Why is it as hard to find a reliable farrier, as it is to meet the pope!!!

Elsbells

Elsbells

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I have had my mare barefoot for 18 mnths, initially to improve hoof health and intended only as part of a first summer turnaway for her which would finish with her being shod again.

However, every time since that first summer that I have planned to have her shod again due to various reasons, the farrier is either late, doesn't turn up at all or can't do it for a couple of weeks as he's going on holiday, blah, blah, blah, so we have continued barefoot, sometimes footsore, but hassle free.

It's not just me either, as everyone I have spoken to have had the same problems too. They can't all be such terrible time keepers with no respect for the customer can they?

Oh well I'm not prepared to get down on bended knee, so it's back to boots:rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
I was just chatting to someone at the yard this morning about stuff like this. It seems that in the equine world stuff like this happens all over the place, and if not acceptable it is at least so common place that you have to just put up with it. Although there are often sufficient farriers/saddle fitters etc, they can't keep to time, but there aren't enough to be able to pick and choose so much! Very strange and not something I have come across in other industries. Seems to be a put up or shut up sort of feeling despite you paying for a service!!!

Iiwy I would just stick with barefoot. Perhaps people on here can help with ideas to help with your mare's footiness?
 
I'm a BF advocate TBH and my heart really does not want to shoe, but sometimes circumstances dictate, this winter has been sooooo hard. I would BF her again after the summer though.
 
Our old farrier always used to be late, sometimes by days :eek: :mad: But Horrid doesn't like men so I had to change no I have a lovely lady farrier who is always 1/2 hr early :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Last time I was still riding Horrid when she arrived But she didn't mind and waited for me to finish. :) Also Merryn lost a shoe on a fri afternoon and I phoned her up. I was alittle upset as we had the OHs kids that weekend and it would mean they couldn't ride. The farrier said she could come out first thing sat morning to put the shoe back on but I was working so couldn't be there. She said that wasn't a problem what time could I be there and she re arranged her day to fit in with me :D :D My farrier is amazing :D
 
I think farriers, like YO's, are one of the banes of a horse owners life. The good ones are like gold dust! They're either consistently late, impossible to get hold of, or down right rubbish. We, luckily, seem to have found a farrier who is none of these things. She's a woman :p
 
You have my sympathies but I think the problems you are having are very much a symptom of these hard times. :(

Everyone is trying to cut costs so some farriers at the cheaper end of the price scale are shoeing more and more horses in order to make a living rather than put their prices up to cover increased overheads and risk loosing customers, which means many are rushing about trying to fit too much into a day which in turn leads to a lack of customer service.

Many would consider my farrier expensive but because he charges a little more than the average, he can afford to shoe a couple less in a day, giving him time to return phone-calls, be on time for appointments or let his customers know if he's running late for some reason. For me it's worth paying a bit extra - not only can he take his time and do an excellent job but he doesn't leave me standing around wondering if or when he's going to turn up.
 
My farrier is great. He moved yards with me 3yrs ago, and even though new yard had there own farrier I kept him, he,s never let me down or been late. Has come back out when NAS has lost a shoe (and he,s not based that close to me).

Even now there is a very good remedial farrier living on yard I still keep mine.

Obviously if I thought there was something wrong with his shoeing i would change.

He,s also quite easy on the eyes ;) can't beat a nice bit of eye candy.

Ssh don't tell the Hubby...
 
Faithkat said:
OP . . . um . . . . if your horse has been "barefoot" for 18 months, who has been doing the trimming in that time?
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My mare has mostly, but I have used a trimmer.

The farrier of which I speak is lovely and he's been trimming her of late and has actively encouraged the BF.

It's not a worry if he's late or doesn't turn up for a trim as it would not stop me rideing and my mare is not left lame. It's when I have just got my head around shoeing, all the inconvenience that it brings with it and added to that, the possibility that if a shoe is loose, pulled etc later, my farrier be late or unavailable for a week then!?

This is not the first farrier that I have lost patience with, hence the continueing BF.
 
A few years ago I would have been agreeing with all of you but now I am married to a farrier and do his bookings and I get to see the other side. We are 100% reliable and always on time or call if it's going to be half hour later than expected.

But I get verbal abuse if people forget to book their horses in so they then can't get it done when they want, I get people changing appointments last minute meaning the whole day has to change, people booking in for one then adding more when he gets there, everyone wants shoes back on that day and always have a special reason but don't think that if they stopped turning out in knee deep mud in a field with about 50 other horses where the horses do nothing but fight because they are under exercised and hungry perhaps the shoes would stay on? Last night I got a phone call at 11.30 from a customer wanting to book in!!

I know some carriers are a nightmare and don't treat their customers with respect but I think a lot of owners behave unfairly and when you have 250 other owners behaving the same way it gets tiring.

We have some customers that are always polite and appreciative and it makes a huge difference, you do remember them!

Rant over lol
 
my farrier is fab NEVER later than 10 mins and that is rare. He always phones on the odd occasion he is going to be late

NEVER EVER not turned up although I did it to him the other week, he was great about it, just came the following week

Micah has been barefoot for most of the time but I am going to have fronts on next time
 
My farrier is great always picks up his messages if my mare has lost a shoe and is never late. Always rings me if he just going to be 10 mins late !
 
Countrychic said:
A few years ago I would have been agreeing with all of you but now I am married to a farrier and do his bookings and I get to see the other side. We are 100% reliable and always on time or call if it's going to be half hour later than expected.

But I get verbal abuse if people forget to book their horses in so they then can't get it done when they want, I get people changing appointments last minute meaning the whole day has to change, people booking in for one then adding more when he gets there, everyone wants shoes back on that day and always have a special reason but don't think that if they stopped turning out in knee deep mud in a field with about 50 other horses where the horses do nothing but fight because they are under exercised and hungry perhaps the shoes would stay on? Last night I got a phone call at 11.30 from a customer wanting to book in!!

I know some carriers are a nightmare and don't treat their customers with respect but I think a lot of owners behave unfairly and when you have 250 other owners behaving the same way it gets tiring.

We have some customers that are always polite and appreciative and it makes a huge difference, you do remember them!

Rant over lol
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This-and to add, my OH is also a farrier, a very concientious one, but he is only human and has to contend with some very inconsiderate people. Its his view, certainly in our area which is overpopulated by farriers, that if you can't get a farrier its because you are someone they don't want to work for! No offence intended to the OP. But there is usually a reason, unless the guy is just a ratbag.
 
they are out there, my farrier is fab! I trust his opinion and him with my horses. hes always on time, and he knows im a scatter brain and will often text me to remind me he is coming!

in return he gets coffee. bacon sarnies freshley cooked and in the summer a cold drink is always in the cool bag for him!
 
I must have a gold-dust one.........
Always arrives on time - in fact yesterday apologised for arriving 15 mins early :) as I had not quite finished getting yard finished for 8am :o
He keeps my regular 8 am appt every 6 weeks - and is always prompt about coming out in the event of a prob (those these are few and far between, usually)

Mind you, there is always coffee & biscuits waiting, a dry empty light stable if wet, or well swept concrete yard for dry weather.
 
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