifestyle lends itself to it.
 
YasandCrystal said:
Just to add my twopenneth......I am astounded that owners don't want to be there when the farrier comes. One of hubby's bugbears is that so few owners take the bother to discuss with him how the horse is going etc. and any problems from one visit to the next..... He is always more than happy to discuss bf too and actively encourages it in some cases for various reasons. He also always takes a view on weight and will advise owners accordingly even if they don't all heed that advice.
Click to expand...

I think most people would like to be there but if you are in rigid full time work it's going to be extremly difficult to arrange.
I am always here if at all possible I wasnot here last week because I was abroad so missed the farrier.
Some people just won't have the luxury ofbeing there.
 
We all have different domestic and work arrangements. Being single if I have a domestic emergency like when water started coming out of the plug hole, there was nothing I could do except take a morning off work to wait for the plumber while using a saucepan to bail it out so I need a job that allows for that.

If I did have children then all the companies I have worked for give additional days off for family emergencies so don't have to use holidays unless you have alot. I did try to argue that nowhere in one contract did it say the 'dependents' couldn't have 4 legs but they weren't having any ;)
Other people make their own decisions on what to use their holiday for but I have had too many bad experiences to trust a horse with a farrier unattended.
 
Firstly, please don't tar all farriers by your own's standard - my OH is training to be a farrier and is more than happy to trim a horse for work use - which is a different trim to field trim's... and he's more than happy to learn about the BF stuff.. however he has trained for 5 years and knows exactly what he's talking about.

Secondly, before slagging your farrier off.. perhaps you need to actually be there when he does your horses feet? Not being funny, but why should he be responsible for your horse? My OH has plenty of customers who are police officers, teachers, doctors, surgeons, nurses, mid wife, vets etc etc and all manage to find the time to have their horses feet done (in the week)..
His boss will not do a horses feet unless the owner is on the yard, he may be responsible for doing the horses feet but he certainly is not responsible for getting your horse in from field/out of stable and then putting them out after/back in stable - HE IS NOT A GROOM!

I'm sorry this has happened but i think you've totally tar'ed all farriers by the experience you've had and actually they are not all bad.
 
SpottyTB said:
Secondly, before slagging your farrier off.. perhaps you need to actually be there when he does your horses feet? Not being funny, but why should he be responsible for your horse? My OH has plenty of customers who are police officers, teachers, doctors, surgeons, nurses, mid wife, vets etc etc and all manage to find the time to have their horses feet done (in the week)..
His boss will not do a horses feet unless the owner is on the yard, he may be responsible for doing the horses feet but he certainly is not responsible for getting your horse in from field/out of stable and then putting them out after/back in stable - HE IS NOT A GROOM!
Click to expand...

Whereas some of us are very grateful that they have a farrier who will attend to their horse unsupervised if necessary (all very well booking time off for regular visits but lost shoes?)... ours will even turn them back out again when he has finished (not that we asked him too!). Mum currently finishes work at 2pm so he normally does them then but has been known to prefer to do them earlier (he always gets tea and flapjack provided for his troubles).
 
Well your quite lucky and it's nice you have that relationship with your farrier- I do understand what your saying RE losing shoes. I just think that if the OP has a certain request for the farrier, she ought to be there or get someone to be their who can tell the farrier. Think about all the horses and owners and requests a farrier has to deal with per day, week, month.

I should value your farrier, at least he's trained to do the work he does... He slipped up/made a mistake.. It happens.. Put some shoes or boots on it.
 
SpottyTB said:
Well your quite lucky and it's nice you have that relationship with your farrier- I do understand what your saying RE losing shoes. I just think that if the OP has a certain request for the farrier, she ought to be there or get someone to be their who can tell the farrier. Think about all the horses and owners and requests a farrier has to deal with per day, week, month.

I should value your farrier, at least he's trained to do the work he does... He slipped up/made a mistake.. It happens.. Put some shoes or boots on it.
Click to expand...
Ridiculous post, I assume you don't believe horses should be kept barefoot.
No, I can't believe he trimmed the front feet and left the hinds, surely it was a simple instruction, and it must have been obvious the horse was barefoot. He only deals with six or seven horses per day, so could write instructions in a diary if he is forgetful. In fact our yard has a diary for the regular farrier, so he rings up the day before to find out how many, then works through the list on the day.
One local farrier is well known for being late, up to three days late, so no one could take a day off to see him.
 
Miss L Toe said:
Ridiculous post, I assume you don't believe horses should be kept barefoot.
No, I can't believe he trimmed the front feet and left the hinds, surely it was a simple instruction, and it must have been obvious the horse was barefoot. He only deals with six or seven horses per day, so could write instructions in a diary if he is forgetful. In fact our yard has a diary for the regular farrier, so he rings up the day before to find out how many, then works through the list on the day.
One local farrier is well known for being late, up to three days late, so no one could take a day off to see him.
Click to expand...

Actually.. for your information, my horse didn't have shoes until last year (she went without for 2 years).. my FARRIER - who's trained for 4/5 years and has got an actual real qualification did a fantastic job of keeping her going without them. It was then my own choice to put front's on her.. - i am not interested in getting into this debate, i am neither here or there, i just do not agree with using someone who has no qualification's or decent recognized training to do my horses feet <-- that is my choice, what you or any one else chooses to do is your choice.

In response to the other part of your post, i suppose in all fairness is goes on the farrier. My OH and his boss are never more then 10 minutes late and would do as you suggested - make a note of the request. All i asked in MY original reply was that the OP does not tar all farriers with the same brush by saying "time to get a barefoot trimmer".
 
SpottyTB said:
Actually.. for your information, my horse didn't have shoes until last year (she went without for 2 years).. my FARRIER - who's trained for 4/5 years and has got an actual real qualification did a fantastic job of keeping her going without them. It was then my own choice to put front's on her.. - i am not interested in getting into this debate, i am neither here or there, i just do not agree with using someone who has no qualification's or decent recognized training to do my horses feet <-- that is my choice, what you or any one else chooses to do is your choice.

In response to the other part of your post, i suppose in all fairness is goes on the farrier. My OH and his boss are never more then 10 minutes late and would do as you suggested - make a note of the request. All i asked in MY original reply was that the OP does not tar all farriers with the same brush by saying "time to get a barefoot trimmer".
Click to expand...

I have to admit that I find your posts a little on the inflammatory side :o.

But then I've had a rough day.....

So equally, please don't tar all barefoot trimmers with the same brush as 'no qualifications' or without 'decent recognised training' :)

I agree there's no room for people with no training at all.....however, I've studied aspects of training for both trimmers and farriers and there's good in both. And room for improvement in both.

Hopefully without both sides resonating an US and THEM attitude - we can all work together and learn from each other :).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top