I don't understand why some people just don't get it

I think its completely wrong for people to think its ok to expect farrier/vet/ whoever to fetch their horse in and then do their job especially in winter. Wet/muddy jeans are (to an extent) part of the job for ny vet/farrier etc in winter. For me, I often get called to horses who have just been pulled in from the field lame - wet/dirty legs which I need to pick-up/clean hooves/search for foot abscesses etc. Part of the job - though it wouldnt hurt if owner at least attempted to wash the legs. However, the farrier is prearranged days/weeks in advance so no reason to make it difficult for him.
On top of that, I know just how annoying it is when you turn up to see a horse to be told its in the field at the very back of the farm (on one occasion I had to walk though 6 fields(!!) and cross a fjord (in short boots - but it wasnt deep) to vaccinate a horse. Owner wasnt present and had asked a livery to tell me where the horse was - but didnt want her to bring it in. This was a prebooked appointment for which she was not charged call-out and it delayed me by at least 20minutes - but what can you say? I didnt realise it was soo far away until we started walking through the 1stfield, then the next...and thenext.....etc.
I have no problem if clients leave in the horse I have to vaccinate and leave a note asking me to turn out when Im done (as long as the field isnt miles away obviously!).
Also, I will offer to bring in a horse or do them in the field if Im early and have a bit of time.
 
Don't be silly, she hasn't said anything personal or disrespectful about her farrier!
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Yes, people should have their horses in, in a suitable area, and be clean enough for the farrier to do their job (plus tea & cakes at my yard
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) and NOT as the OP describes the people at her yard have done.

BUT, no one here has made a single post that means their farrier should be hunted down and it suggested they stop shoeing for them
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You also, appear to have no respect for your Farrier.

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Respect works both ways though presumably?

I have ceased to employ more than one farrier for various reasons,
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THEY were tardy, lateness I don't mind, things happen, give me a call that's all.
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Didn't turn up AT ALL- so phone damn you, what's so difficult about that? You talk enough on the thing when you DO turn up.
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They couldn't be contacted (therefore obviously didn't need my custom) or,
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just plain didn't do the job right.

I am quite sure that there are many Farriers who have struck people off their client list for similar reasons too.

A good Farrier earns and deserves respect, ditto a good horse owner/YO.
 
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You also, appear to have no respect for your Farrier.

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How come you ask that question please?
I have nothing but total respect for farriers and always have done, for 50-odd years.
He gets tea, coffee or soup, toasted sandwiches, fruit cake and welshcakes.
Far more importantly, clean, dry horses in their boxes, waiting for him to do his job - quickly, so that he can kick on to the next client. Time is money.
 
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Don't be silly, she hasn't said anything personal or disrespectful about her farrier!
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YES - she has - please see her original post re: wet jeans etc:

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Maybe not about her farrier but she was rather disrespectful over the whole muddy feet issue. I find calling someone a big girls blouse because they prefer horses with non muddy (ie not slippery and DANGEROUS) feet. I found this attitude rather disrespectful actually

what people also seem to forget is that if the feet are clean and dry we can do a better job.

And let me reiterate one more point, one accident and my career is OVER
 
I would never present a muddy monster to my farrier and do my best to clean off my field-kept ponies for a visit. However, two things stuck out from your post.

Whilst I have sympathy for anyone getting wet and dirty (whether it's expected or not), you can't seriously think that jeans in winter are a good idea for this job? Doesn't he use moleskins/chaps/apron?

Secondly, you say in your first post that he shouldn't be expected to drive around all day in wet jeans. I quite agree (despite his attire) but then you say there were 4 horses and he came at lunchtime (sorry, I forget the exact wording, but it wasn't the start of the day). Assuming he does not shoe a horse in 20 mins flat, then he would be going straight home, wouldn't he?

I do see his point and sympathise, especially as I used to trim a few horses whose owners would drag them from a bog and stand there whilst I cleaned off their feet, but I smell a drama queen!
 
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I would never present a muddy monster to my farrier and do my best to clean off my field-kept ponies for a visit. However, two things stuck out from your post.

Whilst I have sympathy for anyone getting wet and dirty (whether it's expected or not), you can't seriously think that jeans in winter are a good idea for this job? Doesn't he use moleskins/chaps/apron?

Secondly, you say in your first post that he shouldn't be expected to drive around all day in wet jeans. I quite agree (despite his attire) but then you say there were 4 horses and he came at lunchtime (sorry, I forget the exact wording, but it wasn't the start of the day). Assuming he does not shoe a horse in 20 mins flat, then he would be going straight home, wouldn't he?

I do see his point and sympathise, especially as I used to trim a few horses whose owners would drag them from a bog and stand there whilst I cleaned off their feet, but I smell a drama queen!

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All this is true and yes we do wear chaps/moleskins etc but once these are covered in mud you are at risk for the entire days work as they are then slippery until they dry. Leather does not dry very quickly. Not the leather that is used to make chaps. I should know.

So no maybe my jeans dont get wet but my tools and my chaps do.

this can be dangerous.

I prefer working on a dry horse and will use my own jumper if the owner has not bothered wiping the mud off.
 
Cor blimey such vilification for a joke about a farriers unfortunate use of presenting an argument about wet jeans. Cool down people - and stop twisting things to make it sound as if I have no repect for a farrier so please people stop being so defensive and going into attack mode.
My entire point is that they do an incredibly, difficult, smelly, physically exhasting job and none would wear just jeans to shoe a horse. They have equipment that covers their jeans and should keep them dry.
The reason this one went was that the YO, did not get her horses in and for, I think, expecting him to do it, which is appalling behaviour, on the YO's part. For those reasons, if I were the farrier, I would have left too. That is an entirely disrespectful act.

BUT this farrier gave an ADDITIONAL reason of "wet on my jeans" and personal discomfort driving around for the rest of the day, to leave the premises (point b in OP's post). I think this is part and parcel of being a farrier - and could be partially, but not totally, avoided by correct attire, even if just for safety's sake.
I work on occasion with preschool children, I don't refuse to do so in case I get crayon or paint on my clothes, I would wear an apron.
My farrier is fantastic and if, for some reason, my horse has mud on him or wet, he's not concerned about his own discomfort, more the correctmess of the highly specialised and skilled job, he is doing. This is why my horse is presented clean to him, nothing to do with him or me caring about his wet jeans.
There is a lot of anger on this forum, that could be chanelled to good causes, not a case of wet jeans, which is what I was referring to here.
 
No, I said a big girls blouse over moaning about his wet jeans and personal discomfort - and I thought it was a funny metaphore (and why I spelled it in what I thought was a lightheatred way), and certainly it was not mean disrespectfully at all, about the nature of the job.
After all, a farrier deals with tons of powerful snorting flesh everyday - I wouldn't want to do it and in my experience farriers are really big strong, powerful men. I didn't say "big girls blouse" over being presented with a muddy horse, making the job dangerous, please understand it was over him moaning about his WET JEANS, which he could at least expect, to an extent. After all, you're certainly not "precious" about your clothing, especially if you are using your jumper to dry off a horse. Oh dear.
 
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I don't like picking out my horses feet when they are clarted in mud so I wash them first - so I would never expect a farrier to do them muddy, especially a hairy footed monster.

You dont expect to go to the doctor about bum problems and not wipe.

Same thing. lol.

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hilarious - pmsl
 
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You also, appear to have no respect for your Farrier.

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How come you ask that question please?
I have nothing but total respect for farriers and always have done, for 50-odd years.
He gets tea, coffee or soup, toasted sandwiches, fruit cake and welshcakes.
Far more importantly, clean, dry horses in their boxes, waiting for him to do his job - quickly, so that he can kick on to the next client. Time is money.

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Are you talking to yourself?
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[ QUOTE ]
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You also, appear to have no respect for your Farrier.

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How come you ask that question please?
I have nothing but total respect for farriers and always have done, for 50-odd years.
He gets tea, coffee or soup, toasted sandwiches, fruit cake and welshcakes.
Far more importantly, clean, dry horses in their boxes, waiting for him to do his job - quickly, so that he can kick on to the next client. Time is money.

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Um ... it was you who made the initial statement. And now you are answering yourself?
 
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"walking around all day in filthy wet jeans" that should be part and parcel of his job

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Really? My farrier is always immaculate - regardless of what time he turns up. And is certainly never in filthy wet jeans.


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Same wavelength Puppy
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. Seems this Mr Woof is rather confuddled? Or maybe he cant remember which name he is posting under at present?
 
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All this is true and yes we do wear chaps/moleskins etc but once these are covered in mud you are at risk for the entire days work as they are then slippery until they dry. Leather does not dry very quickly. Not the leather that is used to make chaps. I should know.

So no maybe my jeans dont get wet but my tools and my chaps do.

this can be dangerous.

I prefer working on a dry horse and will use my own jumper if the owner has not bothered wiping the mud off.

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All very valid points! I take it back. Twas a long time ago, now, but I do remember blunting a couple of knives on wet feet! I had a couple of sets of chaps, to allow drying, but can see how if you were shoeing all day (which I wasn't), even two pairs are not enough and I appreciate how much they cost!
 
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Don't be silly, she hasn't said anything personal or disrespectful about her farrier!
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YES - she has - please see her original post re: wet jeans etc:

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Maybe not about her farrier but she was rather disrespectful over the whole muddy feet issue. I find calling someone a big girls blouse because they prefer horses with non muddy (ie not slippery and DANGEROUS) feet. I found this attitude rather disrespectful actually

what people also seem to forget is that if the feet are clean and dry we can do a better job.

And let me reiterate one more point, one accident and my career is OVER

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I have nothing but respect for my farrier
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He is not just a professional who does a wonderful job with my horses, but also a great friend. However, all that she posted was:

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I would get the horses in out of courtesy and of course pick out their feet but as for the "walking around all day in filthy wet jeans" that should be part and parcel of his job - does he usually shoe them in a parlour in front of the fire, drinking tea from a china cup, like James Herriott treating TrikkiWoo - surely rubber overalls and waterproofs midwinter might be better attire than jeans? lol

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Was merely a lighthearted post.
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I don't that anyone should go searching for this poster's farrier and try to persuade him that she doesn't respect him, and that he should drop her as a client
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Thankyou puppy. You have interpreted me correctly and thankyou for reminding them of the wording of my post which appears to have been lost in some form of wierd and untrusting interpretation, hence why I put lol, not a roll eyes type of smiley.
I love the James Herriott books by the way.

Dear oh dear, what a plavar!!
 
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I don't like picking out my horses feet when they are clarted in mud so I wash them first - so I would never expect a farrier to do them muddy, especially a hairy footed monster.

You dont expect to go to the doctor about bum problems and not wipe.

Same thing. lol.

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*Snorts tea over the keyboard*

Hilarious! Well put.
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Just to add, it really does annoy me when my OH (farrier) has wet muddy clothes!! With my clothes covered in mud and horse cr@p too, we have to buy a new washing machine every year
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You dont expect to go to the doctor about bum problems and not wipe.



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Actually.....you would be amazed at the state of some peoples nether regions when presented for intimate exam...I have perfected the art of holding my breath......
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Our farrier came last week- horses were out and muddy....OH made sure horses were brought in, legs washed and towelled off all ready for him. Common decency and respect really isnt it?
 
Ok, its a good few years since I had a horse so I may be a little out of date with this.
My farrier had done the yards horses for years ( he was the type of chap that seemed ageless as he was always so filthy you couldn't really see his face clearly
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)
However, he did an excellent job with the horses, always patient and always turned up when he said he would. The yard was not under cover though and he never complained about that, he was happy to bring in for us on occasions we were not there. I suppose on those occasions the horses feet wouldn't have been clean and picked out!
 
why should he bring them in and have to deal with filthy mud covered wet legs?
when its so unnecassary. why not leave them in?or bring them in an hour earlier so they are at least dried and sort of clean for him..?
 
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OMG, this post has grown legs and run away with itself!

I think I should clarify a couple of points.

1. The liveries were at the yard WAITING for the farrier whilst their horses were turned out in knee deep mud. They didn't expect him to get the horses but neither did they make sure they were ready for him themselves, having checked that he was running to time and would be there for an appointment THEY booked with him 6 weeks ago.

2. The MAJOR issue is NOT about him getting a bit of water on his jeans, as someone rather faceciously suggested, but that if he slipped whilst shoeing a wet foot and caused damage to that horse he would not be covered under his professional insurance. Why should he take that risk? As The Farrier on here rightly says, one mistake could mean the end of a career.

Yes, alot of people do keep their horses out all year round and don't have hard standing or stables but THESE people DO and chose not to bother preparing their animals so that the farrier could do his job. I know that when potential clients first phone him he tells them that he requires a dry, firm, level, well-lit area to shoe in (as per the FRC guidelines) and if they can't provide that on-site they can bring the horse to his forge or another yard or, sorry, but he can't help them. He is well within his rights to make that choice - I'm sure there are plenty of farriers out there who will shoe in muddy gateways but he's not one of them and god help the owners whose farriers do if anything goes wrong!

As others have commented, if you don't treat your farrier with respect then how can you expect to keep a good one and have him do a high quality job for you?
 
Just sent mine a text as he's due in an hour, I was planing to hose his legs and dry him off (whe n I get out of work lol) he's replied just to brush the **** off and pick out, not to worry washing lol! Bless him, but I wouldnt have dreamed of not cleaning them!
 
I must admit I went to A LOT of effort with my last horse for the farrier. Effort he never even knew I put in.. She was pretty awful to shoe but he never knew it because

1. After booking in a time 5 weeks in advance (usually around 11am he would want to come) I would have to bring her in around 10 - 11am for approx 3 days before he came so she was used to the routine and didnt fuss :sigh:

2. Every day for 4 1/2 years I would bang her feet with a hammer so she was used to the sounds of being shod.

3. On the day I would get her in early to ride her hard so she was tired and her leg muscles were warmed up. Then I would give her 2ml of sedaline approx 40 mins before he came.

4. while waiting for him I would give her a small net of hay (supervised because she had the sedaline) and then I would do my best to keep her calm and bang on her feet with a hammer again so she wasnt freaked out when he started.

5. Get a bucket of feed ready so when he came she was too busy eating too notice him

6. obviously her feet were clean as effort above meant that I hadnt just dragged her in!

My farrier always thought she was a little moody but he assumed she was pretty good to shoe, which she was because I went to so much effort to make sure she was!!

Goodness how I envied those people who could just turn up and drag their horse in from the field.. even more so the ones who could just leave their horse in the stable!!

A couple of days he turned up an hour early!! I think he thought i was some freak who was always up the yard lol! Boy did it stress me on those days though because I hadnt done my 'preperations' with my horse!!
I always had to give the sedaline while he was there and it would only start working at th end!
I had to watch her like a hawk and every time she looked like she was about to rear I would quickly get an apple out of my pocket and stuff it in her mouth to take her mind off it!

She was an amazing, amazing horse to ride and it was the only major quirk she had so I out up with it. Boy what I would have given just to be worried about a bit of mud before the farrier!!
 
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Yes - but don't we all work - wolves and doors etc!

Why don't these people work out a rota system, whereby one of them takes a few hours off work when the farrier is due. Then he would not have to wade through acres of mud to fetch in wet horses.
Build up a few lunch-hours "not taken" or do a few hours overtime in lieu.
Then the time is there - very simple really.


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Very simple...if you work somewhere that will allow you to do that! My firm wouldn't allow me to take time off in lieu like that, or build up lunch hours. If I take time off it's annual leave only
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