Is my farrier insane

[only_me]

or just plain mad?

Have a brilliant young farrier who is new to us, is in our area every monday and if needs be he will come out on saturday (!!) or friday night to put on a shoe etc.

he hot shoes, and puts the stud hole EXACTLY where you ask it to be put, he will put up with a horse that moves around, he is happy to be left on his own to shoe or talk if you are there. Not too expensive (£55 a set with stud holes) and takes about an hour per horse (extremely quick compared to our older one

).

On saturday Merlin lost his front shoe at the event, which we knew was a distinct possibilty given the "slurpiness" of the ground, and when he did it was no surprise (although came off earlier than expected - fence no.6

). Farrier up at yard on monday anyway so he puts shoe on merlins hoof whilst he is there (a new one). and the insane part -

ITS FREE!

he said its because it came off and shouldnt do - we explained to him it was the ground - nope, was still free

I love my farrier - he really is the best!! but dont you think he is a little insane to not charge for putting a new shoe on?!?

 

[carthorse]

Lucky you

 

[teabiscuit]

no

he sounds like a good 'un
make sure you look after him

 

[the watcher]

If yours is mad then mine must be mad too, he is exactly the same - and the cheapest in the area

 

[dsophiea]

that happened to me a few weeks ago, but it was his fault that the shoe came off in the first place.
sounds like a perfect farrier, one hard to find!

 

[3Beasties]

Wow that's really good, wish mine was like that too!

 

[arwenplusone]

If one of my horse's shoes comes off I don't expect to pay for it being put back on. After all, I pay the farrier to put on a set that lasts 6 weeks

Aside from that, sounds like you have found a good one. Keep him sweet!

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

You are lucky!

Mine usually charges "just a tenner" for a lost shoe.

 

[Fleur100]

That's what my farrier does but my TBs rarely loose shoes

 

[Brandysnap]

Hi Only-me!

Wow, wot a star!! I love my own farrier to bits (+ he's my best provider of jokes!!), and he's excellent. He's always my first port of call if one of my lot seems a little unlevel, and has been for the past 17 years.

However, whilst I + partner are close enough friends with him and his wife to be invited to his 50th party - he still charges me for putting a shoe back on! I'm also conscious that our clay ground, and my horses' feet aren't the best in the world, and also conscious of his travelling costs and time, and I really don't mind paying.

But, when I really need him (ie I've got something lame, and can't find anything myself), he'll come out asap - hooftesters, feels legs, etc, and while he often finds the problem, he doesn't charge me if he doesn't do anything.

I sincerely hope that the youthful enthusiastic approach of your farrier is appreciated by all his other customers also, as he is unique, and I wish him well! I think, as with all farriers, it's nice when we appreciate their expertise, and we let them know we do, whether it be by word, slipping an extra tenner, or a bottle of Scotch and a thank you card at Christmas!

Cheers to all, BS

 

[rockinghorse]

I am not surprised if he is a newish farrier or blacksmith as some prefer to be known as he does not want a reputation of shoeing a horse which comes off in the next few days. Most farriers can be very competitive and if his "freebie" to you has meant that you are happy to tell others it can only be good news & possibly more custom for him.

 

[The Original Kao]

our farrier never charges for a lost shoe as long as it happens in between shoeings.

 

[Tia]

My farriers have always been the same

. They say the shoes shouldn't come off and if they do then they always put them back on for free; if shoe is lost then a new shoe is fitted. I actually thought this was standard practice

, is it not normal then for them to do this? If not, then I have been extremely lucky with my lovely farriers too

.

 

[Riverboy]

My farrier in Kent always put shoes back on for free and I was shocked when moving to Surrey (so farrier couldn't come this far

) to be asked to pay for a shoe!!! It happens rarely but Eddie had always said a shoe shouldn't come off and he'd refit it for free...

I agree he sounds like a good one, a good farrier is worth his wait in gold - and a cup of tea on early mornings and a bottle of something nice at christmas!!!

 

[scotsmare]

I get charged £20 per shoe that comes off (and that's to refit it - not for a new one!!)

I have possibly the most expensive farrier in the area but he's also known as one of the better ones and is the most reliable.

Still hurts the bank balance though

 

[AmyMay]

Most farriers will 'gaurantee' shoes for a week. If mine looses a shoe within that period since being shod it will be free to replace.

Pretty normal practice.

 

[Thistle]

My farrier will refit for free if the shoe comes off within 2 weeks, after that, if I have the shoe and he is passing he doesn't charge, otherwise it's £10.

Shoes very rarely come off though..

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

Well he is young I suppose he has to make a good reputation for himself. I think my farrier puts it back of for free, but my horse hasn't lost 1 in the 5 years he has been doing her.

 

[Libbyn1982]

Mine came out once on a sat eve as we had a show the next day and didn't charge a penny. Farriers like that are worth thier weight in gold!!!!

 

[bexsodb]

had a farrier like that years ago
he would bring mine in from field if i couldnt make it or if i lft them in he would turn them all out when he finished

never charged extra for stud holes even used to supply some of my studs if he had any spare

 

[asbo]

jays shoe came off today, been on since thursday so hoping i dont have to pay to have it put back on, not heard from farrier yet though