Eastern MA…I pay $175 for 4 shoes with clips. I’m also there to hold horsie as he can have his ‘moments’ and may need the application of ‘courage carrots’. Shoes are size 4’s, plain steel with side clips. No pads.
Horse started out barefoot, but as his feet started chipping with additional work, he got first the fronts, and then the hinds. In the last couple of years he has also gone from size 3 to size 4.
I would just say, I probably pay close to what you do for shoes. One special needs horse (eggbars/studs/filler/pads - depending on the day), one dead simple plain front shoes and two trims runs me about $550. However, he goes above and beyond including meeting me at a show if available to replace pulled shoe, being present for vet appointments to discuss options, etc. Every now and then I consider switching but his knowledge and willingness to be innovative makes his fee worth it.
I am paying $260 every 6 weeks. But, the hinds are orthopedic/theraeutic shoes that have to be customized. Add to my cost a tube of Dorm gel 'cuz miss mare is a princess about her hinds - hence the speshul shoes! LOL.
BUT… this farrier is worth every. single. penny. He is on time. He returns my calls/texts. He texts/calls ME - to see how maresy is doing. He came out 3x in 10 days recently because miss maresy had an apparent abscess and we just couldn’t get to the bottom of it. Thanks to him I avoided a huge vet bill. Twice actually, this was the second one this spring/winter.
He patiently and thoroughly answers my questions, listens to my concerns, and attends a monthly farriers forum with a local vet clinic and other farriers. He’s also set to take his CJF exams in a couple weeks.
He hot shoes, and makes his own clips. He’s also patient with my mare, and quiet (settled) around her, which helps her a lot.
If she didn’t have specialty shoeing behind, the cost would be line with other farriers around here - about $170 for 4 shoes.
Your “backyard” farriers charge less, but they do a lot less, and know a lot less too.
I am blessed to have found this guy.
Consistently losing shoes at four weeks would be enough to make me go find someone else. Something ain’t right with that…
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