If your farrier did this to you...

[minie812]

We have a BIG horse farrier and he has been showing John how-to on our minis. He really does not like to do the minis because he is so tall and they are so mini. Anyway I got John the Barracuda nippers for a present and we did six minis in nothing flat. John is trying to design an electric hoist for raising them up to a comfortable level for grooming-trimmings and such.

 

[Contessa]

I have had minis for only one year and I am on my third farrier. The first one was an assistant to a farrier (he couldn't come because a Belgium jerked his back) who actually did a good job. I was going to keep him but he went to Wyoming to visit his sister and never came back! The second one was just too large and old to work on minis plus he charged me extra for gas and added tax to my bill. I also didn't like idea that he lived in a city apartment. The one I have now is wonderful. He is certified and trying to get his business going so he can quit his day job and become a full time farriar. He even sent us a Christmas card-how sweet! He lives on a farm and has 3 horses of his own. If anyone lives in the south central area of PA and is looking for a good farrier PM me and I will give you his name and number. He lives just outside of York but will travel to build up his client list. He charges $25 per mini as did the other two I had.

 

[Fred]

Shoot him! I can understand being late on occasion as sometimes I get a difficult horse thrown in the mix and it can make me late but you don't do stuff like this. I don't have a "full grown" apprentice [my 11 year old Courtney is my apprentice]. You don't ever lie to your clients no matter what. I have a lot of "open ended" appointments which means I do the horse when I am in the area and I don't have to wait for the owner. If I make an appointment I try my best to make it or call if I can't. Mistakes can happen and I can't tell you how many clients have FORGOTTEN appointments but this is a case of lying to a client.

 

[Diana]

We love our farrier, she is the best (FRED) and her assistant is great with the babies. Always there for her appoints and yes once in a while a bit late but always a phone call to say she is running late. Horses love her to.

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

WOW--I think some of the farriers up my way need to spead out and move to other states! In our area it seems like every time you go to town or a feed mill, you hear about another new farrier. I could probably name about 10 in a 25 mile radius of me. Definitely not saying they are all good ones. My farrier is great with my minis, I never need to make a appointment with him...and I dont get charged, but his normal fee is $25.00. He is a very close friend of mine, and definitely worth his weight in gold, when it comes to my horses. He stops in to visit quit often, and if I am in the barn and he sees someone needs to be done , he just goes and gets a lead ties them on and trims. This particular farrier is in high demand around here because he also works with my vet and does corrective work, gaited horses (weighted shoes) plus most of the 4-H horses, so I do feel very special that he takes time out to do my minis.

 

[Riverdance]

I have had a lot of trouble geting a good farrier too. You get one, they work for you for a while, they are hard to get a hold of and then they get some jobs at big stables and riding facilities and then you can not get them anymore. They are too busy. So then you try another and another, but they can not do a very good job. Many farriers just do not like doing Mini's as they are so small. I spoke to one who hated doing ponys because they are so mean and equated my Mini's to pony's even though I told him I had trained my Minis to let me do their feet sitting down on a stool.

Anyway, I learned how to do my own Mini's feet and I must say, I am getting pretty good at it. I had a good farrier show me what to do and there are some classes that you can take. You do need to buy good expensive equipment to do it right, but at least now they are getting done!

As for your farrier, if he pulled that again, I would be looking for another one. He too has probably decided he did not want to do Mini's. what about his assistant? You may want to try hiring him.

 

[CKC]

I feel your pain. We had a farrier that was working on our horses for years. He started lieing.. saying almost the same things as your farrier. He worked on my QH mare a few days later she came up lame. We called and told him what the vet said... we've never heard from him again. Everytime he was here he would say.. oh I'll never not work on your horses(he was dropping clients in our area) and he kept telling us he was charging us way less than anyone else(giving us a deal). I had gotten 3 barns for him and he did this to us. I was supposed to take my QH gelding to a training barn last June. Found out he was their farrier. Well, that and some other reasons made me cancel that training. I don't want him anywhere near my horses.

I have a new wonderful farrier. He charges $40 a horse. I have 11(9 miniatures) horses. My husband has now started working on the minis. The last time the farrier was out here he told my husband that between the minis/ponies and drafts it makes it very difficult to work. Since doing the minis my husband says it really is hard on your back.

 

[CritterCountry]

I ditched a farrier that did this to me. He made appointments, then stood me up. Making me stay home all day for nothing. I would call and he would ignore the phone. So I found another farrier and he is wonderful! I am so glad I switched.

It is hard when they are in short supply..in your case I would learn to do my own.

 

[MyFriendFlicker]

I'm very sad that the best farrier I've ever seen is in Vero Beach, Fl...and I'm in TX.

Oh, how I wish he were closer. The guy is incredible and has a heart of gold. And, to my amusement, he's the kindest man to 95% of people, but gets some serious sass with those few who believe they are the queens of the Horseland and that all shall bow to them. He totally 'rocks.'

I'm really sorry you had to deal with this nonsense from your farrier. If you otherwise like him, I'd confront him about it and perhaps insist better treatment. Or, maybe it's best to part ways and start looking for someone else.

I feel terrible for the good farriers. It's so hard for them to make a decent living in most parts of the country.

And....added by my 3 yr old --->

OH!

 

[Sue S]

I have 12 minis and 7 big horses, are big horses we take to an Amish farrier, he charges around $100.00

for 4 horses, he does a great job, for our minis we have a lady come out, she charges around $10.00 per horse and she is excellent with them.