Is it time to find a new farrier ?

debsflo

debsflo

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My farrier of 10 years has always been a poor timekeeper but i have made allowances because he is good and my horse needed a lot of work to rebalance her feet. Recently he has taken on a lot of work inc abroad and when my mare was due 2 weeks ago failed to turn up at all or contact me. After several calls and texts he returned my call a few days later with an explanation and an appt to see her last week. Turned up 2 hours late by which time raining and dark. Rebooked for the weekend no show,no contact and no answer. My mare is now overdue by 2 weeks and i am feeling really cross. I understand this weather must be a farriers nightmare but feel i am being taken for a mug. I am also anxious about changing as my mare has been doing well,but feel i have no choice. Plan to ring again today and then have contact details for a new farrier who is meant to be good,fingers crossed they have space. sooooooo frustrated...
 
I would say yes! I had a problem like this earlier in the year! Had known my farrier for years as I used to be a groom at one of his main yards! when I got my mare I asked him to take care of her feet! everything was going fine at first and then he just stopped coming on time, would never answer calls or texts! Then after my mare had a serious accident in the field (needed 3 months box rest with a full leg bandage on) she became very defensive of her hind legs! Would never kick with me or anyone I knew but according to the farrier she was dangerous and aggressive! Told me to call when I was back from holiday to arrange her next appointment and then he never called me back or answered my texts! I was so frustrated! ended up she was almost at 9 weeks before I managed to get someone else to come out and do her feet!
She loves her new farrier and even offers her each hoof! Its difficult to change farriers, especially when your horse is doing so well but sometime its for the best!
Hope everything goes well!
 
Your horse's hooves are more important than the farrier's feelings. Ring him and set a time today. If he can't make it then find someone who can. It's unavoidable, and I'm sure he'll understand.
 
Your farrier is showing you no respect & a total disregard for the welfare of your horse. You cannot keep someone on who can't be bothered to keep appointments & doesn't contact you immediately if he has a problem. As a result of is ineptitude your horse is now 2 weeks over the shoeing date. This isn't good enough. There are plenty of good farriers out there so ask around for a recommendation & go with them.
 
Ive just gone through this too.I have always paid my bill and hopefully been a good client to my farrier of 3 years but his time keeping and standard of work has just got worse and worse. The last shoeing appointment was changed 5 times. he started sending facebook messages and then we had a debacle that he said he couldn't find my new house....even after being here 4 times,having the address and a satnav. My time wasted has been unbelievable. I wish I could bill him for it. Got a new farrier out who is an instructor at out local farrier college and he was appalled at the standard of shoeing so he has sorted it out for me and I am safely on his books. I might add as well that I refused to pay the last farrier for the last appointment he did for me as the one set stayed on for 3 days and the other one shoe came off after a week. So...change as soon as you can. Its not cheap and we should expect good service so I would say give your old farrier the heave ho and look to the future with the new one!! The old one doesn't deserve your hard earned money or custom . Hope it goes ok xxx
 
I have just got a new farrier because of this reason. I loved my old farrier (he was GORGEOUS) but it would take three weeks to come out and it was never organised, i would just get a text the night before or the same day saying i'm coming. This new one phoned and had a day and time booked and came out when he said he would!
 
debsflo said:
My farrier of 10 years has always been a poor timekeeper but i have made allowances because he is good and my horse needed a lot of work to rebalance her feet. Recently he has taken on a lot of work inc abroad and when my mare was due 2 weeks ago failed to turn up at all or contact me. After several calls and texts he returned my call a few days later with an explanation and an appt to see her last week. Turned up 2 hours late by which time raining and dark. Rebooked for the weekend no show,no contact and no answer. My mare is now overdue by 2 weeks and i am feeling really cross. I understand this weather must be a farriers nightmare but feel i am being taken for a mug. I am also anxious about changing as my mare has been doing well,but feel i have no choice. Plan to ring again today and then have contact details for a new farrier who is meant to be good,fingers crossed they have space. sooooooo frustrated...
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I would, I stuck with mine who was exactly the same for 11 years, I bit the bullet this summer when he was so late and hard to contact that my poor boy went too long and suffered because of it. I was pretty furious, I mean Ben is only done twice a year (he is bf and mostly self trimming) so it's not a big chore for the farrier. So, I got another farrier who's work and reputation I was familiar with and I've never looked back.
 
My farrier is 100% reliable. At any point in time I always have two appointments booked up in advance for first call of the morning. I will not entertain an unreliable farrier however good or nice they are.
 
He has contacted me and said he is struggling with workload and weather and is coming this week. I will decide after speaking to him as don't need the stress. If he doesn't come that is it... no more. It's the no contact that's annoying
 
I had a brilliant farrier, when he would answer his phone, always arrived on time and his shoes stayed on, but the stress of trying to contact him wasn't worth the hassle, it's a shame as he was really good, but wouldn't carry a diary or mobile phone
 
Our farrier is fab, has turned our boys feet around, no more crumbly bits on his fores, always on time, full of advice, he was recommended via word of mouth, we were lucky to get on his books!
 
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