please help, not good at confrontation and..

Feet are likely to grow more if he's on good grass, for instance, you're likely to find quicker growth in the spring. The amount of work he does as a shod horse will not affect the rate of hoof growth.

Agree, though, that 8 weeks is probably too long between farrier visits. Perhaps, at that length of time between visits, you farrier thinks you don't care too much - eek, I don't mean to be offensive!
 
Slightly Foxed said:
Feet are likely to grow more if he's on good grass, for instance, you're likely to find quicker growth in the spring. The amount of work he does as a shod horse will not affect the rate of hoof growth.

Agree, though, that 8 weeks is probably too long between farrier visits. Perhaps, at that length of time between visits, you farrier thinks you don't care too much - eek, I don't mean to be offensive!
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no offence taken haha. but theres 4 of us at the yard whose horses all get done at the same time, mine was the only one today that didnt get new shoes on as i text the others to ask. its always been 8 weeks in winter and 6 in summer and all our horses cope fine with it. not sure if ive done something to pee the farrier off but i never really see the man so i doubt it!
 
on a recent farrier post detailing farrier costs it stated that a set of regular shoes cost £12. Some people may be rolling in money and not be bothered but if it were me I'd want the £12 in my pocket thanks! My farrier always charged less for refits.
 
abitodd said:
That might be your problem. Who holds the horse and prepares the working area and the horse for the farrier?
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hes happy for the horses to be left tied up while works them as none of them pose a problem. one of the other liveries whose horse gets done at the same time is always there just incase, its always been that way so i doubt that would be a problem now

ETA if the horses get shod on a weekend im there, if its a weekday another livery is always there
 
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I'd give him the benefit of the doubt - if he has always done a good job before now, there's very little reason for him to start trying to 'con' you now - particularly if he gave the other horses new shoes.

Keep an eye on them, and if the shoes don't seem to be lasting, raise it with him at the next shoeing and ask that he puts new ones on then.

Bit extreme for people to suggest you change farriers based on one questionable decision!
 
xspiralx said:
I'd give him the benefit of the doubt - if he has always done a good job before now, there's very little reason for him to start trying to 'con' you now - particularly if he gave the other horses new shoes.

Keep an eye on them, and if the shoes don't seem to be lasting, raise it with him at the next shoeing and ask that he puts new ones on then.

Bit extreme for people to suggest you change farriers based on one questionable decision!
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yeah but whats the point of him putting the old ones back on, knowing they wont last as long, meaning im going to need to get him out sooner to put new shoes on that should really have been put on in the first place? can you see where im coming from?

and i agree, not looking to change farrier as he usually does a good job
 
Well as I said, keep an eye on it, if the shoes do properly wear out before the next visit then discuss it with him then. He may have had a valid reason for putting them back on, I'm sure he didn't do it to annoy you!
 
Perhaps he didn't have change or trust leaving money for you on the yard...just a thought. He might have made a note in his diary to charge you less next visit, and would have called you to tell you to leave him less money next time. Perhaps he's put his charges up and you don't know? My farrier always increased his prices on January 1st!
 
If you are still happy to use him I'd chalk this one up and get him back down to change to news for thrown shoe price if possible. Then make sure that new set is on each time regardless of condition. I don't like his response though, I have a feeling it may have been a rush job if your weather is anything like ours and he's getting some in early/emergency call outs.
 
I think you are over thinking things. If he is only ridden a couple of times a week it is highly unlikely he will wear the shoes out before his normal shoeing. The farrier is probably trying to save you money and chances are he has put his prices up 1st Jan hence no refund, or maybe he forgot or whatever. No need for a confrontation just ask the poor man. As others have said shoes cost hardly anything compared to the other costs of shoeing so a pound off per shoe on a refit would be all I expected. Refits are not out of the ordinary either.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I think you are over thinking things. If he is only ridden a couple of times a week it is highly unlikely he will wear the shoes out before his normal shoeing. The farrier is probably trying to save you money and chances are he has put his prices up 1st Jan hence no refund, or maybe he forgot or whatever. No need for a confrontation just ask the poor man. As others have said shoes cost hardly anything compared to the other costs of shoeing so a pound off per shoe on a refit would be all I expected. Refits are not out of the ordinary either.
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thats true, didnt actually think of that :o its just odd to me since fox has always had new shoes everytime, and he was the only one today that didnt get them. but hey ho, not much i can do the mans said his bit, if the shoes wear down then he'll just need to come back out
 
If i were in your situation I would text him saying you see he has refitted the old shoes but taken the full amount so you are in credit for x pounds and will leave the lesser amount next time.......that gives him the benefit of the doubt but makes sure he knows you are not a push over!!
 
I am lucky my farrier make his own shoes, this takes time the night before so the cost of making shoes is a lot more than those they buy in due to the time it takes to make them, they also last a hell of a lot longer as they are of much better quality. Anyway I would just ask if refit have been put back on and take it from there.
 
He is only ridden a few times a week in walk and trot and is spending a lot of time in the stable (on a surface that won't wear the shoes down)- I can see why the farrier thought re-fits should be fine.

He may have made a note of the refit to charge you less next time, he might not have wanted to leave money at the yard, etc.

You can chase after him for a tenner if you want but personally, if you are happy with his work, I wouldn't bother. In the grand scheme of horse owning, it's not a lot.
Maybe just ask him to let you know if he does it again?
 
Of course what you are all forgetting when you say its only a tenner is what happens if they only last 4 weeks.

Then she has to pay the £75 quid again, effectively doubling the cost of her shoeing, and making the mistake cost her almost £50. Unless he does the next set for half price :D
 
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