WWYD - Farrier?

[asasa]

I have a brilliant farrier, he's good with my horse & does a fab job of shoeing him. However, whenever I text him recently (the last 6 months or so) to book in I don't get a response for days. Normally this isn't a huge problem, just annoying, but my horse has lost a shoe and I really need it putting back on ASAP as I have our first proper dressage comp Sunday that I really don't want to miss.
I sent him a message first thing yesterday morning and still not had a response, plus I'm not around much from thurs so will have to be awkward when he comes (usually I can manage whatever time I'm given so am easy to book in).

So do I risk waiting for a response or do I give him today then get in contact with another farrier who I've used before and know will shoe my horse well? (Used the other farrier as mine was off ill for an extended period, so customers had to make alternative arrangements - some went back to using him when he came back in to work, others didn't)

[frostyfingers]

If he can't be bothered to respond at all, then you should have no guilt about going elsewhere. You've given him a chance and if he hasn't come back to you that's his problem not yours. You could always try ringing him first but if you're in a hurry I would contact the other farrier anyway.

I'm afraid there's no excuse in not getting back to you - my farrier does all his contact by text and replies within a couple of hours/half a day which is great.

In the end you're the paying customer - don't forget that!

[craggyhollow]

I did this

I had Super Farrier(TM) the one EVERYONE had darling

he could never be bothered to ring back, was a nightmare

felt no guilt at all about going elsewhere and told him why

in the end I found a lovely, less whizzy farrier with an even nicer wife who books me in and always rings back. He's cheaper too

[Lovelybunchofcocopops]

If you can find another farrier who is reliable, good with the horses and does a good job then ditch the current one.
You are the customer, take your custom to someone else!

Thankfully I have had a brilliant farrier for many many years who ticks all of the right boxes, but I went thru a few before I found him!

[asasa]

Well I've still not heard for my usual farrier so dropped the other one a text. Hopefully he'll get back to me and then I think I'll stick with him.

[frostyfingers]

I know it's easy to text, but sometimes if you're in a bit of a hurry a phone call gets a quicker result.......

[Pixel]

I had to text our last farrier as he had such a thick scottish accent I could never understand a word he said if I phoned him!

He was unreliable too and a complete big-head so we parted company and have a lovely farrier now. Shoes are one of the biggest costs of horse owning, you need someone you can rely on.

[asasa]

Well 2nd farrier has already got back to me and given me a time (still a bit longer than I'd like him to go with out a shoe on but the grounds soft and I wasn't planning on ridin this week anyway due to lack of time). Will be booking in with him for a full set of shoes when I see him as due in a few weeks anyway.

[WillowKnicks]

Had a bit of a shock, when I saw your post, as I could have written it myself...had to double check I hadn't lol.

I really rated my farrier & couldn't fault his work but it has seemed lately that he's got busier & busier & found it more difficult to fit me in & has gone from answering his phone or getting back within the hour to only being reachable by text & then sometimes a day or so later & then with vague "I'll try & fit you in" kind of responses.

I finally reached the decision I had to change, when he couldn't fit me in with 5 days notice & my dd needed her pony that weekend for an event that was really important to her.

I felt/feel awful & keep having to tell myself that I am the client & can use whoever I want but I came to the conclusion that horses are far too expensive to be stood in the field, doing nothing for want of a lost shoe!