Furious with farrier - now seeking new one!

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zoon

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I had an appointment on Thurs to have my 2 youngsters trimmed and a front set on my other horse. Farrier has done them umpteen times and is always early or at worst on time! So thought I'd found a rare gem!

Riding horse has moved to a friends yard so I have somewhere to ride as peed off with hard ground - so told farrier a week before appointment and he said not to worry, he'd come and do other horse at different yard after trimming youngsters and not to worry about finding another farrier.

Appointed time comes and he isn't there, which is a first. Give him half an hour and then get a text to say "am running late" (really? I wouldn't have guessed!), after many texts we agree on half 3 yesterday as horse is really desperate for shoes due to spring grass and sudden growth increase (even though it was a bank holiday - fabulous farrier!)

So yesterday I bring babies in. Half an hour after he's meant to be there, I text an ask how late he thinks he'll be. After no reply I try ringing, again no answer. After numerous calls and texts and being totally ignored, I leave (after telling him I'm doing so!)

I think it is the height of rudeness do that. If he's going to be late, I don't mind if he lets me know (preferably before the time he's meant to be there!) and certainly don't expect to be ignored! Am really peed off with him!

So new farrier found to do horses shoes thanks to friend, just need to fnd one to trim yearling colt and nervous 3 year old. Any suggestions in Maidstone area of good farriers?
 
Gingerwitch said:
Maybe he has been kicked in the head, or trampled on - like my poor farrier was last week - i wasnt top priority either to be notified either.
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Maybe - I know I am possibly more angry than I should be, but just have a feeling he can't be bothered to do my horses now they are at 2 places. In which case, tell me so and I won't be offended - fair enough if he doesn't want the extra travelling time
 
Zoon - it maybe that he has had a belly full this last forthnight - the school holidays, the start of the show season, happy hackers wanting to go out over the bank holidays.... and yep all these folks wanting him to "drop everything" to shoe a horse he last saw 10 to 12 weeks ago, horses coming down with lami and him being asked to corrective shoe, when he knows full well the owner doesnt give a dam, the 6am phone call to say "ime off to a show and so and so has thrown a shoe, can you be hear by 7am" - as a last point - stop texting, pick up the phone and talk, poor sod- if he is a good farrier he could have upto 20 folks a day texting, hassling etc
 
The OP has said she tried to phone. My horse is in a similar area and I stopped using one farrier for exactly the same reason. His record was 3.5hrs late with me trying to keep the two horses amused on the yard (they were both grass kept so no stable to put them in)...

I now use Steve O'dell who is great. Patient, a fair price and so far always on time. Not sure how far out into Kent he covers but worth a look.
 
He's the one who always texts - his prefered method of communication! But as I said, I rang him as well and he doesn't answer. Just hate being promised something if he's not going to deliver. If he had no intention fo coming out yesterday as it was a bank holiday and he wanted to do something else, FAIR ENOUGH! I'd just like it if he told me and we could have arranged something next week.

Anyway, could someone please recommend someone to trim my youngsters. have a few in mind, but want some feedback on who people think are good?
 
So irritating! Seems to be a farriers right though sadly, I spent many many hours sat waiting for my old farrier who without fail wouldnt show up or let me know.
My current farrier is fab always there and always on time- but i do pay £10 per horse extra for the privilege- has to be worth it tho i think!

Good luck with finding gold dust!!
 
Mine are always a first of the day - 7am - I'd far rather get up early to be at the paddock and know that apart from oversleeping he's never late.

I spoil him rotten with bacon sandwiches and coffee.
 
Be interesting to know if he ever gets back to you.

As for texting before the intended time, I guess that depends on what happens at the appointment before you. Say he's got another booked in 2.30 and you at 3pm and there's only 5 minutes drive between you. Doable on a normal day, but if the other person's horse is being a sod out of the blue and he's still there trying to get it done, he's not going to be able to ring you in advance. Just a thought :)
 
I'm not sure where steve's based but he does mine in Bexley. I get the impression from people he's not a local Bexley farrier though so he may travel from your way. He does mine as he does most of our yard. Always worth a quick call to ask...
 
Just an observation really, but if the farrier makes an appointment then he should either keep it, or at least keep in touch if he's got delays or another problem. There really shouldn't be any need to spoil them with bacon sarnies to get a reasonable service should there?
I've heard that Steve is good as well, so might be worth trying him. I use a trimmer, so more expensive.
 
A neat trick I use with my Farrier, which I shouldn't have to I know, is when he is not answering get someone elses' phone & use that. Hey presto suddenly he answers pronto as he doesn't recognise the number so it might be a new customer & he wouldn't want to miss that. Cynical of me I know.
 
Who do you currently use (pm if you prefer), I can then ask around the yard for some recommendations. There's at least 4 different farriers visit our yard.
 
So how do you know he does not have a good reason for neither turning up nor answering his phone? Perhaps another horse hospitalised him, for instance. Don't be so quick to dismiss a normally excellent farrier, but give him a chance to explain.
 
Snoozinsusan said:
You think that's bad. Mine went to Australia without telling me! :D
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This made me laugh!! Are your horses that bad to do then? (Joking!!)

Mine is excellent, turns up on time and does a great job too. On one occasion I was held up and he brought all mine in from the fields (I had 10 at the time including youngsters) and had nearly finished them all by the time I got home :D

All for a cuppa and choccies biccies :D:D
 
Unfortunately it's not an unusual problem- at least from around where I live! Two farriers have said they would come and have never turned up, never replied to phone calls or texts- very unprofessional. I think it's because at the moment I only have 1 pony who needs doing but I can't do it myself can I?! Luckily I've found a new farrier who is in constant contact, very reliable and easy to deal with- it's best to keep looking, you will eventually find one!
 
a lot don't bother if you're too far too travel and they only have one or two to be shod. Mine gave me the run around and after promising then wouldn't come out to take shoes off (my transport wouldn't take her to vets with shoes as she's a kicker), he knew her operation was booked and I'd taken time off work to get her there, he then ignored all my calls and texts . The other farrier I asked said he'd only come out if I changed to him shoeing my horse forever - talk about no honour among thieves.
In the end, the YO had to phone and plead with him, when he felt he was loosing the Yards business, he begrudgingly came out.
 
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Maybe he's just joined the normal farrier parrallel universe. I've never had a farrier come on time and I always add at least 2 hours to the time they say... Maybe I've just been unlucky but I like my farrier, even if time management ain't his strong point.
 
Sometimes its give and take, they could have a horse difficult to do or takes longer or finds suddenly he has 2 extra to do and cann't always get to mobile, I have noticed that when my farrier comes to do mine, his mobile is constantly ringing and he cann't answer as he has a hot shoe in one hand and my horse's foot in the other.
 
My ex was a farrier, so had someone on hand at all times! Maybe my expectations are just too high, but don't expect to be ignored ;)
 
farriers dont you love them!!!! :rolleyes: my old farrier was useless with time management! was always at least an hour late... any way i have since changed as he left my cobs feet in a right state, they were uneven and some parts half clipped off and hanging on!! its not like hes bad to clip either (he doesn't wear shoes) he stands as good as gold and lets you do anything. it is hard to find a good farrier thats on time!!!! a wouldnt stand for it. get a new one when hes lost business its his fault. but if hes ussually good id hold on to him :)
 
My mare has been one shoe on and one off for nearly a week now. Would be happy if I could just get someone to take the remaining one off but farriers are either ignoring me or have huge waiting lists.
 
Being a new *adult* owner, I love my farrier already! Sound advice, good job, left feet looking lovely & tidy, cracking sense of humour and takes the time to explain (read idiot's guide) to me... Plus the kids LOVE to watch him, and given my horse tried to get ON him Friday, very patient! :D :D :D
 
Always joke about my farrier's punctuality. Told me he'd come out in the morning, so I got up the yard around 8am just in case, 11:50 I was slating him for being late as usual, 11:57 he came down the drive :D
 
Our farrier is usually early, always text to say he is on his way, brings the horse in if he gets there before we do, reasonable prices, does an excellent job and our mare loves him to bits. It sounds as if we are really lucky
 
Not sure if you're sorted now but I have kevin howes do my youngsters. Really good. Let me know if you need a no.
 
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