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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
  
Location: NC | Why is it the few farriers I've used have started out wonderful, and then as time goes on start getting cruddy?!?!
Literally have been using the same farrier for at least year and half. Well my mare pulled her front shoe today. Must have been playing in her paddock and found it sitting on the side. This would be the 2nd time in 2 weeks she pulled it. And its only been 3 weeks since she was shod. The first time i was lunging her and she pulled it with bell boots on(thought it was because arena is very deep and not dragged, boarding) . Ive never had these issues in the 3 1/2 years ive owned her and never had this with my gelding (10+yrs). Took a good look at her feet today and low and behold her feet are totally uneven!! We are going to a clinic thurs, so would like to ride before! (wanted to ride this weekend but had a tooth pulled) Of course hes not answering his texts about when he can come.
The other thing i dont understand is all winter she kept shoes on, and she get a bit, uh, hyper in the winter. But yet one jump in her paddock and she pulls it.
Sorry for the long vent, but would like to just ride after the yucky winter!! (can post pics of her feet from the side if anyone wants to see) |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | I don't know.... But I do try to spoil my farriers so that they are less grumpy about pulled shoes and emergency calls. I bring weather-appropriate drinks (coffee, hot cocoa, soda, water, whatever) and usually a snack of some sort. I also always try to pay them in cash, especially for emergency calls. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
Location: NC | Sorry meant to add hes always paid cash on time. Im always there holding the horses, getting gates. I would love to offer him stuff but i board and usually i dont remember to grab on the way out the door. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | Same here! For 15 years!!! got sloppy. after nagging and nagging open the heels, cut the toes, his angles are off, shoes are too small no heel support. I used to work at a vet clinic. I do a lot of reading and research,I'm no dummy! I could tell he would get aggervated with me. I was just exhausted with him and done! If he can't be a compitent professional fire him!  |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| What I find is some farriers people think are the cats meow actually aren't.
These farriers leave the toe a little long each trim or reset creating problems after 3-4 trims/resets under slung heels contracted heels don't happen over night.
Also in the slop I have had amazing farriers loose shoes because they rasp off their cliches, where I live I need the clinches to be left, this at be one of the problems.
As for unbalanced most farriers use their eye and don't use a level, don't measure and don't measure angles.
In the same breath your horse may not be unbalanced to her body, she may sill be hitting the ground level.
Depending on how often you have reset in the past may also contribute to crappy feet, according to barefoot a horse should be trimmed every 4 weeks, most farriers will reset every 6 and if you have stretched it out to every 8, then you are just as responsible for the feet.
It is not the amount of foot they take off each time, you actually don't want them taking off much as it changes the angle drastically you want short enough intervals to keep the foot in descent shape and good angles. Yes it will be more expensive, but it can stop all the negative effects your horse will experience ie arthritis, tendon issues, contracted heels, etc
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| C'mon ladies .. admit you have made prima donnas out of your horse shoers by giving them tips, feeding them, giving gas allowances, paying outlandish prices and waiting on them all day to never show up... lol
Your employer pays you to show up on time, use your own gas and vehicle and contribute to his business without any daily perks thrown in.
I have never met a horse shoer that agreed with the way the previous shoer had
shod the horse and always want to do some major changes with extra charges or
causes issues with your horses feet.
Be aware that horse shoers get sloppy and most fail to fit the shoe to the horses foot
but will rasp the toe, heel or hoof face off to fit the shoe.
When a horse starts pulling his shoes off .. you know that the turnover of the front hoof does not match the turnover rate of the rear hoof or the shoe's trailers are sticking out the back of the front hoof too far or both. Your bell boots will not prevent this .. they are there only to reduce the damage on the heel by taking some of the impact when the horse overreaches.
I have the same problems with horse shoers even though I try to refresh their memories on each horse when they start shoeing to the point of complimenting them to keep horse setup exactly as they see him because he now has no problems ... and I must admit ... it is all in vain ... lol ..
Keep in mind when shoers charge $80-125 per shoeing one horse per hour ... two horses per day gives them a much higher paycheck than they would make working for a company for 8 hours per day. So, two is all they are motivated to do.
I have one shoer I can coerce into doing 4 hoses on a visit .. he has learned to announce on his arrival that he has to take wife to the doctor or kid to ballgame at
a certain time when he arrives ... .. we are now down to him doing only 3 horses .. lol
Start treating your shoer like you do your husband and make him get his act together!!.. lol ..
I have always laughed when I see this picture story ...>>>>>>>>
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2015-04-05 10:56 PM
 (FARRIER HOOKER.jpg)
Attachments
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 FARRIER HOOKER.jpg (71KB - 182 downloads)
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Haha! That meme is great. I enjoy reading these posts. I need to learn more!!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| My farrier was great until he got a new girlfriend. After pulling a no show and putting me off he is now on his last strike. I AM ALWAYS here opening the gates, holding horses and he's paid in full as soon as he's done and I schedule my next appt before he leaves. I have 6 horses and split them 3 and 3 a few weeks apart so it's easier on my budget. I also got him the race horse farm I work at where he only has to trim the broodmares, yearlings and foals. He makes a nice little chunk of change. I understand him being late on days I'm not first on the books bc things happen at other barns that can put him behind or traffic. However the lack of communication and the rescheduling bs that he's been pulling lately is not ok. I'm freaking paying him to come and I will not put up with a crappy attitude or poor workmanship. I'm a very simple client, nothing special unless I have an injury or something and I always compensate. Needless to say he's on my last nerve! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
Location: NC | cheryl makofka - 2015-04-05 10:33 PM
What I find is some farriers people think are the cats meow actually aren't.
These farriers leave the toe a little long each trim or reset creating problems after 3-4 trims/resets under slung heels contracted heels don't happen over night.
Also in the slop I have had amazing farriers loose shoes because they rasp off their cliches, where I live I need the clinches to be left, this at be one of the problems.
As for unbalanced most farriers use their eye and don't use a level, don't measure and don't measure angles.
In the same breath your horse may not be unbalanced to her body, she may sill be hitting the ground level.
Depending on how often you have reset in the past may also contribute to crappy feet, according to barefoot a horse should be trimmed every 4 weeks, most farriers will reset every 6 and if you have stretched it out to every 8, then you are just as responsible for the feet.
It is not the amount of foot they take off each time, you actually don't want them taking off much as it changes the angle drastically you want short enough intervals to keep the foot in descent shape and good angles. Yes it will be more expensive, but it can stop all the negative effects your horse will experience ie arthritis, tendon issues, contracted heels, etc
This is the issues. He used to be very meticulous in his work. IE check angles. Know its the complete opposite. If you dont mind cheryl i would like to pm you the side pics of her feet and get your opinion on them please?
He does 2 horses every time he comes out.And for a full set of shoes its 150 a horse. Both horses are fully shod, so he makes 300 right there.
I do know that partially its my fault since this winter he wasnt able to come out on a good sched (live in the northeast, and we are not allowed to use the barn on the property we board at. horses are in run-ins and he has to shoe them on the driveway). But she pulled a shoe in dec as well and at that point they were on a 6 week sched. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
Location: NC | iloveequine40 - 2015-04-06 5:40 AM
My farrier was great until he got a new girlfriend. After pulling a no show and putting me off he is now on his last strike. I AM ALWAYS here opening the gates, holding horses and he's paid in full as soon as he's done and I schedule my next appt before he leaves. I have 6 horses and split them 3 and 3 a few weeks apart so it's easier on my budget. I also got him the race horse farm I work at where he only has to trim the broodmares, yearlings and foals. He makes a nice little chunk of change. I understand him being late on days I'm not first on the books bc things happen at other barns that can put him behind or traffic. However the lack of communication and the rescheduling bs that he's been pulling lately is not ok. I'm freaking paying him to come and I will not put up with a crappy attitude or poor workmanship. I'm a very simple client, nothing special unless I have an injury or something and I always compensate. Needless to say he's on my last nerve!
My guy still hasnt answered my text from yesterday about what time today please. He answered when i sent him a pic and showed hi the shoe but not answering when. (nevermind he literally just texted me with a time for this afternoon.) My gelding will stand there perfect, my mares a turd sometimes but nothing dangerous.
Its very frustrating im sure for you!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? |
I have had the same issue with "Farrier Drift" in the past. Great guy did a nice job for several years...then I think something happened and he just began phoning it in. Honestly he wasn't hungry any more. He used to be the breadwinner for his family while his wife took care of the young kiddo. But once she went back to work full time...he just became less motivated I think.
I'm sooo fortunate now that my fiance is an excellent farrier. But he only does our horses. He didn't want to be a farrier for a living...just went to school to be good at it for his and his family's horses. He has a career that he enjoys more.
It can be tough to find a skilled farrier that takes pride in every hoof he works on. And they can sure get burn out as well.
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Just had the same issue. I switched to a lady farrier and she also rides regularly so that changes things because she knows having thrown shoes and lame horses for extra days doesn't work |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I am lucky- I love my farriers (team of 2 guys). Ive been using the older member of the team for 15 years. He now is getting older and works with the second guy due to some physical ailments.
Both are good farriers and good men. I am lucky.
Id say (not knowing you), to talk to him about your concerns and treat him like a fellow human being. Make sure your horses behave and are clean, dry, and ready to go when he arrives. Try calling him and talking to him on the phone instead of texting. If things have been good until now, perhaps he made a mistake this time. Not a good thing, but people aren't perfect.
If if those things don't or have not improved anything, find someone new. Btw, don't badmouth the old farrier to the new one... Chances are, they know each other and/or are friends, and it makes you look bad. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | BARRELHORSE USA - 2015-04-05 9:29 PM C'mon ladies .. admit you have made prima donnas out of your horse shoers by giving them tips, feeding them, giving gas allowances, paying outlandish prices and waiting on them all day to never show up... lol Your employer pays you to show up on time, use your own gas and vehicle and contribute to his business without any daily perks thrown in. I have never met a horse shoer that agreed with the way the previous shoer had shod the horse and always want to do some major changes with extra charges or causes issues with your horses feet. Be aware that horse shoers get sloppy and most fail to fit the shoe to the horses foot but will rasp the toe, heel or hoof face off to fit the shoe. When a horse starts pulling his shoes off .. you know that the turnover of the front hoof does not match the turnover rate of the rear hoof or the shoe's trailers are sticking out the back of the front hoof too far or both. Your bell boots will not prevent this .. they are there only to reduce the damage on the heel by taking some of the impact when the horse overreaches. I have the same problems with horse shoers even though I try to refresh their memories on each horse when they start shoeing to the point of complimenting them to keep horse setup exactly as they see him because he now has no problems ... and I must admit ... it is all in vain ... lol .. Keep in mind when shoers charge $80-125 per shoeing one horse per hour ... two horses per day gives them a much higher paycheck than they would make working for a company for 8 hours per day. So, two is all they are motivated to do. I have one shoer I can coerce into doing 4 hoses on a visit .. he has learned to announce on his arrival that he has to take wife to the doctor or kid to ballgame at a certain time when he arrives ... .. we are now down to him doing only 3 horses .. lol Start treating your shoer like you do your husband and make him get his act together!!.. lol .. I have always laughed when I see this picture story ...>>>>>>>>
This is why I am glad my hubby does my horses. Granted, they stay barefoot most of the time and really only where shoes maybe 3-4 months out of the year. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | I've ben through a few farriers in my time... mostly due to moves for school or work but some due to quality and its never cool.. always takes forever to find a good reputable one - and when you find em you hold on to em tight! LOL.. Right now i have some good ones close by so its nice. The gentleman i use for trims has been great and takes his time - but i dont use him for shoes just trims when they are barefoot.. When i shoe i use another guy who shoes NFR horses and thankfully is very good.. just pricey.. thankfully all of my horses are barefoot right now and doing well without shoes - hard to believe! So i'm gonna keep em that way til they need shoes long as i can.. but i am very particular on angles and trims - no hoof no horse! I wouldn't hesitate to not use one again or tell one to stop mid-job if i thought they couldn't do the job right - i've had lame horses from bad shoeing jobs and kinda feel like we are the only voice for our horse and we are the one paying for it so it better be done right and with kindness to the horses.. wont tolerate a mean farrier. Keeping one in line is one thing but no one is gonna wail on my horse or jab em.. esp if i am paying 150 bucks an hour. My doctor doesn't even make that much off an office visit ;) |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Racer4eva - 2015-04-06 6:56 AM
cheryl makofka - 2015-04-05 10:33 PM
What I find is some farriers people think are the cats meow actually aren't.
These farriers leave the toe a little long each trim or reset creating problems after 3-4 trims/resets under slung heels contracted heels don't happen over night.
Also in the slop I have had amazing farriers loose shoes because they rasp off their cliches, where I live I need the clinches to be left, this at be one of the problems.
As for unbalanced most farriers use their eye and don't use a level, don't measure and don't measure angles.
In the same breath your horse may not be unbalanced to her body, she may sill be hitting the ground level.
Depending on how often you have reset in the past may also contribute to crappy feet, according to barefoot a horse should be trimmed every 4 weeks, most farriers will reset every 6 and if you have stretched it out to every 8, then you are just as responsible for the feet.
It is not the amount of foot they take off each time, you actually don't want them taking off much as it changes the angle drastically you want short enough intervals to keep the foot in descent shape and good angles. Yes it will be more expensive, but it can stop all the negative effects your horse will experience ie arthritis, tendon issues, contracted heels, etc
This is the issues. He used to be very meticulous in his work. IE check angles. Know its the complete opposite. If you dont mind cheryl i would like to pm you the side pics of her feet and get your opinion on them please?
He does 2 horses every time he comes out.And for a full set of shoes its 150 a horse. Both horses are fully shod, so he makes 300 right there.
I do know that partially its my fault since this winter he wasnt able to come out on a good sched (live in the northeast, and we are not allowed to use the barn on the property we board at. horses are in run-ins and he has to shoe them on the driveway ). But she pulled a shoe in dec as well and at that point they were on a 6 week sched.
Feel free to message me the photos, and I can give you my opinion |
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  Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | This is why I stopped having my horses shod 6 yrs. ago...I have the best natural trimmer and he knows as much about anatomy (or more) as a vet...he does clinics to show people on cadaver feet and legs how the correct trim vs shoeing affects the coffin bone, which pre-disposes a horse to navicular....it does take nearly a year to get the natural cup in a properly trimmed hoof and get them acclimated and tough, but they actually have better traction barrefoot and can feel the ground better...I have Cavallo boots when I'm on concrete or rocks.....plus, it only costs me $40 per horse every 6 weeks, and he's taught me to do it myself, but I would have to be hard up to do it myself...lol....my horse's feet are awesome..... I kissed those $!@&!# shoers good riddance!!!  |
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 boon
Posts: 2
| My dad is a farrier and he shoes at 7 reining and reined cow horse barns (Idaho, Wyoming and Montana). There are always horses to do at these barns and when he leaves they cut him a check. He can shoe 8 horses a day mostly, in a heated or air conditioned barn (depending on season) and know exactly when those horses are due and make a schedule out of it. He has mostly quit shoeing for people that have one or two horses because it is a pain to drive out of the way to shoe one horse. Most of those people have just started hauling to him at the barns.
What I'm trying to get at is maybe he is grumpy and in a hurry because he is driving out of the way for one horse. Maybe open communication some more?
It might also help to learn how to tack on shoes. I've learned to shoe my own horses, its kind of that whole thing about "The shoe makers kids run around barefoot".
It is a useful skill to be able to put on a shoe in a hurry or when you are away from home or your farrier is busy.
Also maybe your horse does not grow that much hoof so he is using old nail holes or she has weak hoof walls that make it hard to get the shoes on good and stay on. |
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 Constantly Dieting
Posts: 5721
Location: Down the Gravel Road near the Missouri River, SD | I'll spoil mine to an extent..I drive 3 hours for my appts because I dont trust anyone else to do the work. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | My take is I pay for the service, I pay cash, I pay promptly, I do not cancel appointments, I hold my own horses and I am at the farrier's beck and call. I expect the same respect from my farrier. It's a a job they are taking money to do so do it and be professional. I know my horses, I share the information with my farrier and I expect him to share his with me. Not just assume that he knows better. I am very easy to get along with as long as the lines of communication are open on both ends. I do not want to learn how to trim or shoe my horse, that's what I pay someone else to do. All I can say to some farriers is that if you do not want to do the job, please don't take the client on, if you do then do you best job. |
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