Is it me or is there a shortage of farriers?

Definatly a shortage of good farriers, I've found the reliable ones don't do a good enough job and the ones that do a good job are less than reliable
 
I think there's always been a shortage of good farriers, probably more so in the past than now round here. 30 years ago there were a few Farriers covering the area, now there is well over 10, of whom probably a third are people I'd use.
 
Not in my area but I do remember in the mid 80's when I had a horse in the Newbury area the farrier situation was dire - appalling work, highly unreliable and rude and aggressive. You just had to suck it up if your horse needed shoes.
 
Having had a farrier that was supposed to be very good and who caused my horse no end of problems I have now found an excellent, reliable and very knowledgable one who comes from three counties away. If he ever stopped travelling I would box my horse to him because now I have found him I'm never giving him up.
 
In NW Surrey we have many farriers, tho only a few really good ones.

The very good ones are very busy, the others seem to be 1 visit wonders to yards & you can understand why if they are not doing a good job.

For example, the farrier I have never advertises, asks his clients NOT to recco him on a rather large social FB page as he only wants to work for 'decent' horse people.
He's on time, is very patient and is very VERY good - last 2 shoeings I've had lovely hand made shoes fitted with great care to my ridden Fuzzy. Nothing is too much trouble.
Mind you, he has dry fuzzies here - as if weather bad i will hoick them in the night before, swept concrete or a large clean stable if weather v bad (with clear roof panels for light), has no mud and a piping cuppa & biscuits when he comes - I also pay him before he leaves, and we book up at least the next 2 visits

There are a number of farriers who seem to be always 'free' to attend when linked on the local FB pages, they can always do the next day or so, but quite frankly having seen their work, I wouldn't let them near anything at all!

OP, to answer you, yes there IS a shortage of good, well trained, patient and considerate farriers in this particular area. I'd be worried if my farrier was off long term or moved away to be honest.
 
I'm in the same (ish) area as TFF and echo what she says- we have no shortage of farriers but a definite shortage of good farriers. Mine comes from Sussex direction, books in every time for the next appointment, prints an invoice on the spot and will only work for the clients he likes and has no naughty horses on his books (and why should he) In return he has a clean and, where possible, dry horse presented to him, somewhere safe and suitable to shoe, a mug of coffee ready and waiting and same day payment by BACS.
There is a family of farriers well known around here who it is instantly possible to tell they've shod a horse, and sadly not for the right reasons yet they're immensely popular.
 
We've got a fair few good reliable farriers around here. At least 3 of them are my farriers former apprentices all reliable and well-respected.
 
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