How long does your farrier take???

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swampdonkey

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Just a quick query, tonight I used a different farrier to my usual, he has been doing it for approx 20 years so not exactly new at the job but O lord...

1 hour and 25 lonnnnnngggg minutes later and a full set done!

My horse was getting a bit bored after an hour and I can't say I blame her, I certainly was.
Don't get me wrong he did a good job but not sure I can go through that every 8 weeks.

My usual farrier takes about 25 mins to do a full set, how long does your farrier take? Have I just been spoilt with my last farrier, or is this about the normal???
 
Mine probably takes 40 mins?
Not completely sure as he does other horses feet trimming whilst he's here but I'd guess at a full set taking him 35/40 mins.
 
I would think your last farrier was rushing that seems very fast, mine takes around 45- 55mins, longer if feet need special attention, which is often the case with a new horse.
 
I use a barefoot trimmer - so slightly different. Now Pete is good to trim, about 40 minutes - plus some time note taking and taking photo's.

When I first got him - between an hour and a half & two hours!
 
Mine did 2 full sets and 2 fronts last week and was there 5 hours....but he is amazing and worth every minute and every cup of tea (and it was warm last week so I wasn't hypothermic!!!!)
 
Usually about 2 and a bit hours to do four horses. Two full sets, one front set and a trim. He has an apprentice with him though and time does vary depending on stories being told and cups of tea/coffee and biscuits being consumed.
 
25 mins for a full set seems very, very quick to me too.

ETA - if this was the first time that the new farrier has seen your horse, I would expect him to take longer than normal as he needs to assess the horse.
 
I've always had barefoot trimmers, taking up to about an hour per horse for walking/trotting up, trimming, discussing progress etc. Routine trim maybe 20 minutes.

I was quite surprised - shocked, really - when I recently had one of mine hot shod for a while. No seeing the horse walk or trot (unless I insisted), just bang on some shoes and that'll be ££ please:confused: The farrier wasn't interested in horse's diet, exercise levels, progress...and only took about half an hour-40 mins or so for a set of fronts on one and a trim of the hinds plus a full trim on my other horse. I couldn't take it really, and after a few months of seeing the shod feet deteriorate, I have a new barefoot trimmer who takes as long as necessary:)
 
Around 40 mins for shoeing, 15 - 20 mins for a trim.

Do remember that an experienced farrier will notice the wear on your horses shoes and know exactly how your horse is moving - its no different than an experienced instructor looking at a rider for a few minutes and noticing all the problems.

I have one friend who's husband is a farrier and he took over an hour to trim my horse and did no better than my own farrier who trims the same horse in 20 mins. (My farrier was sick at the time)
 
About half an hour to 40 mins for fronts and trim now horse behaves reasonably, maybe 50 mins for a full set.

I'd be quite happy about someone taking their time over it within reason, think I'd feel like I was getting my money's worth :-)
 
Our farrier takes longer now than he did when he had just qualified, he has been shoeing for us for over 20 years now and says that he cannot shoe as many in a day as he used to. If I employed a farrier who just banged four shoes on as quickly as he could, I would only employ him once!
 
I'd say at least he's paying attention to your horses needs and taking the time to get to know his feet, getting the job done right. I'd give him another chance tbh. Good farriers are worth their weight in gold ;)
Takes mine 30-40 mins for a front set, so can imagine 1 hour is about right once he gets to know him. I usually do all my horses jobs whilst i'm waiting, so time really isn't wasted.
 
Landcruiser said:
I've always had barefoot trimmers, taking up to about an hour per horse for walking/trotting up, trimming, discussing progress etc. Routine trim maybe 20 minutes.

I was quite surprised - shocked, really - when I recently had one of mine hot shod for a while. No seeing the horse walk or trot (unless I insisted), just bang on some shoes and that'll be ££ please:confused: The farrier wasn't interested in horse's diet, exercise levels, progress...and only took about half an hour-40 mins or so for a set of fronts on one and a trim of the hinds plus a full trim on my other horse. I couldn't take it really, and after a few months of seeing the shod feet deteriorate, I have a new barefoot trimmer who takes as long as necessary:)
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Maybe because a farrier has far more training and can see how the horse moves from it's shoes. As for being interested in it's exercise levels, why would he care? You've asked for something he's doing it, he's not a therapist! I don't need a barefoot trimmer to talk to me about feed and exercise I can manage perfectly well and the only time I'd expect a farrier to comment was if he was concerned.
 
swampdonkey said:
My usual farrier takes about 25 mins to do a full set, how long does your farrier take? Have I just been spoilt with my last farrier, or is this about the normal???
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Spoilt? Defintely not you, but your horse's feet may well be spoilt well and truly if he continues such slapdash work. 25 minutes for a full set is outrageous!

As everyone else, 45 minutes to an hour was normal when mine had shoes.
 
My farrier generally takes well over an hour to do a full set (my horse does have pads and equipak in front though so does take more time). As others have said above, I would be concerned that my farrier could do a full set in 25 mins. I would much rather hang around waiting for a proper job to be done than have a farrier who rushes.
 
Upto 1 hour or 1hour 1/2. Can push even to 2 hours if he's having a cuppa too haha. He always watches her walk away and back and she's how she is on a circle. Checks her feet over and feels her pulses, then carefully takes them off and trims her so she won't be footsore too much. Then is careful how he puts them back on. After all shod he watches her walk up and down again, if any problem he checks the shoe and won't finish til she's walking completely happily in them. He also offers advice on her diet and tells me how he feet are looking etc. brilliant farrier.
 
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