|
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1096
 
| Let me start by saying we are extremely good friends with our farrier. That being said from a professional standpoint I should have been more vocal with the problems I was seeing. Our horses would limp for 2 weeks after being trimmed. After about the 2nd set of shoes the one's with shoes would have long toes and low heels. I've talked to some of my other friends that had used our current farrier. Same problems. Refused to change how he trims.
Last week we took our poor sore footed horse to a farrier a friend had recommended. Horse is now moving GREAT a week later. Much better angles. Wish he'd looked this good all summer.
No doubt I was just "going with the flow" and taking the excuses being given to me. That being said can anyone think of a good way of handling this? My husband wants to move all our business to the new farrier. I'm torn because I know it will break up the friendship we have established. That being said in the end I have to do what's right by the horses. Any suggestions? |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 5290
 
| I would just be brutally honest. And tell the farrier that after using the new one your horse is better. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 42
| With my dad being a farrier for 46+ years i would also be very honest ( when he stops its going to be impossible for me to find someone i like) your horses could have long term effects down the road . your not doing your horses any favors by letting them get trimmed / shoes like that. He must seriously be doing something wrong. If its a strong friendship he will understand if not you shouldn't let your horse suffer. |
|
| |
|
  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I went through the same thing Anne. Everything was sore for a while and just moving well when it was time for the next trim. Shoeing wasn't good either and when he started he said - if you see something you don't like just say so and I'll fix it but don't stop using me just because you don't like my work. Well I didn't like his work and I and my daughter both told him so. He didn't change so I got someone new. I like my new guy, he was here today. I baked him brownies. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
| Timely post. I've used a guy for probably about 15 years. Has always done an OK job. I don't have any particular issues, most that he does are pasture ornaments. He's always been flexible and willing. He's become a friend after all this time. I joked that he wasn't the typical farrier, always on time, mostly early. Would actually text me when it was time, etc. Now, he's doing traveling a lot with his hobby, starting to 'phone it in'. Some issues are starting to show on some problem horses, that another farrier has been able to fix. It's time to change, but it's not easy. I'm not sure I can brutally honest, but I'm going to try 'gentley honest'...if I can snab the farrier I want.
|
|
| |
|
 Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | I am also in the same exact position. I've been living here for almost five years and I'm on my 7th farrier. Eight if you count the one I used twice. It is a nightmare! At first I thought the one I am using now was IT. He was hard to get. He only took me on because I came recommended. At first I was so happy! He's nice, he's professional, he handles the horses well, gives me appointments and arrives when he says he's going to arrive, the price is right, and I thought he was doing a great job. I thought I had it all. I was so happy. Then I started noticing their toes were looking long and their heels were looking under-run. I thought it was my imagination. I thought I was being picky, looking for trouble. I even printed out pictures from the internet to go out there and compare. Am I really seeing a long toe? THEN one of my horses had a mild founder. When the vet came, she said the way his feet were being trimmed looked terrible. She looked at my other guys and she said they were pretty bad too. She was surprised to hear who my farrier was. She actually called him herself and told him what to do to the foundered horse and he came right away and did what she said. He told me he purposely keeps their toes long because it helps when they are stamping flies. He said when he trims them shorter, they will get sore. Of course I don't believe that. The next time he came he trimmed all the rest of them like I wanted. And lo and behold, they were all walking ouchy the next two days. I have to get a new farrier. I feel bad like you do, because we've become friends. AND I don't even know if I can find someone else because I've been through most of them in the area! It's a nightmare! |
|
| |
|
 Horsey Gene Carrier
Posts: 1888
Location: LaBelle, Florida | Just be honest. I had one farrier that was decent all around however, he had a temper. When he hit one my yearlings in the head for being a baby, that was it for me. Took me a year to find another farrier.
I have used the one I have now for probably 8-10 years now. With this farrier, once I had one that was sore next day after trim and for several days. I let him know his next trip out. And anytime something looks off, I ask him about it....hey what's that it doesn't look right type of question (non confrontational).
He has never had an issue with me asking. He corrects and moves on...they are human after all.
If there is soreness after a trim and you don't mention it to the farrier, how's he going to know he went a little too short?
|
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Just be honest with them. Sure it'll hurt at first but maybe it will help him realize he isn't doing something right and will save a few other horses feet who have owners that don't know the difference in a good trim and a bad trim.
I use a family friend for both of mine. We have a very honest and open communication line. |
|
| |
|
 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I'm Sure your not the first one that has moved on from useing him, just tell him the truth that he refused to changed the way he trimed and your horses were sore.. Good farriers will work with you and your horses, but since he didnt then it was time to move on. |
|
| |
|
 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | My awesome farrier had to move back to the Ozarks this month and I'm lost. He did recommend a shoer friend and if I'm not happy with him...I'm done and I'll send my horse to my sister. I just can't deal with the shoer stuff again. Took too long to find him and I don't have the heart to hunt for another one again. |
|
| |
Folks on-line