Why Do Not More Farriers Have Websites?

Mr Ed

Mr Ed

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It is very frustrating to look for a farrier in your area when they have no website. We have just moved to the area and went to look on-line for a farrier. We found a directory of farriers but not a Website of a farrier in our area.

Its OK having directories but it tells you nothing about the farrier or his skill set. We have 3 lovely horses and we want a farrier who is professional/qualified and kind to our horses.

PLEASE PLEASE you farriers out there get a website, so we can see who you are!:mad:
 
Mr Ed said:
It is very frustrating to look for a farrier in your area when they have no website. We have just moved to the area and went to look on-line for a farrier. We found a directory of farriers but not a Website of a farrier in our area.

Its OK having directories but it tells you nothing about the farrier or his skill set. We have 3 lovely horses and we want a farrier who is professional/qualified and kind to our horses.

PLEASE PLEASE you farriers out there get a website, so we can see who you are!:mad:
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A lot of farriers are old school and don't even have email addresses let alone websites! Besides Its an extra cost they don't need. A lot of them are starting to use Facebook as a powerful marketing tool anyway.
 
I guess because they don't need them. I doubt my farrier ever advertises because he has full books and word of mouth keeps them that way.
 
I can't say I'm really fussed, I'd rather get them out and see what they're like. Just because they say nice flowery things on their website doesn't mean they are going to have the patience of a saint with a horse. And just because they list a set of qualifications on a site doesn't mean they have them or are actually any good. Plus the fact anyone who is shoeing horses should be qualified!

I had no idea about farriers in the area when I got Barry, never owned a horse in this neck of the woods before. I just asked people at the yard who they use and went with one of them.

Farriers are essential and usually pretty busy. A website isn't something they need.

I can imagine my farrier's website:

"Mr X.

I shoe horses.

Phone me if you want to me shoe your horse"

:p
 
Most good farriers are extremely busy, mine certainly would have no need for a website he turns away work regularly, the best way to find a farrier is word of mouth rather than a website which may look good, anyone can set up an impressive website but actually be a poor farrier who has great computer skills and plenty of free time.
 
Word of mouth is much more powerful than a www.

Maybe put your area and people can put you in touch with a tried and tested farrier.
 
My farrier has a website, although he's of the younger generation, so this may be why he has one and the old school ones don't. My farrier is also excellent, always goes out of his way, his work is brilliant, and today he helped me and a friend hammer the barn wall back into place and nail some wood to it to make it temprarily safe (friends horse had an accident and pulled the barn wall away along with slicing her foot)
 
As others have said, the good farriers probably have a full book of customers already, so aren't fussed about maintaining a web site they have little need for.

My new farrier, whilst a whizz at following a set of x rays and vets directions for corrective farriery, will only read a text message and has no intention of learning how to send one, let alone setting up a website!

You can access the farriers directory and it will come up with all the farriers in your area. Word of mouth will then guide you to the best one. It may well not be the one with the most letters after their name! My ex farrier could have constructed a most impressive looking website with some very well known previous clients but I would no longer recommend him to anyone!
 
mmm I wouldn't use one who uses Facebook as a main advertising tool. There's a Cytek (grrr) farrier on there who constantly on there singing its praises. Whilst my farrier is out busy shoeing so doesn't have time to sit on Facebook advertising away etc..

I got mine through word of mouth from my old farrier though, best way IMO
 
Megibo said:
mmm I wouldn't use one who uses Facebook as a main advertising tool. There's a Cytek (grrr) farrier on there who constantly on there singing its praises. Whilst my farrier is out busy shoeing so doesn't have time to sit on Facebook advertising away etc..

I got mine through word of mouth from my old farrier though, best way IMO
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When I was on facebook I found a farrier on there always going on about Cytek anytime of the day so obviously not busy shoeing
 
As has been said, a good farrier doesn't need to advertise! I know a couple of farriers who 'specialise' in remedial shoeing and cost the earth who have websites. They probably have time to maintain their websites as they charge a zillion quid per set of fancy shoes!
 
Mr Ed said:
It is very frustrating to look for a farrier in your area when they have no website. We have just moved to the area and went to look on-line for a farrier. We found a directory of farriers but not a Website of a farrier in our area.

Its OK having directories but it tells you nothing about the farrier or his skill set. We have 3 lovely horses and we want a farrier who is professional/qualified and kind to our horses.

PLEASE PLEASE you farriers out there get a website, so we can see who you are!:mad:
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My farrier hubby has too much work - I certainly don't want people badgering him anymore than they do to take them on. He works a 6 day week as it is :-(
 
The farrier who comes to my village doesn't even have a mobile - you have to ring him after 7pm in the evening, but even then you are lucky to get hold of him before 9pm. God knows when he does anything for himself! But I bet he doesn't even have a computer to be honest...
 
OP I fail to see how having a website would tell you how good a farrier is. Word of mouth and the farriers register is your best bet. Mine does have a mobile, but can't text nor pick up voice mails luckily the apprentices are more mobile literate than he is and do it for him!
 
Most of our local farriers have a website, BUT we are by a big farriery school so a lot of young ones about. (Plus it's mainly the girl friends doing the advertising!) we also have a local horse directory website which every thing and every thing is on, and then there is the local Facebook site which is generally again the girl friends adveristing or people passing around names between themselves. So we are pretty lucky I suppose
 
I think it depends on when they qualified.

One farrier that has been qualified years and years doesn't even have email or facebook, as he doesn't want hassling any more and is mega busy.

The other is fairly newly qualified and still trying to build up his business, and thus uses Facebook to get his name out there. He also has a website.

Try looking in local tack shops, ours has an advertisment section with loads of farrier business cards.
 
Just to add my farrier doesn't necessarily use her website to advertise, she normally has more work than she wants as far as I know. The website is a means of keeping in touch will all her clients to show them case studies of other clients and interesting work she is doing as part of CPD.
 
Any good farrier doesn't have to advertise and doesn't have the time or need to maintain a website. Just because a website tells you something is good doesn't mean they actually are good at what they do
 
amage said:
Any good farrier doesn't have to advertise and doesn't have the time or need to maintain a website. Just because a website tells you something is good doesn't mean they actually are good at what they do
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Really? I know a fair few of the specialist and remedial farriers that have them - does this mean they cant be any good?
I have a site, but mostly I use it for clients to be able to look up their diary appointments, shoeing prices and so on. I dont use it to advertise but do try to give clients a guide as to what I do and why I do it. If I used it to advertise I would do as many companies do, and manipulate search results, which I dont. I think it is just another aspect of informing your clients, and its good modern practice.

Im not going to put a link here. It might be misconstrued as advertising!
 
If we assumed that all web sites were just for advertising then we would all be less educated in so many fields.
Quote:
“Just because a website tells you something is good doesn't mean they actually are good at what they do “
Likewise:
Not all farriers who don’t have sites are good!
The reason I started mine was to share what knowledge I had acquired from within my practice, yes it takes time but in return I find that others are willing to impart their knowledge thus advancing us all.
In my experience it is the best farriers that have the web sites, due to the fact that they are the ones who want to take farriery onto the next stage.
In this time of chronic OFSTED reports on the training system within farriery and poor self-esteem within the profession we need to have a centre of excellence, and I have to say when it comes to farriers wanting to know what: shoes, boots, type of trim, food additive to recommend, way to fit a certain shoe, type of tools to buy or simply to find out what other farriers are doing, then I for one am glad that some farriers DO take the time to create sites, and firmly believe that the web is going to be the leading force within so many professions when it comes to setting a standard.
 
Graeme Burt farrier said:
Really? I know a fair few of the specialist and remedial farriers that have them - does this mean they cant be any good?
I have a site, but mostly I use it for clients to be able to look up their diary appointments, shoeing prices and so on. I dont use it to advertise but do try to give clients a guide as to what I do and why I do it. If I used it to advertise I would do as many companies do, and manipulate search results, which I dont. I think it is just another aspect of informing your clients, and its good modern practice.

Im not going to put a link here. It might be misconstrued as advertising!
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I think it's a great idea to show what services you offer, and be good to see how certain things are done, bit of education for all of us...
 
Heelfirst said:
The reason I started mine was to share what knowledge I had acquired from within my practice, yes it takes time but in return I find that others are willing to impart their knowledge thus advancing us all.
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Have to say how grateful I am to all the farriers, trimmers and others who freely impart their knowledge on the net. The depth of information available for ordinary people like me is just amazing.
 
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