How to change/dump your farrier?

Donnie Darco

Donnie Darco

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Grrrr need to change, found a new one and that's all sorted, but how do you cancel the old one - politely when he just automatically just re-books your horse for 6 weeks time?

Am rubbish at this kind of thing, wouldn't mind if he was always late/uncontactable, but he is genuinely a nice bloke - just not the right farrier for my horse :rolleyes:

What do you say? I *know* I should phone him out of courtesy, but would much rather text or email him to avoid that awkward conversation. Being a wimp.

Advice or just a slap telling me to grow some!!

Thanks
DD X
 
Call and advise that you do not need the booked appointment, and you will be in contact if/ when you require him.

Just be honest and tell him that you do not think that the way in which he is shoing your horse is the best way for your horse.

If you had a vet out and wanted a second opinion you would not think twice, why should it be any different with a farrier??
 
I'm a wimp too and would probably just cancel the appointment and not re-book it.

OR you could use one of the following excuses:

- You've sold the horse
- You're moving away
- You've trained to be a farrier so will doing your horses feet from now on
- Your horse has stopped growing hoof so won't be needing a farrier anymore

Probably best just to tell the truth though!
 
er im a wimp too and ive just ignored mine... worst thing is he still shoes my mum and my sisters horses so i bound to run into him at my house!!! the way i did it was i moved my horse to a rehab yard to recover from an injury and said ex farrier isnt permitted on this yard so i simply found another who was! (ex farrier never booked you back in just waited for you to phone him!) ive not wanted him to shoe my horse for a while and after he sustained his injury i really didnt want him shoeing him plus the roumer mill has been working and ive heard a few things i didnt like! so in 5 weeks time when said injured horsey returns home im sure he will make a comment on why hes not shoeing him but hes shoeing the rest and that stage ill run and hide!!!

my new farrier on the other hand... amazing! first time he shod him before he touched his feet, he rang my vet and discussed his injury and what type of shoeing was required if anything, and we ended up agreeing on fronts only until after surgery then all off! My ex farrier would have just wacked a full set on and charged me £70!
 
If you are too embarrassed text him and thank him for his service to date. You never know if you may need him again. Could you say that you are going over to the yard farrier? If that is a viable excuse or that your horse is having some remedial farriery under the vet?.
 
I had same issue recently. I ended up texting him, wimpy I know, but i didn't want to call him known that the phone would probably go to message and then garble an awful message or have to wait for him to call me back. Not an easy thing to do when you don't have a real problem with them. Mine was a cost issue but I felt really bad all the same.
 
I am a wimp too! When i knew i was wanting to change farrier, the last time my ex-farrier was up shoeing i just never booked in again and said that i was potentially moving away and would let him no if i did still need him...then that was that! I got my new farrier and my horses feet haven't looked better!

I did feel bad that i couldn't just be honest but it's hard trying to find a way to explain the real reasons why your not happy without feeling your hurting his feelings haha!
 
I just didnt rebook!

I loan though and his owners changed farrier for their tb with cracked hpof problems which he wasn't solving. I just swapped to keep them all the same (they gave me the choice didn't just do it)

Glad I did though, because the new one is fab, and explains everything he does really well to me. (Its all new to me lol)
 
just hire a new one.

as far as i know there's no farrier book of client etiquette that says you have to drop them a registered letter saying 'you're fired'
 
My farrier just wasn't doing a good enough job but he was reliable and I really liked him. I rang him and thanked him but said I felt my horse needed a new approach as he was getting very long in the toe and I had discussed this with him but there had been no change. He asked me who I was going to use and when I told him, he said it was a good choice because he was a very good farrier but said if I ever got stuck to just give him a call. We've stayed friends and he's even been back to pop a shoe back on when my farrier was away. I think honesty and a straightforward approach is best and hopefully if you've not been happy you'll have already talked to your farrier, so he'll be aware of it.
 
Why cant you just phone him up and be honest with him ? if youre polite and explain the reasons why youre changing the ball is in his court how he chooses to respond is then up to him !
 
I sent my mum and I was about 28 at the time too haha! so embarrassing! luckily he doesn't live here, used to travel down for a few of use every 6 weeks and im on my own so never had to see him again! im a total wimp!
 
One useless one was sorted by me moving to a yard that wasn't 'in his area', then used someone who was good but horrifically unreliable. My horses foot was in a right mess with a twisted shoe & could not get hold of him, we prized the shoe off,still could not get hold of him so I rang a young farrier who was just starting out in our area & he sorted horse out. I just rang the other one & left message cancelling the next appointment & gave no explanation or request to re- book. Years later I still use the one I swapped to who is a great farrier & so reliable.
 
I was honest with mine, he was so unreliable and I could never get hold of him if horse lost a shoe. He actually agreed with me lol.

I still see him and still chat to him so no hard feelings.
 
Just ring up to cancel the next appt and thank him for his professional services. If he then asks why, tell him that you are changing farrier. No need to get in to a long discussion of why etc.... They will be professional about it. Most farriers know each other in an area anyway... it will come out.
 
I have just changed farriers after using the same one for over 10 years. I simply phoned him up, and cancelled the next appointment. He did ask why, so I told him the truth. He apologised, and asked for another chance. Hes a brilliant chap, very knowledgeable and very good with my horses. All of which I explained, but it was time for a change to someone local.

I agree with whoever said leave it on a good note, you never know you may need him back.
 
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