Is it always this hard to get people to come out and help with ponies?

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billylula

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Pony has two loose shoes. Rang the farrier 10 days ago - no reply. Have tried 2 others with no luck - they haven't called me either.

Man in village who is supposed to top paddock 6 weeks ago still hasn't come despite promising EVERY week that he will come and do it.

Hunt may as well be M16 for all the luck I am having trying to organise Autumn hunting for my daughter.

Pony club took 2 weeks to reply to my message about joining, said daughter should come to a taster rally and dates would be on website this week. That was a fortnight ago.

Meanwhile I have frustrated 13 year old just thinking I am being crap and not sorting these things out.

How hard is it to train as a farrier as I am seriously considering just doing it my bloody self (joke)!

Am seriuosly on verge of chucking it in - have three kids and a job and although I love our pony and love looking after him I just can't cope with having to chivvy everyone else along the whole time.

ARGH thanks for listening.
 
When's farrier due again? If not soon find another farrier. 10 days would not be acceptable to me at all!

PC if not responding to emails give them a call. I got a bit frustrated with someone not returning my emails and when I called her husband told me she was in hospital and gave me another contact- may not be tardiness is what I'm saying.

Call the local hunt again and see if they have any dates yet. Ours haven't even had the meeting to set a dates for Autumn hunting or opening meet yet so maybe they are the same. Ask to go on the contact list.

Hope everything gets better soon :)
 
Thanks. I am trying to think calm thoughts. She was supposed to be going on a fun ride on Saturday but can't go obviously if pony has two loose shoes :( I've rung farrier again. If he doesnt reply by end of day then I am just going to pick someone out of the phonebook. I hate doing that as I like people to be recommended - the farrier I normally use is impossible to pin down and very expensive (72 for fronts and a back trim!!!!) but lots of people use him and he is supposed to be very good, I've always found him to be ok. I just wish he would bloody well ring back/answer my calls!
 
Do you have any local big yards near you, if so contact them and ask who they use or if they can recommend a reliable one, it is so scary having to find a new one - I don't care how good yours is, that is extortionate! Can I ask which area you are in?

Try other local farmers to see if anyone can top your field or if they can put you on to someone if they can't do it.

Get back onto the pony club and ask them to give you the dates/details over the phone

Don't give up, just get nagging!
 
Thanks. It is a local farmer who is topping the field. I know he's been busy but I feel like getting over there with the bloody lawnmower and doing it myself. I'd do everythign myself if I could!

Maybe I'll call the riding school near me and ask them who they use as a farrier.
 
Oh, how I identify with that!:(

I am sure you know there is a sort of convention about phoning people in the countryside? Around here it is 9am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 6.30pm, and 10pm.

But, having said that, most people (except me!) have mobile phones. Hate the bloody things! When you are a farrier, will you stop shoeing a horse to answer the phone? Or even ring back while moving between jobs?:confused:
 
You want the short answer? Yes!

But I will defend the pc slightly - it is all voluntary and usually someone has to have their arm twisted to take over as secretary as it is such a lot of paperwork and you have endless people contacting you asking all sort of questions all the time. Two weeks is a long wait but perhaps the person responsible was on holiday - there is often not a lot of crossover between the roles - if someone has been mad enough to take on the secretary's role, no-one else will offer to do it for 2 weeks if they go away. Possibly the committee hasn't met yet to decide dates, or they are still ringing round trying to find a venue for half term. You could try another branch to see if they are any more organised though! The PCUK website is not the easiest to use and requires a web-friendly father with a degree in computers to update it, in my opinion. (That reminds me, our pc website is woefully out of date, I must get onto that :)) If your daughter is 13 she should love the pony club and all it offers so hang on in there.

As for farrier - extortionate indeed! My farrier charges £35 for fronts and a trim behind. Start ringing round immediately, and while you are at it investigate the possibility of those front boots that slip on over feet. Or dig out the duct tape - I have been known to try it in sheer desperation! Hint - take large roll on ride with you as it wears out.

Farmers are a lost cause, they never really want to do anyone else's fields, and will put off such jobs for as long as they can. He might still be getting his own fields done - try pleading with his wife, or ring a few more or perhaps find a contractor rather than a farmer - they are keener for work but might charge more. Worth in perhaps to get at least one thing ticked off the list.
 
I assume for 72 quid those shoes are at the very least gold plated?

Farmer....sadly with the increment weather we have had, they are on catch up. Their work will always come before your little field. I know how you feel though, its frustrating!

See if you can contact another PC mum and get the dates off them.
 
Holy Cr*p, £72 for two fronts and a back trim!!!!

I pay £55 for a full set including stud holes and I have a quality farrier. Plus I would never have to wait 10 days for a call out even if I hadn't booked him in. Pants servie move on, it is only quality if you actually get the shoes!

On a side note I was reading that a lot of hunts are delayed as the fields they usually use haven't been cut yet so can't be used yet.

PC that would annoy me a little bit, def follow up with a phone call.

Chin up, these things will all right themselves and it will get easier, and harder and you will contemplate giving up again but remember the fun times :)
 
Kind of. You just need to work out who the good ones are which of course is trial and error and then all will be well.

I now have lovely wonderful farrier. The one before him lived 20 miles away, only came out to our area on Wednesdays, and wouldn't return my calls or texts. Like you, I have other (better?) things to do with my time than keep phoning him and placating a stroppy kid because her pony can't be ridden due to a farrier apparently incapable of returning phone calls. Clearly he didn't seem to want my business. So I changed. Life's too short. (And your one is very expensive)

Same with farmers, this is my 4th local farmer, he does everything for us, and charges a fair price. Supplies fabulous hay/haylage grown by him, cuts my hedge, helps with field management and is just an all round lovely chap. He's neat and tidy and tells me straight if he can't do something because he's too busy elsewhere or if I'm going to have to join the queue. Tells me when he's going to come and actually turns up. I can handle that! Find another local farmer or contractor and ask him to do it. It is simply not acceptable to say they're coming and then not turn up.

Pony Club. I'd get on the phone to the DC. If the info was meant to be on there 2 weeks ago and still isn't, then you are not being unreasonable.
Hunt. I'd get on the phone to the secretary.

Good luck!

PS no matter what you do, your daughter will still think you are a crap mother... It's just the way of it!
 
ha ha that's true enough! (crap mother). Anyway, I have found a new farrier who is £25 cheaper and has actually booked me in with a DIARY and everything so hopefully he will actually turn up on Tuesday and be ok!

Husband is out at the paddock now mowing it with our push along petrol mower :rolleyes: god knows how much he'll get done.
 
Do the shoes need replacing or have the clenches come us due to the dryness in the weather and the hoof, hose the feet and the feet will swell with moisture and the nails will be tight again for a few days, but get another reliable farrier
 
Get yourself a compact tractor and a topper? Ours is worth its weight in gold. It has a box thing for the back so can fetch/carry, a plough thing & a harrow & roller so it can level the school. I would looooove a topper for it too... maybe next year!

I am onto a winner when pleading for tractor accessories as o/h loves his boys' toys!

T x
 
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