Good Farriers

loverly

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So after all the threads that have come up recently I thought I'd start a thread about all the good farriers (this isn't advertising, promise!).

So my farrier, Paul Dean (many threads on here about him already) is a-ma-zing! Always on time and takes his time with all horses, especially those that are nervous. Constantly up-dating his knowledge on shoeing and barefoot by listening to owners as well as going on training courses.

Can't fault him in anyway. If anyone who's in Devon is looking for a good farrier, he's the one for you!

So lets hear of your good farriers (and stories)...
 

MyLuckyStar

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I use Ben Hart whos based in Worcester. I've been using him for the last 4 years and would thoroughly reccommend him to anyone!

He's an amazing farrier who has time, patience and knowledge for all. He got my mare through laminitis with his careful farriery and if we ever can't be there for a horse to be shod he will sort them out himself and we don't have to worry as know they are in capable hands :)
 

flirtygerty

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Rodney Briton, Durham/Northumberland border, always on time, will fit you in
somehow in an emergency, he came to replace a lost shoe on a day off because we had someone coming to view a horse, trimmed our landlords donkeys feet and was so patient with them and best of all, his shoes rarely come off, despite
us being knee deep in claggy mud most of the time.
I on the other hand, am the perfect client, horses in, well mannered and feet clean and dry, offers of hot drinks
 

missmatch

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Luke Massie in Northamptonshire. Cannot fault him he is always ready to come out if youre worried. He works so hard but will still nip in at 8pm just to see the horses x
 

Clannad48

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Ryan Hackett in Bedfordshire - Excellent farrier, worked with the vet when our mare had navicular syndrome - now mare is barefoot does the trimming for me - I can't recommend him highly enough.
 

AdorableAlice

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Thirty three years of loyal service from Martin Wilkes, Worcestershire. No one else has touched my horses and I am dreading the day he retires. He reckons we should retire together as I am his longest lasting client!

Never been late, endless patience, kept several challenging horses going well into their old age. Has always turned out at all hours after receiving the "come quick" call when I have had a disaster.

He hand makes most of the shoes my horses need and the proudest moment I had was watching my hunter win the best shod hunter at the final Royal Show.

The horse had very tricky feet and wore trailing heels and an extension on his hinds. The judges said it was an example of the best shoe making they had seen in years. There was about 6 of us in the stands, the class had been called in to line and ours was only in 4th, the rosettes had not been handed out and we were becoming very concerned at what we thought were stewards looking at our horse's feet on several occasions, we knew he was sound but doubts were creeping in and we all thought he was about to be sent out.

The penny dropped as it was announced that we had won the best shod and I remembered having to put the name of my farrier on entry form.

Well, 6 very middle aged ladies made complete prat's of ourselves, jumping and screaming in the stands. Everyone was staring at us. The commentators made a lot of the win because it was the final Royal Show and we had lots of goodies to take home for the farrier.

Martin was rather chuffed, even though he has won many championships in his younger days, he felt winning at the final Royal was very special. All I have to do now is keep him from retiring because I have 2 yearlings and a foal on the way. He has already sorted a club foot on one of the yearlings, is teaching the other one not to be a wuss. Fantastic farrier and a dear friend - Martin Wilkes.
 

kellybee

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My farrier is unkempt, has one remaining tooth, is usually late and swears/smokes like a goodun but he's the best farrier for miles and I'd rather wait at home for the call to say he's on his way than let anyone else near my horses.

He's been known to pick me up and drop me off for shoeing when my car was off the road, once he called to say he was passing and noticed my pony was lame and did I know or should he bring it in for me. He's the kind of bloke who, if I ask him to trim the shetland after he's done the big un will tell me she's had no growth and therefore he isn't going to charge me for a job that doesn't need doing (and then proceeds to run a file round her toes anyway) and he still charges the same rate as the first time he ever shod my first pony which was 20 years ago now.

Other people wont touch him with a bargepole based on his appearance and his inability to provide an appointment time, but I can name dozens of people who would use him over the reliable, well presented rookie down the road anyday.
 

RunToEarth

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Tom Pears, South Yorkshire, absolutely fantastic farrier. Was mortified when I moved to Lincolnshire, luckily he passed me the details of his mate Dan Miller, who is also very good. I don't think you appriciate how priceless a good, reliable farrier is until you use a bad one.
 

Ebenezer_Scrooge

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Ed Walton, Northants. Excellent farrier, good with horses, reliable & answers any questions. I have had him for over 8 years now. The orthopaedic vet specialist who my horse has seen commented that my horse had the most well balanced feet he has seen & praised Ed's work :-D.
 

meesha

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Lisa Collins in Somerset, punctual, lovely and more importantly my shoes have stayed on through impressive mud etc when hunting. She will also come out at short notice and u can always get hold of her. Taking on clients so worth calling. She is in loxton.
 

Pedantic

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Tim Boulton, brill guy, helped me out with my Po through his lameness issues, always punctual answers phone or gets back to you, and lets you know if things change :)
 

Jools1234

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Paul Cooper essex- 26yrs always on time, have seen him deal with dozens and dozens of differrent horses and always does a good job, horses very rarely lose shoes when shod by him-ithink i have known 4 lost shoes in all those yrs
 

lyndsayberesford

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My farrier is brilliant! Always on time, never lets me down! Will call in on the same day to put shoes back on, brilliant with training young horses to have their feet done, in the game for the love of it as he goes to Greece to help train the Greeks how to tend to the donkey's feet etc.
Will help any other people on the yard refitting shoes etc when they arent his clients. And calms me down in moments of panic ie thrushy feet or abscesses etc :)

Staffordshire/Cheshire region - Dom Moss
 

Ibblebibble

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matt Stanford, relocated here earlier this year and i thought i'd give him a try, very glad i did as he is so patient with my loopy lot, and he remembers the horses and their quirks from one visit to the next which is useful. came out on a sunday morning in the pouring rain to dig out my big girls abcess and even text me a few days later to ask how she was doing. It's nice to have a farrier who i feel i can talk to and ask question of, and one that can hold a conversation and has a sense of humour!
 

AbFab

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I'm so pleased to have found such a reliable farrier. I have Oli Mitchell (Bury/Bolton) and he is always on time, texts the night before to confirm appointment times, sweeps up after himself when I'm not there and puts up with dopey man-hater mare not letting him near her in her stable. He's also come out to replace a lost shoe on many occasions, once twice in the same weekend!
 

Partoow

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Billy Crothers , 5 xs world champion, but more than that he is passionate about improving and managing specialist remedial cases.
John Trevor Roper, wonderful young farrier , hugely talented and a very good 'feel' for the horses he works with, will come out at a drop of a hat if required and does an amazing job.
Both always watch my horses walk and trot up. And both will talk to you about what and why they're doing what they do. They never let me down.
I I return always make sure horses are in ,clean and dry and that we are free with the tea and choc biscuits! As well as having a dry covered area to shoe.
 

gillianfleming

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Ruaraidh Robb near Edinburgh, he's an ace farrier, my sister has used him since she bought her pony 13 years ago and he's shod mine since i got him.
We do work hard to keep him happy, he gets home made cake when he visits
 

pansymouse

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Cliff Barnes - South Wiltshire - he's brilliant with shod and unshod horses and contributes a lot to the education of farriers in this country and abroard. The last two visits we've had from him to trim ours he's come with visiting American farriers.
 

FreddiesGal

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Tom Farmer in Cambs. Fantastic with my boy who's a little bugger. The first time Tom came was the first time since owning my boy that he stood like a little lamb with no fuss. Not too shabby on the eyes either ;)
 

thatsmygirl

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Thing is most people will say their farrier is the best and are they? Or do the owners know no different?
Iv seen some awful shoeing but their farriers are the best!
 

Ibblebibble

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Thing is most people will say their farrier is the best and are they? Or do the owners know no different?
Iv seen some awful shoeing but their farriers are the best!

good point but i have used 2 others in the area and have held horses for a friend who uses a different one again, one of my previous ones i wouldn't have if he was the last farrier on earth, the other one was good but the pricing was going up and up and i was always getting the apprentices or newly qualified boys sent to me because i only have trims done. one my friend had didn't know why a split in her boys hoof was bleeding 'as there is nothing in a hoof to bleed'!!
that's why i'm happy that my farrier is good, i;ve had a few to compare him to;)
 

thatsmygirl

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But how many people would know a good shoeing job? Or does a foot that looks pretty after just keeps the owner happy?
Everybody I know wouldn't know and don't take any interest they pay/trust a farrier to do a decent job. All mine are now bare as I don't rate any farrier round our way, lack of heel support seems to be the norm
 

thatsmygirl

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Also just to put a different spin on things I would be more worried using a farrier that can book u in on short notice as some has said. Not busy! Allarm bells would ring I'm afraid.
 

NorthDevonTraveller

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Andrew Bowyer in mid Devon. Lovely chap (if only we could replicate him several times!). Does an excellent job technically (trained with Haydn Price and works with para development squad). But also works with your horse rather than against it if it is being cranky. It has taken some time to realise my horse has a sacro problem and therefore couldn't stand for long periods on one hind leg. Andrew never got cross as the horse kept collapsing against him and together we worked out that short sessions with each hind foot worked better, together with keeping the foot as low as possible. On taking the horse to the vet for X-rays the first comment from the physio there was how well shod he was. He is always trying to learn more on subjects such as biomechanics, and has found his development squad work invaluable for this.
 

Izzyella

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Having used a stroppy farrier before (think grumpy all the time, hated barefoot, keen to go with barely a word) We use Jack Barrass from East Devon. Feel very lucky to have him (he's semi-retired)- he diagnosed very early laminitis in my Shetland and saved masses of heartache, and hasn't pushed us to shoe our barefoot ponies. Instead he's been happy to come just for a (cheap) trim and given us lots of advice on feeding/products. He's always calm, even when the ponies play up, and has a treat for each of them. Most importantly, the ponies really, really like him now!
 
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