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Oh, farrier, where art thou? So frustrated!

Off Course
#1

This is a long vent and I am so sorry for anyone who takes the time to read this. I am in tears and my DH is shouting - not at me but at our long time farrier. I have a regularly scheduled farrier appointment set for tomorrow morning. Due to my farrier’s history of not showing up (takes time for vacations and never lets you know), I called him tonight to see if he was planning on coming by. He actually answered the call. After asking about our appointment, he said, no, he would not be out. And hoped that I could find another farrier.

Here is some history. This farrier has trimmed our two horses’ feet for the past 17 years, since they both were yearlings. We had them boarded at that time and when we moved them onto our own farm, he continued to do their feet. Farrier trimmed horses in April and set up an appointment for May; he did not show up for that appointment on that Friday. The next week he left a message saying he would be out the next Friday. He did not show up. Horses are in barn, I am waiting for him to show up, I have errands to run, and I leave several voice messages on his phone. No answer, no visit.

The next week is week seven for my two girls and their hooves look really bad. Long, overgrown, (spring grass and biotin have pushed out new growth big time!) and now chipping off. I can’t work them at all. I call my trainer and ask her for names of farriers to call. She doesn’t use a farrier; keeps her horses barefoot and trims them herself.

She tells me she is willing to come out and trim them for me but not willing to do it on a regular basis. I’m desperate so she comes out on that Wed. and trims their feet. She easily takes two inches off both horses. (She says their feet were ugly. Yes, I knew that.)

It’s not a perfect job but they look better and can walk without striking their front feet. I am now calling and begging for farrier names from friends and local horse farms.

I get a phone message the next afternoon on Thursday. Farrier says he’ll be out on Friday. (Seven weeks have gone by now with no direct communication with him.) I’m surprised because he actually shows up. He’s not happy because their feet have been done by someone else but he does shoe my big mare. He tells me his back problems have caused him to cut back on his customers but that he will continue with my two mares as they are easy to do. So he sets up another appointment for me which is for tomorrow, Friday. And, he is not coming.

I totally understand back problems and the work farriers do is not easy. It is a killer for a person’s back. But, it would have been so easy to tell me last winter to start looking for a new farrier. I have spent hours calling, leaving messages, actually talking to farriers in my area and further out, and not finding anyone willing to work with me. Some don’t call back and those who do tell me they are booked up. (In part because my old farrier’s customers are desperate too.)

I am now sending out texts to more people for names and listening to my DH’s rent. (Have list from my vet but have already called most of them.)

I know that farriers have a reputation for being unreliable but I feel like I have been pushed off a cliff. And I truly sympathize for my farrier’s back pain. (I know that back pain is horrible. I ended up in an ER once while on vacation due to muscle spasms. The muscle relaxers were a blessed release!) I just wanted some consideration from a person who I considered a friend.

I will now call and find out if I can trailer my horses in to any local farms and have a farrier trim them there. So unhappy and so frustrated. I will not sleep well tonight. Oh, my big mare has thrown a shoe.

#2

I feel your frustration. When I first moved a year ago it took forever to get a farrier out. Two horses and one has difficult shoeing issues. Had the guy my old farrier knew and recommended for me. He came out once and I never heard from him again, little odd since I use his wife as a vet for them and she’s been nothing but wonderful. Went through four other farriers all with some issue. Got lists from neighbors who own horse, Facebook groups, the vet, and the local feed stores that keep farrier cards on file. Finally found a farrier that not only could do the shoes but was also approved of by both the horses who are very picky. Took forever and multiple times I just felt like it was impossible.

#3

I’m sorry about your situation …
I think the farrier part of owning horses is the most difficult of all !

Jingles & AO you get a new farrier asap ~

1 Like
#4

As you look for a new farrier, would you be willing/able to trailer your pair to where the farrier does a lot of business (or even to his/her farm)? Yes it would be a lot of time for you, but it might not be worth it for a farrier to travel for just two horses, unless they have other clients nearby. If you’re not near his other clients, could you offer a bonus on top of the standard trim/shoeing charge?

My farrier says his clientele decisions center on two points 1) the horses’ behavior is number one issue-- at his age, and with a waiting list of clients, he’s just not willing to stand under a bratty horse, and 2) it has to be financially worth it for him to make the trip. His clientele decisions have nothing to do with friendship.

6 Likes
#5

Thanks so much, HungarianHippo, for your reply. Yes, we are ready to haul our horses out to another farm if I can get someone to work with us off our farm. We can do that now that we have a new trailer that fits our big mare. My DH is actually eager to get them more trailer experience so I will need to make calls and throw out that option. We can pay more and are willing to do so. (One farrier who works in our area charges a flat fee of $200 per horse and then adds in specific charges for trims and shoeing. I can’t spend that kind of money.) Our two mares have always been quiet and responsive to our regular farrier’s handling which is why he told me he could continue working with them. His visits have never taken a long time. I will continue calling and seeing if I can bring them to someone’s farm. It probably is my best answer at this time. Thanks again!

#6

These conversations makes me really appreciate the farriers that I have had - my current one was found for me by the one previous who had to stop due to back issues (he was found by the one previous to that when he retired). My farrier schedules visits a week ahead, turns up on the date and time specified, texts you if he is running early or late, is a really good horseman (my big opinionated mare simply loves him :D), handles the foal’s legs every time he comes to make sure that my colt (and the farrier, of course) have a good start, handles my new-ish riding mare who over-reacted when the hot forge started.

He attended with 6 hours notice to one of our mare’s that was foundering - on his one rest day!! Spent 3 hours packing, stabilising and shoeing that mare - with plenty of rest breaks for the horse. (Coffee and cake was provided - and I can bake a good fruit cake :).)

He is also simply a nice bloke. Yes, he schedules all his clients on the road for the same day which is just sensible - we have 5 horses (2 with shoes), one neighbour has 3 and another 2 1 each. One of the last is a 30+ Clydesdale.

I make sure that my horses have manners and that there is coffee and cake available.

3 Likes
#7

Check on newhorse.com and even Craigslist for farriers, as well as the bulletin boards in feed and tack stores.

That being said, part of this problem falls on your shoulders. The farrier has been giving you nonsense for 17 years, and you’ve been letting him do it! Why? There is no reason to accept 17 years of poor treatment.

3 Likes
#8

Two inches?? And you had them trimmed seven weeks earlier? Wow.

9 Likes
#9

<Fainting at the thought of $200 per horse> I’m also sitting here grateful for my reliable, skilled, and nice farrier and his $40 trims. He’s getting tired and the word ‘retire’ crops up every now and then, and I dread the day.

1 Like
#10

Earlier posters had great suggestions. You are a customer who has two trims? That isn’t a big money maker. I agree it would have been more professional if farrier was straight up and told you they couldn’t commit to trimming your horses on a regular basis, but that is water under the bridge.

The way I would read the situation is, your job is small. It isn’t a great money maker and it will probably slip to the bottom of the barrel unless there is a different approach. Trailering out to make things more convenient for the farrier is one option, but once you go down that road, you are probably locked in to that solution with your current farrier. Offering to pay your farrier a travel fee, or making it clear that you will always give a big tip is another option.

If your farrier is experiencing back problems, they may be asking themselves how they should spend their time to optimize income and minimize pain. Working on well behaved horses is one thing they will consider so you have that working in your favor, but people with back problems often find driving irritates their condition. Driving XX miles to place A that has 10 horses, will take priority over driving XXX miles to place B that has 2 horses.

Best solution might be to trailer out, or open up your wallet and offer a travel fee, or find someone who is just starting out and building a business and doesn’t mind taking on small jobs.

1 Like
#11

The number one reason I got out of horses after putting my old guy down - the overall expense.
The number two reason? Farriers.

6 Likes
#12

OP, if word-of-mouth isn’t helping, maybe try this website:

http://www.bwfa.net/farrier-referrals/

I found my current farrier (going on 20yrs as a customer) by asking my vet for a referral after the barn farrier put shoes on my barefoot horses because he “thought they needed them” < which would have been fine if he had called any of the 5 ph#s he had for me & DH before shoeing.
This was not his first time working with them, probably 5th or 6th visit for trims only.

I worry current guy is aging out - must be 70-something - but TG his son works with him.
Son is a funny guy - complains nonstop when he is working with Dad, but on the rare occasion he comes alone he’s a different person.
Thankfully he lives not too far from me & is willing to come to my farm to trim my 3.
We set the next appt at each visit & so far he has had to resched only a handful of times. Rarely for another day, usually because he’s running late at another client’s.

ETA: :eek: $200/horse?
I hope that includes a Dom Perignon champagne cocktail for the owner!!!

2 Likes
#13

I agree with hauling to another barn.

I can empathize with farrier issues- it’s such a helpless feeling when you depend on someone for a critical aspect of your horses’ care. I am very picky about who I let do my horse’s feet. There are certified farriers who are awful and uncertified ones that are great, but it’s hard to know. Or the good ones are hard to get and the easy ones are more accessible. :sigh:.

2 Likes
#14

I empathize. Part of what weighed on my decision to euthanize my lovely 9yo mare two years ago was farrier-related. Her regular farrier decided to go to vet school and I could not find a replacement that would A) call me back, B) got along with her (she was excellent to shoe and handle, but she did NOT tolerate being roughed around with and if a farrier tried to bully her or got impatient with her, she was done), or C) had enough experience with therapeutic shoeing to keep her sound. The one guy I finally got fit into categories B and C and she went lame shortly after he shod her. She was a physical wreck and needed special shoeing to stay pasture-sound - it was not an easy choice, but the right one.

But this very predicament is why I learned to trim and got good enough at it so I can trim the majority of horses myself with good results.

I also make sure that any equine I own - including our donkeys - stand PERFECTLY for the farrier. Not saying yours don’t, OP, but it’s so common for farriers to just be expected to trim spoiled, poorly mannered, barely halter-broke horses (this is where you learn that “halter broke” doesn’t mean “I managed to wrangle him enough to put a halter on them in the pasture”, as it seems to for many these days - it’s directly related to the horse’s handle-ability on the ground) that many won’t even bother to take on new trim clients…$40 or $50 isn’t worth the hassle.

I agree your best bet is to find someone who travels to a barn nearby who does good work, and trailer your horses there so they can be done when the farrier is already there. Or, conversely, learn to trim yourself.

#15

I feel your pain and frustration. New horse is terrified of having her feet trimmed. Farrier has done it twice and we both decided to try a tranquilizer the next time. Which was today, and I just spoke to him last Wednesday. So I gave her the tranquilizer, it’s working, he doesn’t show up, so I text and he says he forgot about me and his truck was in the shop. So I just wasted money on a tranquilizer.

That was too rude. Got the name and number of another farrier.

#16

Where in SW Michigan are you? I am seeing my farrier on Monday, and he’s not taking on any new clients but he has one who has gone through school and is shadowing him now that is looking for clients. I can ask him…you can PM me your location.

#17

You don’t happen to be in Central Florida are you? Sounds just like a farrier that I, and a bunch of boarders recently fired. Right down to the excuses :lol:

I definitely can empathize with you. Luckily, we were able to get another VERY GOOD farrier after some searching.

1 Like
#18

Thanks so much to all of you who have replied to my thread!

DancingArabian and CandyAppy, I appreciate you both for reminding me about newhorse.com. I’ve used it in the past when looking at horse properties. I forgot it has other information available too. DancingApple, yes, it is my fault for not looking for a new farrier years earlier. I am now swatting myself with lead ropes and lunge lines as well as uttering various forms of mea culpa. I found several names from newhorse.com that I actually had called earlier because they were within my relative vicinity. Got a no from one as he couldn’t take on new customers and another whose phone number just plain didn’t work. I emailed them both. Will see if I get any responses.

PeteyPie, yes, it was close to two inches that came off my horses’ feet four weeks ago. This May our area (SW MI) got lots and lots of rain. And, of course, pasture grass grew tall and lush. (Our lawn did too. My poor DH was not happy. It was so wet he couldn’t mow.) My bay mare is given biotin as she had laminitis three years ago. The biotin helps her feet to stay stronger and gives her good growth. So lots of things helping foot growth. I have never seen such long hooves on my horses before. They are not growing that much now.

HungarianHippo, normal trims around here are $40 too with additional charges for shoeing.

OneTwoMany, yes, I know I’m just small change with a herd of two horses. I’m now leaving messages and adding in that I will pay a trip charge along with farrier costs.

2DogsFarm, the find a farrier website is great! Several names are ones I’ve talked to or left messages for them and not gotten called back. These are farriers who are in my vicinity and some who are further out as well. I haven’t tried any who are up north in central MI, however.

The farrier who charges the big bucks has a wealthy clientele. Really wealthy. I expect that champagne could be involved if the owners are there to watch the farrier work.

Jackie&Starlette, I sent you a message. If your farrier’s apprentice is willing to come out, I will send you my phone number to pass on and I will pay him extra. Thank you so much!

My DH is quite willing to learn how to trim. He has pulled shoes before and has snipped off hoof edges that are peeling off. I can get my trainer to come out and work with him and give him some training​​​​​. However, he’s 67 (we’ve both just recently retired). He had back surgery 6 years ago. I don’t want him laid up. But he has heart and love for our two “girls.”

I am quite willing to haul our horses out to a barn so I’m now heading in that direction. I contacted a friend who lives about ten minutes south of us. She uses a farrier who had earlier told me no. He came out to trim her one horse this last week but will not be back for another seven weeks. She would not mind me trailering in our horses but that would put them at eleven weeks. I will text a couple of trainers at local barns to see if I can bring in my two when their farriers are there. I had contacted those farriers earlier and had no’s from them but bringing in my horses might work out.

My DH sent out several emails to co-workers who have horses and live in our community. We are waiting to hear back. I just got several names from another horse friend of people who have horses too so more phone calls ahead.

One horse friend (co-worker) gave me the name of her new farrier. Her last and truly old farrier decided to retire at 82 years of age​​​​​. (Hard to believe!) Her new farrier is doing a few horses but just had back surgery and does not want any more customers as she asked him for me. He took two hours to trim two horses, with frequent back stretches. I don’t think I’m going to call him.

Well, I will be back on Monday calling with my new list of names and those on my old list. (They are going to get tired of me.) Few people are calling me back, though. Busy, busy time of the year!

Thank you, COTH members who have given me internet leads and other suggestions. I so appreciate the messages too. I’m hanging in there. Sincerely appreciate your help!

1 Like
#19
  • Any chance you could ask your vet (explain the struggle) for a rec and if he might put in a good word with the ‘rec’ to take on your horses as you are an exemplary horse owner ??!
    Just a tht …
1 Like
#20

Zu Zu, my vet was out right after my trainer trimmed my horses. I had kept the trimmings on a shelf in my aisle way to keep them from the dogs. When he walked in, he saw them and was astonished. I told him about my predicament and he knew about old farrier dropping customers​​​​​. He told me to call his office for a list of farrier names but I had had a friend send me her list that she’d gotten from them recently​​​​​. I’ve been using that list the past several weeks. So far, it’s not paying off. My vet knows we are good owners and will pay for service. (i.e., colic surgery 17 years ago that he performed on my tb mare that we lost) Thank you! Very good idea!

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