One thing that was helpful to my farrier was that I’d rounded up a couple of neighbors who had multiple horses to use his services as well. He probably would have had trouble justifying the travel cost and time if he were just doing my three horses. But with my two neighbors, he was doing another six horses and that made it worth his while to do the one-hour drive to our area.
Rebecca
I had a farrier like that. He missed an appointment. Scheduled another. Missed that one. I had two horses with missing shoes. I finally called someone else. Three weeks later he called me and said he’d gone on vacation. Still using the replacement farrier who is 1) a great farrier 2) a great communicator and 3) kind to the horses. I figured he did me a favor by making me find a replacement.
OP, you are not alone. I’m pretty sure there’s an Unreliable Farriers Anonymous support group out there somewhere (for the clients obviously—not the farriers because they don’t seem to give a crap).
I started basically the same thread in maybe 2015 or 2016. My farrier at the time was an alcoholic, which probably explained a lot of the inconsistency. I stuck with him for years because I thought he did a really good job. Actually we even dated for about a year (I was young and dumb) and even then I got the runaround on when my horses would be shod! I remember one time when we were hanging out a client called him nine times in a row and I thought she was bananas, but later I realized that the only way to get a commitment from him was to be a very squeaky wheel.
Long story short I moved on and it took some trial and error but I finally found one who’s both reliable and skilled.
That said, it doesn’t sound like you’ve been very direct with him about your scheduling constraints?
If not, it’s worth a try I guess. He doesn’t sound likely to start respecting your time, but it’s possible it just hasn’t occurred to him that you’re taking off work, sitting around waiting, etc.
You aren’t alone…
Note: BROAD GENERALIZATIONS AHEAD.
I hear that a lot of male farriers drink a bit too much, and that makes them flakey. I don’t know whether “a lot” means 30% or 80% or what… I had one like this. He was known for being a bit of a flake, but at the start did a great job on my mare’s hooves. Over time, he got more flakey and less competent.
Friends are finding – in general – that female farriers are way more reliable, and often younger so up on newer techniques. This was certainly the case for the one female farrier I used.
I had a farrier JUST like this. Great at his job…when he managed to show up.
Honestly, I probably would’ve never left him if it weren’t for my having to move several hours away, but looking back, what was I waiting for? The stress and the frustration just weren’t worth it.
Firstly, be honest about your expectations and time restraints, but remember that YOU are the client. You’re paying not only for the service provided but for all of the interactions you’re having with your farrier. By the sounds of it, you’re a great client, and so should be receiving great service both face to face and through a screen.
Some people will try to make the excuse that their farrier, trainer, vet, etc., is just “old school” (whatever that even means, pretty sure people 50 years ago could schedule and arrive at an appointment), but at the end of the day, they are businessmen/women and should be valued and judged on all aspects of their service. This INCLUDES the scheduling and communication portion.
What I’m saying is to do what you feel is right, but value yourself and your time 
I have a wonderful, skilled, reliable farrier. He schedules each appointment at the last one, so he books 5-6 weeks out and has never failed to respond to the odd emergency for me. That said, he’s not young and I live in fear of the day he retires because I know precisely how lucky I am.
Yes, my current farrier is female and she is more reliable and also less arrogant. Always willing to discuss techniques, admit she isn’t perfect, do continuing education, etc. The only challenges are childcare (because her husband is useless) and occasional illness (because she has an autoimmune disorder).
Farrier struggles are a real issue!
My old horse required very specific corrective shoeing. Tried to work with the barn farrier but found he just couldnt come close to what the vet wanted. Now I was faced with the task of getting a farrier for ONE horse. Got a highly recommended guy to come out a couple of times. He was $$$ and got closer but dint seem really interested in helping. It was a short-term arrangement and the barn farrier couldnt even maintain the progress. Finally found a farrier who specialized in difficult feet. Heaven! He was fastidious with the feet and scheduled the next visit at the time. $$$ but so worth it.
Current farrier is excellent but difficult to schedule. He travels to other states (at least he gave up going to other countries!) I once again have a horse that requires very specific shoeing. He does a great job when he comes. But sometimes I get is #2 guy who is less experienced and only okay. Farrier wont make an appointment ahead of time, so I chase him down my text since my horse is off schedule from some of the others at the barn.
Farriers have become scarcer. There were several older competent guys who retired or died. A couple of younger ones had career ending injuries or conditions. There are some farriers around who might be okay in a pinch, but many just let those toes grow forward! And there seem to be a lot of “barefoot trimmers” with barely any training or experience. Unfortunately my old specialty farrier seems to have disappeared too.
This could be part of the problem.
Will shoer not make appointments?
I’ve used my guy for 20+ years & we always set an appt for his next visit when he comes to trim.
6,7,8 weeks - whichever I feel is appropriate.
On the rare occasion he’ll call to reschedule, otherwise I mark my barn calendar (with a sticker he provides) & no need to worry.
I think many “old skool” farriers were used used to the fact that there was often always someone around the barn to hold a horse, so they just kind of showed up when it was convenient. Also, with many professions (like riding instructors and doctors) where there are often legit reasons to be late, being late and not keeping appointments becomes a habit.
If you don’t show up on time for an office job because of “traffic,” often you’ll get fired because your boss will say, “it’s time you realized you have to leave earlier.” But if someone does a good job, often people will just expect they will wait hours at the barn (or a doctor’s waiting room), because it’s not every day, and they’re worried about the alternatives.
I often have the same issues with contractors coming to my house who are “old skool.” Like, there’s a guy I love, but I kind of hold off on hiring him unless I can’t find anyone else. He’s inexpensive and highly skilled, but he doesn’t have a smartphone, and will just sort of randomly show up when he feels like it to do an estimate and tells me the day before he will start work. Sometimes, he’ll stop by and leave a very hurt message on my voice mail, “I stopped by but you weren’t home,” like it’s a shock a woman has stuff to do rather than, say, doing laundry on Monday. He’s great, but communication leaves something to be desired.
I do know some middle-aged men, though, who have a similar allergy to timely written communication. It’s like, we live in a wonderful world of texting. If you’re going to be late, please text. I won’t be annoying and send you a million messages and if someone does, ignore that person. But at least let them know so they don’t lose the day.
At the barn I manage we have all flavors of farriers.
The “barn farrier” who is easy to get a hold of, experienced, timely, and well respected by the old dogs in the area including vets and other farriers. He can do an excellent orthopedic shoe job but he tends to dial in the others and isn’t be best with barefoot horses. Also his personality is off putting to a good chunk of women under the age of 35. He is just…a good old boy who needs to be reminded that calling every woman “baby” is gross. He also mansplains. I get along with him because I’ve worked in industries that was the norm before becoming a barn manager and call him out on his language in a way that doesn’t hurt his feelings.
Female farrier who is as good or slightly better than barn farrier. I LOVE how she does feet, she is constantly taking continuing education and best of all she dates one of our trainers. But she is over booked, piss poor at communication and has left her clients horses with a thrown shoe for a week plus. I’ve made it clear to clients that she does a wonderful job but is far too over stretched. I would move my horse to her but he has good TB feet. You all know the type.
New farrier does a lovely job, communication is great but takes 1-2 hours to do 4 feet. I think he makes from scratch shoes (one of the few in the area that hot shoes but I haven’t seen him work) and honestly, I don’t have time for that.
Lots of walking horse farriers in the area and the long feet are impressive
A young guy I really liked and almost moved to but he dropped us as a barn he services. We have a client who was very unprofessional and actually mean to him. I don’t blame him in the slightest since we were out of his way and thank all the horse gods that clients daughter is taking care of talking to venders now.
I will stick with the barn farrier. Via x-rays I’ve confirmed he is doing a good job overall, I can get him to swing by outside of his normal schedule to put shoes back on horses (even horses that aren’t his clients to help other farriers out) and he is at my work once a week. when he retires I will be sad because I don’t think there is another farrier in the area with as good customer service.
Firstly, thank you everyone for your feedback!
To answer a few questions:
No, he doesn’t schedule the next appt before he leaves. I freaking wish! I’m good about keeping a 5 week schedule too, so it’s not like I try to go months between appointments or something crazy.
He’s not old- 20s/30s, around my age!
I know I probably should find another farrier, but there’s no way to tell what kind of job they’ll do. It’s so nerve wracking! I’m particular about the service providers I use, so when I have to change it up, it throws me for a loop.
I’ve compiled a list of a few I can try:
-barn farrier. Comes from another state and only every 5 weeks. If you lose a shoe, you’re SOL. The horses he does look to have good feet.
Farrier scheduling is fun times /s/
I had one that made the next appt at the end of every visit. Cool right? Wrong! Bc if you (the client) needed to reschedule you were SOOL bc he’d take a month to get back to you.
My current farrier is ok about scheduling and great with communication. On scheduling he only gives me a few days notice which isn’t ideal but if his proposed time/day doesn’t work for me he’s able to to offer another choice within a few days. He’s also good about coming out quickly for urgent issues. Communication is super though, he’ll let me know in advance if he is running behind etc.
My old farrier was exactly like the one you described. He did a lovely foot, short toes, keep my foundered pony sound and happy barefoot, I tipped and treated him like a prince.
Then I waited for him to show up one day and he never showed. Texted, called, ran by his house, didn’t hear back for 45 DAYS.
I’d already hired a new female farrier that I love. She does a good foot, my horses love her, and is an amazing communicator.
In the height of the pandemic, my farrier sold his house and didn’t have a new one. He, his partner and toddler rotated through various households until they finally bought. 8 months of hell. He was terrible to get a hold of and confirm a time but ALWAYS showed up pretty close to the right time and did a great job. I was willing to cut him some slack. My friend who was also using him summarily switched farriers without saying why.
Luckily, he stuck with me ( I was concerned because becoming for one horse may be sketchy). I had to move barns in a hurry - he messaged and checked to see how our move went.
I moved to a different barn and 4 of my friends switched to him (2 had had him before and one was particularly pleased he was back.) Much better communication now, although he was a little sticky. We spoke to him directly about what we wanted “please confirm time and day in one message”. So far, he has listened. Thrilled I stuck with him. He is the kind of guy if you message with a problem, he always returned those messages quickly.
I feel your pain though, I hated chasing him but also hated the idea of losing him.
Update: He says he’s coming tomorrow. This will be the last chance. If I get ghosted (like earlier in the week) I have to move on.
Wouldn’t it be easier on everyone for a farrier to just keep a standard schedule for all of his or her clients? Is there a reason why more of them don’t just keep a consistent schedule?
I guess I was very lucky with the farrier I used when I had my horse. He would come at approximately the same time on the same day of the week, every six weeks, and he would text a reminder the evening before.
If we needed to change the schedule occasionally due to a horse show or whatever else, he would usually have another client who also needed to change their appointment who he could switch me with.
Just seems easier on everyone to establish a normal schedule where you know how long each appointment and travel tends to take, and not have to spend time booking appointments every few weeks?
You would think! These guys need to take a business 101 class or something as part of the farriery curriculum.
Why not ask if he will set you up with an Every 5th Week appt?
Okay, he’s young, just starting out.
Did he apprentice with an older (more experienced) shoer or take a class?
Is he CJF?
ETA:
Why not try the barn farrier?
He seems to be on your 5wk schedule.
If a lost shoe happens, is there noone in the barn who can remove a shoe, or show you how to?
If I request to set something up, he’ll say "I’ll let you know."
He’s a CJF and is very active with continuing education, etc which I like.
I’m thinking we may try barn farrier if we get stood up again. I feel competent to pull a shoe, tacking one on, I’d have to ask one of the other guys out there. One of them I used to use, but he ghosted me several times and kept the toes too long. So that could be potentially awkward. There are some others who do a few horses out there, so maybe I could ask one of them if needed.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
