Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Do you tip your farrier?

28 replies

Muhwanda · 14/08/2023 10:39

Just that really, I often feel like I should, but I don’t cos it’s a bit awkward. My horse is well behaved, but we don’t have great facilities - no cover etc, so can be a bit exposed. Just wondered what everyone else does!

OP posts:
Mrswalliams1 · 14/08/2023 10:41

My farrier is excellent but at £50 for fronts and £85 for a set, no way would I tip.

Mrswalliams1 · 14/08/2023 10:42

P.s I've never tipped a farrier and don't know anybody that does

CherryogDog · 14/08/2023 10:43

A box of beer at Christmas.

Original poster
Muhwanda · 14/08/2023 10:49

Thanks both, no one at our yard does either. For some reason as I hand over the cash I always feel like I should be- but I never actually have 🤣

OP posts:
Lastqueenofscotland2 · 14/08/2023 10:54

With the prices they charge… absolutely not!

Original poster
Muhwanda · 14/08/2023 11:04

I know what you mean @Lastqueenofscotland2 but I also think it’s quite fair, it’s back breaking work - throw in a difficult horse / demanding owners etc and also the ongoing training for it all.

OP posts:
CountryCob · 14/08/2023 12:25

I've never tipped a farrier, to be considerate though I don't mess about with appointments if at all possible or expect a pulled shoe back on if next full set is in a week and I have no events on. Young horses I will have help with and do ground work picking up feet before I ask them to. I hold and try to help with anything difficult. Pay and try to be ready on time and have water bucket available for hot shoeing without having to ask. Knot up tail so don't get swiped. Listen to their advice and take it if any issues. It does help there that I really respect my farriers opinion. In winter towel down feet, try to pick put before they start, have towels ready. Try to find something undercover if weather rubbish. Coffee/ juice and snacks and say thank you. It is a difficult job but horses are, there are lots of ways to show you appreciate their work

Shadowboy · 14/08/2023 13:11

No! I have 4 to do so end up paying £180 (he already charged £5 for travel on top)
I have 3 trims and one full set.

he’s done within 1hour to 1hour and 30min so it’s not like a huge job for a tip

PaperDoves · 14/08/2023 19:34

No, it has never occurred to me to tip and I don't know anyone who does!

ToughFuss · 14/08/2023 19:37

Nope! I buy him a box of beer at Christmas and occasionally send him home with a cake I’ve made but no, I wouldn’t tip, he charges appropriately without that.

catin8oots · 14/08/2023 19:42

No

eveoha · 14/08/2023 20:04

No wonder Gavin Cromwell stopped working as a farrier 🙄

TodayInahurry · 15/08/2023 17:41

We are lucky to have a lovely, fantastic farrier. We pay £110 every 6 weeks. I give him a bottle at Xmas. No tipping

Express0 · 15/08/2023 20:46

Nope. He already gets enough money out of me 😂

backinthebox · 16/08/2023 14:49

At £120 per set, with a new set every 5 weeks, no. I do not tip my farrier. He charges professional fees, and I treat and pay him as a professional expert.

liveforsummer · 17/08/2023 19:59

Nope, pretty sure he's just putting the cash in his back pocket anyway so much of the huge cost is a tip 😅

Pleasedontdothat · 18/08/2023 07:16

I’ve never tipped a farrier - they’re self-employed professionals setting their own rates. It’d be a bit like tipping an accountant..

frostyfingers · 18/08/2023 15:02

I don’t tip mine but do as @CountryCob does which means we have an excellent working relationship. He’s brilliant with advice and emergency call outs - one time my horse twisted his shoe off and stood on it and I couldn’t budge it (on a Sunday of course), - his response, hold the foot up if you can I’ll be there asap, and he was with us in 20 minutes. Next time your farrier comes have a chat if you’ve time about the cost of materials - they’re eye watering and it goes a long way to explain the price of a visit.

Eyesopenwideawake · 19/08/2023 13:47

My barefoot trimmer has been with me for 11 years. I gave him a sandwich once, does that count?!

Cinnamongirlinthesand · 19/08/2023 18:14

Never but he is supplied with plentiful tea, bacon sarnies and cake.
More importantly, horses legs/hooves were always dry and mud free.

KMA2023 · 19/08/2023 21:30

How middle class is this thread 😀
My farrier accepts a packet of penguins.

Original poster
Muhwanda · 21/08/2023 11:45

🤣 thanks all. We have no facilities where we are, that being said I do make sure legs are clean and dry, horse is well behaved (apart from that time the hunt came by 😬🫣), and I don’t mess appointments around. But I can’t offer tea / biscuits / sandwiches which I think is partly why I feel I should tip!

(I have met up with my farrier socially though so they can’t be too miffed with me 🤞)

OP posts:
PriamFarrl · 21/08/2023 11:51

My dad was a farrier as never had cash tips, however he frequently came home with boxes of eggs from one farm. Lots of places would have him in for a cup of tea and piece of cake and he’d often bring home cakes. Eventually he specialised in donkeys, and he would often come home with cakes, pies and other treats from the donkey owners.

Some places would pay him in kind. (This was a long time ago now). One farm would pay him in cheese which he would then sell to his friend who owned the village shop. Another would pay him in beer as they owned a brewery.

Lobelia123 · 21/08/2023 12:04

Please dont start this nonsense! They are professionals who train hard and build their practice providing a service, not servers or bar personnel on minimum wage. I think my farrier would fire me if I tried to tip him, he would be incredibly insulted. Offer a drink, or buy a thank you gift at Christmas, but really the best thing you could do is keep it professional and pay on time!

FanFckingTastic · 22/08/2023 16:01

My farrier is brilliant. He's reliable, always on time, and is great with my horses including my very nervous warmblood. He really takes his time to settle the horses, and does a great job on them. He picks up the phone to me, even if I phone on a Sunday when my horse has a foot abscess and I need him to come out and take a look. I always make a him a cuppa when he's out and when I pay I never take the change that he tries to give me.

I would tip a hairdresser if I felt they did a good job so I don't see why a farrier would be a different. A good Farrier is worth their weight in gold as far as I'm concerned.