Would you ever say this to a farrier?

DragonSlayer - the mind boggles..I think I would have given a similar response to your OH!

Casey76 - I can't understand this either. I have everything written in a diary and even then I look at my horses feet everyday so I know when he's looking like he could be seen soon anyway.
 
Mine will put the horse back out in the field if I've left him in and can't be there.

Many years ago he rang me unexpectedly during the day saying he could come and shoe one that needed done. I was a t work and couldn't get away, and he said - don't worry, I'll catch him and then put him out again. so I carefully told him which horses needed done, the bay with the white stripe on his face.

Came home, and there was a set of quite newish shoes sitting outside the barn. Caught all the horses and the bay still had clinky shoes on. Caught the very dark (almost black) horse and he's standing there pleased as punch, brand new shoes on! His had only been done a few weeks before, and thats why they'd been left, as the farrier thought they were still good, and could be kept as spares. We had a few laughs about that one :)

Another time I couldn't be there, asked him for stud holes. Week later, at a show, picks up foot - no stud holes (no I hadn't checked!). Text saying were are my flippin studs holes! answer - in my van! No harm done, we're still pals and he's been shoeing for me for nearly 20 yrs!
 
Slightly Foxed said:
You've never been a novice?
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Was not a dig in the slightest, not meant to offend. As her daughter's coach I have spent a lot of time with the lady in question teaching her about horse care and I daresay now she would giggle herself at the things she would come out with! ;)
 
The farrier my mum used to have when I was little was an older guy and would happily catch in if my mum couldn't be there once in a blue moon - she kept her horse on a private farm so it was just her 2 and the field was right next to their stables. My current farrier who is also an older guy who also will happily get my boys out of their stables and start if I wasn't around (although YO on the yard all day). HOWEVER, my farrier at my previous yard was a younger guy and would have everyone bring in, wash and dry legs (would go mental if legs were damp) and would want paying before he started the horses. He wouldn't get anyones horses out of their stables or put them back in and would expect someone to be on tea and gate duty to let him in and out! He was a very good farrier but was a bit OTT - I didn't really mind but other's on the yard got a bit pee'd off with him being so particular. Their is also a younger guy who comes with my current farrier as an apprentice or something who also is quite bossy and particular. Don't really know if it is because of age but I prefer slightly older farrier's and love my current farrier :).
 
We had a brilliant farrier. I was once a little late home from work and saw him parked outside the house. I parked up quickly & ran to apologise saying just give me a minute I'll get them in. All done he says. I thanked him profusely & went to get changed. When I went back out I found He'd brought them in, shod/trimmed them, & changed rugs!
Last year April time I was chatting to a man who kept a horse in a neighbouring field. I pointed out horse had cast a shoe & our farrier was coming in 2 days & did he want it sorting. He went ape complaining shoes had only been on since AUGUST & he would never use that farrier again! Fortunately he sold her on very quickly & the first thing new owner did was have her feet done.
 
Casey76 said:
Some people at my yard never see the farrier at all, they just make the appointment and pay when they get the bill. (some people don't actually know when their horses are due, as they are in a group booking - the mind boggles!)
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99% of my clients were like this. They thought because the horses were unshod they didn't need trimming, I soon sorted that out :)

I did group bookings (boys days and girls days) because that way I knew everyone was done and the next appointment would be on the board so people knew when to pay me.

Mind, some of my owners didn't even recognise their own horses! One guy drove past every day for work, he stopped in to pay board and mentioned that I had some new horses, he particularly liked the Paint in the centre field - it was his!
 
arlosmum said:
Last year April time I was chatting to a man who kept a horse in a neighbouring field. I pointed out horse had cast a shoe & our farrier was coming in 2 days & did he want it sorting. He went ape complaining shoes had only been on since AUGUST & he would never use that farrier again! Fortunately he sold her on very quickly & the first thing new owner did was have her feet done.
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My word!! I guess I have always taken it for granted that people with horses just knew that it was something that needed doing regularly..

Enfys said:
99% of my clients were like this. They thought because the horses were unshod they didn't need trimming, I soon sorted that out :)

I did group bookings (boys days and girls days) because that way I knew everyone was done and the next appointment would be on the board so people knew when to pay me.

Mind, some of my owners didn't even recognise their own horses! One guy drove past every day for work, he stopped in to pay board and mentioned that I had some new horses, he particularly liked the Paint in the centre field - it was his!
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Are you a farrier/trimmer? I see you're not based in the UK!
There is another horse in my lad's field and there are very very similar (apart from white socks) and I have been known to pop a headcollar on the wrong one when too tired to function.. whoops!
 
thoroughbred- said:
This is what I thought! It's never something I woukd ever assume someone to do! You wouldn't expect the vet to go catch your horse for you!
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Funnily enough some people do! Our farriers are often telling us stories about turning up to have to catch and shoe/trim and then put back, without seeing anybody. And as for the vet- whilst my son was training he commented on the number of times that the vet would have to go, catch and examine/treat a horse with no owner around.
 
serenityjane - if it were me, I would not be going to fetch someone else's horse in for them! No horse ready to be seen, no treatment! Cheeky.com
 
I always aim to be on hand when the farrier is booked - I've managed to persuade him to text me if he's running late/early so that I can make sure the horses are ready. Feet are picked out, if the legs are wet and muddy I rub them down with straw and if the rugs are sopping wet I'll also put a dryone on so he's not leaning on filthy wet rugs. He's said he's happy to get them in if I'm not around but I'm always wary of leaving him alone with them after my previous farrier had a horrendous head injury when being knocked to the concrete by an unruly horse (not mine). I try and do something around the yard or field like poo picking/cleaning tack/cleaning the lorry so I'm to hand but not breathing down his neck!
 
Lots of people do seem to expect farriers and trimmers to do extra's. My trimmers complain about the odd client who gets them to do their horses while they're not even there, then have the cheekiness to leave a note asking them to refill their haynet and top up water!

None of my horses would go near a bloke trying to catch them ;)
 
I would never expect a farrier to catch my horse but it's jolly nice if they do.
My first ever farrier let me stick with him when we moved house. His only proviso was I chose the week but he chose the day and time to fit in with the rest of his round. Horse was happy with him catching her and there was no way I could have time off from teaching in a secondary school. All went well until the inevitable happened, shoes not done. He'd taken on a new chap and the horse had let the new chap catch her but then turned on him at the gate, double barrelled him and charged off to the far side of the field! Farrier came himself thereafter until we returned to be within hacking distance of him.
 
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