Farriers - why so hard to get hold of??!!

[WelshRareBit]

Does everyone have this problem or is it just me? Murph is now needing to have his feet done and can I get hold of my farrier?
NO
Can I get hold of any of the farriers Ive tried to call?
NO!
AAARGH!!! lol dont they want my money??!!
*breathes deeply* ok...Im calm ...

 

[metalmare]

I hate farriers...

Sorry - I will probably get murdered for saying that but I have failed, as yet, to find one pleasant, professional, fairly priced, polite farrier!

 

[KJJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I hate farriers...

Sorry - I will probably get murdered for saying that but I have failed, as yet, to find one pleasant, professional, fairly priced, polite farrier!

[/ QUOTE ]LMAO!! - your funny - you really are passionate about 'hating; your farriers.... I do find it really sad that you feel like this though

I hope BOTH of you find a good farrier. x

 

[WelshRareBit]

I do LIKE my farrier - I just wish he wasnt so hard to get hold of. He's a funny guy my farrier - I pay for entertainment too because he never stops making jokes and larking about!
At the mo though Id be happy to have any farrier come do his feet, thing is by the time one of them comes I'll probably be out of blinkin $$!! grr argh
Im going to try him again now...

 

[KJJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I do LIKE my farrier - I just wish he wasnt so hard to get hold of. He's a funny guy my farrier - I pay for entertainment too because he never stops making jokes and larking about!
At the mo though Id be happy to have any farrier come do his feet, thing is by the time one of them comes I'll probably be out of blinkin $$!! grr argh
Im going to try him again now...

[/ QUOTE ]Ahh well MM doesn't 'like' her farrier or any other for that matter!!

The best option is to book in advance... when he is out shoeing for you - make an appointment for next time then... most horses go the same amount of weeks before they need shoeing... eg 5-7weeks... so book an appointment for when is suitable for your horse and then you avoid the stress of tryin to book at a late stage!!

Hope you get hold of him!

 

[TGM]

I'm sure you probably do this (but you will be surprised how many people don't) - make sure you leave a clear and concise message stating your name and telephone number CLEARLY & SLOWLY! Also state the times you are available to have your horse shod - the more flexible you are, the more likely you are to get a slot. If you can only have your horse shod at 4pm on a Wednesday then he is less likely to be able to fit you in. I'm afraid some farriers don't ring back if they don't think they can fit you in for a while because they sometimes get a bad reaction from the customer - so they just don't ring back at all.

Unfortunately, the farriers who try to schedule their own diaries and make calls in between shoeings are not normally very efficient and tend to forget to call people back. That's why I organise all the bookings for my OH!

 

[GatefieldHorses]

My farrier is pleasent, always on time (normally early!), shoes at a decent price and shoes to a high standard!!
YAY!

 

[SSM]

I'm in the same boat - My farrier is great, however, he failed to turn up to our last appointment (which had been booked at the last visit) no message etc until I badgered him the next day

. I know the yard where I am had a fall out with him and made a big point of being there last time (so did not tell them he was coming this time) - If he does not want to come there and shoe my horse I hope he is going to have the decency to let me know so I can make other arrangements - which will be with another farrier who will be highly entertained by it all and as he is a gos will pass it around very quickly - his loss then and I won't lose any sleep.

 

[Super_Kat]

This is why I book the next appointments when my farrier is there

Saying that I didn't book the horses to be re-shod one time because I didn't know where they'd be and if they were at college I wanted to give them at least a week to settle in and my farrier, 2 weeks before they were due, got in touch and reminded me when they were due so for the first time ever I have no complaints about the farrier I'm using

 

[Tangaroo]

They are not all bad! Mine is fantastic. I book each boy in and he always turns up, is always happy, does a fantastic job, is good with the boys and is a pleasure to have on the yard! He will come almost straight away for a lost shoe or emergency. I Know i am lucky but i try to treat him as well as he treats me, always giving him tea and biscuits and making sure the boys legs are clean and dry. If i ring him and leave a message, he will get back to me the same day. So there are some good ones out there!

 

[barkinghorse]

Have you not heard the saying:-
" FARRIERS ARE LIKE CATS,
THEY HARDLY EVER COME WHEN YOU CALL,
AND THEY NEVER GO OUT IN THE RAIN..........."

Jo x

 

[charlotte1]

My farriers fab, all i have to do is leave her in her stable, and he helps himself to her (he seems to pefer it that way and it suits me better than having to hang round waiting), then leaves a card with the date and time she is due next. if i have any problems and carn't get hold of him i'll leave a message, and he'll call back the same day, and when i was having problems with one horse, he would even call to make sure she was OK. He does a really good job, but is slightly more expensive, but it's worth it as i know if i have a problem or she loses a shoe i can get hold of him, and he'll be out in the next 1-2 days ot replace a lost shoe.

 

[Nailed]

I will promise to be a farrier who is contactable.. on time.. boring.. good at shoeing.. never larking around.. never taking the mick and be damn well you slave =oP
opps sorry.. little aggressive.. but farriers have problems in life too and by stereotyping them all you aqren't helping.
Hope you find a decent one.. where are you?
;lou x

 

[fgroom]

My farrier is fab too, he always has his diary with him so I book him for next time straight away, and he's always on time aswell

 

[mrdarcy]

Love my farrier too! I haven't been with him long but he helped me out of a very tight spot a few weeks ago when my old farrier couldn't come out to my new horse and has since been prompt, reliable and efficient. He also rides and competes himself which seems to be rare in farriers (some of whom have never even sat on a horse). For some reason I find it a comfort if they are horsy.

 

[WelshRareBit]

Loubie Lou - thats why I asked is everyones farrier like this? Because I think it must just be the ones I call... still no call back and no shoes...

 

[parsley]

I rarely speak to the farrier who does my horses - I text him on sunday asking him to fit me in next week - he texts back at some point saying OK then on the day before he texts me to say he is going to be there and an idea of what time. I tell him where the money will be, leave the horses in - he turns up and shoes them! It works well because he does a good job without me being there and because then he can come at anytime that suits him.

He is nearly impossible to speak to in person though - it was very difficult to get a first appointment!

 

[Natalie_H]

I had a nightmare one who refused to take calls or return them, despite my booking next appointment at time of shoeing. Made him tea / coffee, provided biscuits / cakes. All I got in return was no more that 45 mins spent on my TBs rubbish hooves, constant slagging off of the horse, & being made to feel like a complete imbecile most of the time. However, the happy ending is that I got a referral from the vet & now have the best farrier in the world who came out within 15 mins of a diagnosed hoof abscess on a Friday night, & who called me on a Sunday morning to see how said horse was doing & to arrange coming out to put shoe back on. They are out there! When you find one - you will do anything to keep them

x.

 

[wizzi901]

My farrier is ace, we have had our moments but he has settled down over the last few years!

YO's Son is nearly qualified too so that will be great as he still lives at home lol!!

I texted yesterday for a date and time, he texted back this morning, ace!

AND his mrs has just had their first baby so I consider that a dedicated farrier!!!

Aside from getting appointments, he is a damn good farrier and so is his nearly qualified apprentice, in fact the apprentice does have a very natural gift, especially with the difficult ones.

I would trust either of them with any horse of mine, and this includes fred who on his first shoeing last time went up and nearly over the stable roof!! BUT they persevered quietly and he settled in the end.

He had awful feet, and already after two shoeings you can see the difference in their work.

 

[Patches]

That's a bit too general I think there MM.

My farrier is a fabulous guy. We have a great rapport as I do with the farrier he is in partnership with, even though the other one rarely shoes mine.

I always give him a little tip for a drink on me and have just bought them both a nice (as in not a cheapie) bottle of wine and a box of chocs for their Christmas present.

I know someone else who thinks my farrier is a bit miserable. If you ask me, you only get out of your relationship with your farrier what you're prepared to put in.

Without a good farrier tending to your horses feet, you'll soon have soundness issues. Therefore, I treat the farrier as a good friend as I want him to enjoy his visit to my yard so that he takes his time and does a good job. If my farrier hated me he'd be in and out as quick as he could to avoid spending time in my company.

Does that make sense?

I've never had a bad farrier....ever. But I do prefer my current one.

 

[metalmare]

Well I'm glad you manage okay - there is a real shortage in my area. My first farrier was (as I later discovered) incompetant, treated my horse like s**t and was generally a horrendous person...

And as for getting back what you put in... my next farrier was a full blown pervert who would have had no problems with having underage sex given half a chance!

So not good experiences on the whole. I have met one nice farrier - a lady might I add...

I can think of lots of other people with whom we ought to build good rapports (butcher, child's teacher, doctor, banker...) but generally we simply look on them as people who we are paying so they damn well do it -why should a farrier be different?

I can't wait for the supply / demand problem to balance out as more people are going into apprenticeships - then farriers will actually have to earn their money.

I put up with having to spend time with a man who made my skin crawl to ensure that my horse had correctly trimmed feet.

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
I can think of lots of other people with whom we ought to build good rapports (butcher, child's teacher, doctor, banker...) but generally we simply look on them as people who we are paying so they damn well do it -why should a farrier be different?

I can't wait for the supply / demand problem to balance out as more people are going into apprenticeships - then farriers will actually have to earn their money.

[/ QUOTE ] With that sort of attitude then it doesn't surprise me at all that you have trouble finding a decent farrier

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