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Am I on a super secret farrier black list?

5K views 22 replies 19 participants last post by  N0lika 
#1 · (Edited)
Why oh why will a farrier, any farrier, not return my phone calls?

First and usual farrier made an appt for June 22nd, two weeks after I wanted but meh that's ok. He didn't show up. He will now not return any phone calls (I have left multiple voicemails) but I see on Facebook he's trimming other horses in town. I don't get it. My boys are well behaved for their trims. They stand quietly and don't pull back, don't try to kick or bite, etc. He's usually in and out in 45 mins with $80 cash in his hand. Easy money.

So I tried to move on and call another farrier because at this point things are getting ugly. The horses' hooves are majorly chipped and are forming vicious looking vertical cracks because of our super hot, dry weather. It makes me sick to look at their feet, it's awful. I called the second farrier on the 3rd of July and guess what? No return phone call.

I'm getting ready to move on to the third guy I have a number for but I haven't heard great things about him. I'm starting to feel like I'm on some kind of super secret farrier black list. :sad:

If I don't get any phone calls back by this weekend I swear I'm going to try to trim them myself.

:cowboy:
 
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#2 ·
Over the years ,I have found many farriers to not be too reliable at calling back & yes some even showing up!:x so don't assume it is you:wink: if you are not a regular client or new they may not feel they can make time for you? When you find a good one hang on to them :apple: I'm thankful I've have good regular farrier for many years now & haven't had problems, but prior found same problems you have. Not only trying to get someone but also one that can do good job was challenge.:sad:
 
#4 ·
I'm in the same boat.

I made an appointment. Had to cancel because something came up at work and I had to stay a couple hours late. Now I'm on the "list."

I used to trim and shoe my own, but haven't for a few years. I may have to again. I am SLOW. Always was.

My only other option is to haul my personal horse 180 miles and hope the guy at home shows up.
 
#7 ·
I'm in the same boat.

I made an appointment. Had to cancel because something came up at work and I had to stay a couple hours late. Now I'm on the "list."

I used to trim and shoe my own, but haven't for a few years. I may have to again. I am SLOW. Always was.

My only other option is to haul my personal horse 180 miles and hope the guy at home shows up.
Hah! I spoke too soon. The guy called me!

Only because he had a horse that needed a bit of work. Whatever it takes. Mine is now trimmed.
 
#5 ·
I must be blessed? My farrier is reliable, will go out and see to the horses even if I'm at work and gives me a seriously discounted rate. I'm sure if you all pool together and fly him over he'd be happy to do a days work stateside ;)
 
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#6 ·
Farriers are not the only ones who have the "I don't need you, You need me" attitude. Years ago I had a great one who would always fit me in somehow if I had an emergency. He didn't make a lot of money on me either because I did my own trimming He also did great work. I am in somewhat the same position now in finding a good farrier. The BO uses (X) who is ok, but he comes with an assistant that my mare hates. Others will not come out to do one horse or infringe on someone else's territory. I will say the ones that I have called have returned my call even if the answer was "NO". I don't think there is any excuse for someone in business to not return a call.
 
#9 ·
Our first farrier was great. But he broke his back and had to cut his client list by at least 50% (and they were uncertain if he'd be able to resume at all). Great guy - spoiled us. Easy to get hold of, easy to schedule, nice and darn good.

The next guy was good most of the time, but getting him out was...variable. You might get him in one call, or need 15. He rarely returned calls. Didn't answer emails. When you got hold of him, he might be out the next day...or not have an opening for 6 weeks.

The next guy insisted on stretching the horse's hind legs way out to put on a stand. It was painful to look at and he didn't change when asked. Mia in particular had problems and nearly fell a couple of times. On his last visit, he pulled and pulled - and Mia (I'm told - I wasn't home) very deliberately pulled back and kicked him flat. He left without doing Mia's hind feet, so I did them when I got home. Just held her hoof and did them while she stood relaxed, lead rope over her back.

The newest guy we've tried is now Mia's owner. I now own his former horse (Bandit). I think he's done more shoeing than barefoot stuff. Good to get hold of, at least. Hopefully we'll have a longer term business relationship, but I've bought some videos and have started filing the feet every couple of weeks. I need to figure it out and trim their feet myself.
 
#10 ·
The farrier/trimmer situation in my neck of the woods was what has led me to doing my own trimming. I had seen it all - poor workmanship, hard to get hold of, price, sometimes there just wasn't one period, etc. - so took the plunge. I acquired a nice little inventory of tools over the years topped off with my husband giving me a Hoof Jack for a Christmas present (and that should extend my capability for another 20 years).:D

You say it jokingly, I know, but it might be worth your while to start doing your own trimming (at the least if something goes awry you have no one to blame but yourself; at the best you'll gain great satisfaction in doing a good job). It won't hurt to do a little investigation into the possibility.
 
#17 ·
Well I am glad to know I'm not the only one that has issues!

I think the biggest part to me is that I find it so incredibly rude to not call someone back to even say if you aren't taking new clients, are booked up, going on vacation, not interested in driving to the town, etc. It's just a phone call, it's part of doing business. As for the farrier that originally no showed... I think that's the rudest of all. He wasted my time. As if his time is more important than mine or more important than the health of my horse. You don't want to work with me anymore? Fine, but man up and tell me so I can find someone else. Even if he called me at this point I don't think I'd do business with him anymore. Why give someone my hard earned money that has so little regard for my business?

You say it jokingly, I know, but it might be worth your while to start doing your own trimming (at the least if something goes awry you have no one to blame but yourself; at the best you'll gain great satisfaction in doing a good job). It won't hurt to do a little investigation into the possibility.
I'm actually not really joking. I would love to learn how to trim but I'm terrified of ruining my horses by doing it wrong. I can trim the toe length and rasp them decently but cutting away all the under bits just makes me too nervous. The convenience and health benefits of doing my own trimming would be awesome.

I reached out to a Facebook contact this morning and asked if she trims (I know she sells Renegade boots) and come to find out she does. And of course, she isn't taking new clients. Well long story short I come to find out she lives less than 5 miles from my ponies so she's going to take us on and we have an appointment for Monday. She's a little more expensive (apparently hiring a "barefoot trimmer" is more costly than a farrier) but the communication I've had with her so far will be well worth it. Especially if she actually shows up.

Finally, I have hope!!!
 
#11 ·
I must have lucked out and always picked the good ones :wink:

My former farrier was always on time (except once and he called me) and only called to reschedule my appointment once - he then worked outside of his normal schedule to make sure the makeup appointment time worked for me.

My current trimmer is apparently hard to get in the first place, but she took me as a client anyway. She's reliable, shows up on time and now she knows me and the horses she will start trimming before I get to the barn if she's early (with my permission). She also treats her clients very well. I'm not sure how she is answering phones, text is the easiest way to get ahold of her, since she can check and reply in between barns easily.

I will note that with both farriers I always made my next appointment the day of a trim, so we were on a schedule and I've never had to call and ask to be fit in. Easier for everyone, but I imagine especially easier for the farrier. If I was calling last minute I wouldn't be surprised if it might take a few weeks for the farrier to fit me in.
 
#14 ·
I've been lucky to have 2 great farriers in my life. Had to weed out some duds before finding them but I think that's par for the course. 1st one retired and I've been with the second for about 13 years. Today was the first time in those 13 years that he was a no show. He had forgotten to write our appt. down but was still willing to throw his stuff together and come out when we called even though he was busy getting ready to head to St. Louis for a mustang makeover competition. We told him just to reschedule since it wasn't a big deal so he squeezed us in next week. You can bet I'll be on him about breaking my heart after a 13 year relationship next week. Now you and I know I'm not really mad but he doesn't know that and no way can I resist the temptation of yanking his chain a bit. LOL
 
#15 ·
I had a pretty decent farrier, the best parts were he was kind, always on time, and you could book over text, Facebook or phone and it always worked.

All the other ones...sometimes they're 45 mins late, or they don't show up. It all bleh.

Maybe money would help? Like if you tipped them more than normal? I don't know. Here the farrier only comes to town every three weeks. So your horse is trimmed every three weeks, six weeks or nine weeks, and if there is an emergency you better hope it comes at the right time.
 
#16 ·
Yeah, I'm pretty happy with the farrier I have now, but it took a few tries.

One completely botched my horse after an episode of laminitis, to the point where the horse couldn't walk.
His successor hit my horse in the belly with a rasp when he couldn't stand on one abscessed foot (during his recovery from laminitis).

The guy now does a good job, is nice to the horse and easy to schedule. So I'll hang on to him for now.
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#18 ·
I have finally found a farrier after over a month o.o At first I was being super picky about how they trimmed, but with Remy going to a Western Pleasure trainer Sunday I just needed one, now. Sooo we have an appointment with a barefoot trimmer Saturday morning. It'll be a nightmare if she cancels or doesn't show up.

I miss my farrier back in NJ.
 
#19 ·
We started with a CRAPPY farrier. Like, nearly ruined my girls feet crappy. People were telling me she had clubbed feet, she did NOT have it. Switched to the most amazing farrier in the whole wide world. Seriously he was the best.

Then he dropped good/bad news on me. Good news was he'd accepted a position at Rood & Riddle in their podiatry department. Bad news was he was leaving the Northern Kentucky area and all of his clients up here. I literally went home and cried. He saved my horses feet, and who was I going to get to come out to the middle of no where to do her feet?? He gave me a contact, but said he did NOT do anything on the weekends, and that he'd probably only coordinate with the barn up the road. Big issue when where I keep my girl is on private land and I was job searching aka won't have as flexible of a job. I was sick to my stomach.

Fortunately for me my friend/barn owner dropped the CRAPPY farrier and had his friend who went through the horse shoeing school trim his in exchange for hay. We switched to him. He's slow, so he gives my girl breaks so she isn't standing on three legs for long periods of time. He really only does his horses and ours, so it's not a daily job for him. He does a great job, and whenever I see my former, amazing farrier I have him check her feet. He always says they look great :)

My husband and I have discussed having him learn how to trim though... especially for when we have more horses.
 
#21 ·
in my neck of the woods I have found the old adage about farriers to be true. "Farriers are like cats......they don't come when they are called and they don't go out in the rain". My farrier does great work however he doesn't show up or even call if there is even a hint or rain and I trailer my horses over to a friends place that has a beautiful well lit barn to work in. He casually said to add him to my facebook and I thought great now I can confirm appointments. Boy was I wrong. He didn't answer when I sent a message on facebook to confirm an appointment and when he did show up he bit my head off for daring to ask about the appointment on facebook (even though it was in a private message). I just smile and deal with it because he is great with the horses and their well being is my main concern.
 
#22 ·
We are in the same boat. We had a good farrier for four years, but he decided not to service our area anymore. We were lucky enough to find a new farrier right away, who did a great job on both of our horses. However, now that the second appointment is due, he will not return any of our calls or emails. I know he was going through some family problems, but I would have at least expected a return call or email letting us know that he can no longer take care of our horses.

So, this weekend we will haul our two boys about 200 miles round trip to get the job done. I am hopeful we will find someone closer to us, but really good farriers seem to be extremely hard to find.

If anyone knows a good and reliable farrier in North Phoenix/Prescott, please let me know!
 
#23 ·
I have used my farrier for years and he sometimes still forgets to call or even that we have an appointment. He's a good farrier he's just human. Some farriers don't want to go the distance for one or two horses when they already have plenty of clients. It is rude to not even return a phone call. Mine charges $45 but I usually tip him $5. I'm sure his rates have even gone up over the years but he never tells me about it. I did notice he's getting tired faster. I don't know what I will do if he ever retires.
 
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