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Post by wabuska on Dec 22, 2008 16:55:44 GMT 1
I am sick to the back teeth of waiting for farriers. They won't give me an appointment, it takes a week to ten days to get one here, and they never answer my texts.
I pay on time. I'm polite, reliable, don't interfere.
Why is it so hard to be reasonable?! My current farrier is a lovely guy, but I've been long fingered since last monday, he's let me down on Friday and Saturday and here I sit waiting on a promise to be here today.
What am I doing wrong!?
Ten days riding gone since losing a shoe last Friday week.
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Post by Casper on Dec 22, 2008 16:59:29 GMT 1
How frustrating. We are really lucky with both our farrier and our trimmer. Both are really reliable, usually early rather than late and are ace with the horses. When Bobby lost a shoe the day before the Fun Ride Ed took him on a couple of months ago our farrier let us take him to his place on a Sunday morning to have the shoe replaced so they could still do the ride.
We did have one farrier like yours when we first had Bobby but soon gave him his marching orders. The welfare of the horse has to come first and the guy was incredibly unreliable.
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babycham
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Post by babycham on Dec 22, 2008 17:02:52 GMT 1
I used to have a farrier that would make arrangements for a certain day , then turned up a few days later. But as i was on a private yard, and work full time, he used to get upset that i wasnt there!!
I now have a brilliant farrier. He is ALWAYS on time, give and take 10 mins. But always calls to say he will be 10 mins late.
But i do know how you feel, as nothing worse than waiting around all day, after pre booking, and he arrives as and when, with out a call or text.Its not like they get paid pennies either!!
I guess many times its when they arrive at a yard, and they say "while your her can you just do??" not giving a thought for the clients waiting patiently at another yard!
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Post by wabuska on Dec 22, 2008 17:16:33 GMT 1
Well, I got rid of two others for just this sort of thing. One was too busy and it was amicable, but the last one, I simply wanted to kill by the time we parted. This guy knows how I feel about using the mobile, and I told him why I let the last farrier go despite his superb work. There's no time given, just a day or area of the week. It's bloomin' maddening.
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Post by lilaclomax on Dec 22, 2008 17:23:30 GMT 1
I have just 'sacked' mine today! He is always late if he actually turns up at all and today was due at 9am, I had to leave at 11.15am when he still had not shown up.. at least we have another reliable farrier on the yard so he has now got my business!
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Post by wabuska on Dec 22, 2008 17:27:58 GMT 1
I'm actually afraid to do that Lila as we don't have many guys working around here and they are all over-subscribed. If this guy doesn't come soon, my heart will leave my chest. It's Christmas, I've things to do, I have a bored four year old who might like to go out and here we sit AGAIN!
What are mobile phones for FFS!
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Post by sara on Dec 22, 2008 17:31:33 GMT 1
THats really frustrating. I book my next farrier appointment when Lloyd is shod, so 6 weeks in advance. He does turn up on time. The latest he has ever been is 30 mins, but rang me beforehand to let me know he would be late
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Post by lilaclomax on Dec 22, 2008 17:47:51 GMT 1
I hate waiting around which is why we always go for the first appointment, we offer drinks and biscuits, have a toilet on site and the horses are always dry, ready and waiting with a bucket of water ready too! The appointments are booked 8 weeks in advance and we have 2 sessions so lost shoes can be put on at the same time without calling him out for a one off appointment... but when he is late his mobile isn't answered and I cannot count the number of excuses for not turning up at all, he must be one of the world's unluckiest people! The biggest bugbear though is he is good and a friendly guy too but as I return to work in a few weeks I need someone who is reliable... arrrggggghhh - steam rising from my ears!!
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Post by chrissiew on Dec 22, 2008 17:49:19 GMT 1
My farrier always turns up 20 minutes early for appointments (but never gets ratty about waiting till the alloted time, but is happy to start early if its convenient).
My trimmer when Mins was barefoot was also always on time.
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Post by loullou on Dec 22, 2008 18:06:08 GMT 1
mine is a nightmare. hes a nice guy but pinning him down to a time is an absolute nightmare...he was almost 2 hours late this time. i now call him 15 minutes before the actual time of the appointment and see what the ETA is....
it usually takes a few days of texting and calling to get the actual appointment although we have taken to booking him in advance which helps a little on the day..if not the time..
so so frustrating. i think if i had my life again i would be a farrier as clearly they have more business than they can deal with!!
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Post by arabmania on Dec 22, 2008 18:17:52 GMT 1
Kanga i really dont think its anything that you're doing wrong. The majority of farriers that i have come across over the years have had the exact same attitude. If you get a good, reliable one, who will also get out to you on an emergency these days, then you are extremely lucky indeed. Maybe its because they know that they are in demand and customer care doesn't seem to be their priority ? who knows I am fortunate enough to have an extremely reliable and curteous EP, who not only shows up on time but also answers texts, emails and the phone straight away ;D
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Post by ruthp on Dec 22, 2008 18:20:42 GMT 1
Oh Kanga, I do feel for you. Where I used to live it was exactly like this - not enough farriers to go round, and therefore they could afford to treat their clients like what they find on the shoes....
Now I'm afraid I'm feeling smug.... I've known my current farrier for 9 years - he was the apprentice of my previous farrier who has now retired, and was a stickler for timekeeping and manners. Current farrier always turns up 30 mins before the time he says, and over the past few months hasn't batted an eyelid when I've had to ask him to get them in for me as my arm was in plaster. Great service.
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Post by wabuska on Dec 22, 2008 18:28:30 GMT 1
I'm hoping he comes tonight as I want a full frank discussion about his 'ideal client'. I'm curious to know what the ideal procedure is from his point of view (teeth set grimly here). I texted three times this week, twice today and called and got nothing having had him agree to come last eight days ago for Friday. I have a heart murmur and I can't take stress, so I'm focusing on cooking etc. Honestly. Thanks for the feedback. Sometimes I think I'm some sort of errant nutter. Flynn has a front shoe off already.
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Post by Pauline on Dec 22, 2008 18:33:58 GMT 1
I always take mine to the forge.
I am able to ring up on a Monday and normally get an appointment within a day or two, but always that week. If I loss a shoe (that is very rare) I can take them down that day.
As I go to the forge it is easy to change things such as pads, nonslip nails or pins etc.
This year I have had a lot of problems with my car so the farrier that comes to my yard and shoes my friends horse has been doing mine.
I have never had a probvlem with my present farrier and I have been going to the forge for over 15 years.
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Post by wabuska on Dec 22, 2008 18:46:53 GMT 1
I am going to look into a forge. I have no idea if there is one around here, but I have a box, so what an excellent idea Pauline.
I GOT HIM ON THE PHONE (PROBABLY BY MISTAKE AS HE'S BEEN DODGING ME) AND HE SAID HE CAN'T COME UNTIL TOMORROW! WHAT DID I say........
Crawl, Crawl.... 'ooh you poor thing you do sound tired, but if you need to make it tomorrow don't worry about it. Do take care of yourself dear.'
WHAT A COMPLETE TWIT................ and I don't mean the farrier. OMG.
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