Waiting on Farrier

[Jenko109]

My farrier isn't the cheapest, but he is never late, is easy to get hold of and will always squeeze me in if I need him late notice. Time is money. Having to wait hours after the appointment time would be completely unacceptable for me.

 

[Pedantic]

Mine is excellent, lets me know if he is going to be late, he texts me to ask if he can come come early if he has a cancellation.

 

[Xmasha]

Our farrier always gives me a date and a time , which I forget to write down . I’m only reminded when there’s a buzz at the gate. Think it’s an age thing ?

 

[HollyWoozle]

We are the first appointment of the day which helps. He is occasionally a little bit late and will text if more than 10 - 15 mins or so, then sometimes a little bit early too, but never by a huge margin and has never let us down. I couldn't cope with a farrier who was 1.5 hours late without contact - surely they know they are running very late and could at least give you a heads up? I understand it must be hard to be accurate in the job and wouldn't mind occasional serious lateness if I had a message to let me know.

 

[Lintel]

Yes.... I couldn't be assed lateness!

 

[Breagha]

My old farrier used to say - late morning/early afternoon but there have been times when he has said 10am and not come until 4pm. Because he used to squeeze everyone in. It was annoying, especially when I had to take days off work for it.

My now farrier who is excellent (who sorted problems on one of our horses that old one caused) can be early sometimes but gets in touch if is going to be late.

 

[daydreamer]

Mine is sometimes late, sometimes early! If late by more than half an hour he does try to send a message. He was 15 minutes late this morning and then complained (a bit) that my horse was fidgety. I think he was very good considering he is a 2 year old, pulled in from the field away from his friends then made to wait 15 minutes on a yard he only goes to every 6 weeks for trimming!

 

[Fransurrey]

Only had it happen twice. Same company which had come highly recommended when I first moved to the area. First time over an hour late and I had a minor go as I had to get to work and they'd shod two extra horses at the previous yard. Gave them a second chance and they were 2 hours late. I was actually half way down the lane seething when I saw their van going the other way. Different farrier again, so no continuity either. I gave him a right earful and told him to tell his so-called esteemed boss that I wouldn't be booking any more 'appointments'.

 

[WandaMare]

My farrier rarely arrives on time, he's usually 1 to 2 hours late or if he's early, he just texts me saying I'll be 5 mins, which means I'm running round making sure I'm ready. The worse thing is about him being late is that he then rushes to get the horses done which makes him more irritable with them than he usually is. I'm on the look out for new one not surprisingly.

 

[fankino04]

Wow I didn't think any farriers or vets were capable of being on time let alone early! Thankfully mine is normally only about 20 mins late each time so not too bad.

 

[vmac66]

Mine always text me if she's running late, messages, me the day before to remind me shes coming.

 

[Winters100]

Mine drives me nuts with poor timekeeping, but he is the best that I have found, and if I need him urgently will always come straight away. I just accept now that 8am means 'sometime that day'. He is quite sought after so I know that if I make a fuss he will just drop me from his list.

 

[Tiddlypom]

My new farrier made a promising start re timekeeping, then it all went whoopsie for a bit. He eventually fetched up 8 days late after a week’s worth of no comms.

A mutual contact had a quiet word with him, and it all seems to be going much better now.

I have since kitted myself out with all the farriery tools that I need for trimming (apart from a non knackered back). Whilst I’d much prefer a professional to continue to deal with them on a regular basis, I will trim them myself in future if I get let down again, rather than try and find someone else who knows what they’re doing.

 

[sport horse]

My farrier is pretty much always on time. We book two shoeings ahead ( 3 months) pay on day of shoeing provide somewhere dry and safe for him to work with lights and electric, horses are in, ready, clean and dry. Kettle always used to be on - a bit different during Covid!

 

[PapaverFollis]

I've waited over 4 hours for a farrier before now. And had a run of completely unreliable ones. Then the last one was fine for ages then suddenly disappeared. We started trimming ourselves for long enough to realise we were getting better feet trimming ourselves... so when he did get back in touch we didn't re-book! I'm on a wait and see to see if we need to go through the awfulness of finding someone else again.

 

[mini_b]

Mine is never, ever late.

 

[WandaMare]

My farrier is pretty much always on time. We book two shoeings ahead ( 3 months) pay on day of shoeing provide somewhere dry and safe for him to work with lights and electric, horses are in, ready, clean and dry. Kettle always used to be on - a bit different during Covid!

I do all that as well but it doesn’t make any difference, he still turns up when it suits him

 

[PapaverFollis]

I was always the perfect client too. Even to the point of always having biscuits or cake to offer. Still had them go AWOL! Perhaps I'm just really annoying.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I do all that as well

Yup, me too, as likely most other folk on here do. Payment sent by Bacs while he’s here. It‘s a pain when you do all that and have the horses in, day beds sorted, Covid hand washing facilities ready, legs all clean etc., and then there‘s a no comm no show. Plus the neds will have then munched their way through at least a bale of expensive and scarce hay between them while fruitlessly waiting.

 

[atropa]

Mine doesn't give me an exact time, usually gives an estimate of time the day before, i get the horses in, clean and hooves picked out that morning, then he will message when he's about 40 minutes away so I just keep an eye out for him.
Last time I was on holiday so he came out, shod two himself then swept up after himself! He's a goodun!