What would you do?

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NELSON11

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I have used my current farrier for 15 years or so, my young horse has been away being backed/produced for the last 6 months, Whilst he was away he had his first set of shoes on the front. All ok apart from dislking smoke. It wasn't my farrier as he didn't travel that far.

He came home 2 weeks ago and lost a shoe, so a local farrier who was at the yard shoeing another horse kindly shod him for me on the foot he had lost the shoe,

He then offered to come back and do the other front foot so a nice matching pair, I was grateful and all went ok. This guys is very local and comes out in the evenings etc if need be for lost shoes. He then offered to take on shoeing my boy in the future, to which I didn't really know what to say at that point.

Now my dilemma is, do I stick with my old farrier who is very very good but isn't local and I worry with the 4yo possibly losing shoes may need someone who can come out quickly like this other farrier does. Or do I move to this new guy purely not because he is any better/worse but because he could be possibly more on hand if/when I needed him.

Don't want to cause offence.
 
You are the customer, you arent here to do your farrier a favour! New guy sounds fine and Im sure old farrier will find a new customer to replace the two shoes you are depriving him of!
 
Agree, before you do anything find out about othre farriers work. A good one who turns up on time is very valuable.

Ever think your farrier may only still be coming to you as a favour as you're a good customer i.e. pay on time & there for him? It may be he'd not mind at all losing a minimal job that incurs travelling expense for him. Why not chat to him? Say you've had the offer (not from whom) & want to know if he'd like to keep doing the horse or not. Nothing to do with his work, you just feel guilty about him travelling so far for a small job, especially with rising costs.

If he wants to keep it, chat with the other farrier, explain the situation, but ask if you would be able to use him for emergency work if he was able to fit it in. Bit more money for him. If he would rather not having to keep travelling out to you, go with the new one.

Plenty of tact may be in order as don't want your current farrier to think his business is being poached.
 
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