Farrier Problems.. don’t know what to do next

[ThatBusyFish]

Does anyone else have difficulty retaining a reliable farrier?

I had the same farrier for 7 years but unfortunately he moved away and I’ve been having difficulty keeping one since. I found a new one and he came out twice as arranged but the last two times (consecutively) cancelled last minute. The first time he let me know the day before saying he had double booked, and the second time I texted him 2 hours before my appointment and he cancelled. He never got back to me with a new appointment so I engaged with another. The second farrier is very local and said how convenient I am location wise and more than happy to take us on as new clients, but the second time he was due to come he cancelled on me 2 hours before. My horses are now 3 weeks overdue with cracked hooves and still haven’t been given another appointment.

I’ve wondered if it to do with the fact that I keep my horses on my own private yard. However, There are 3 to do and I have hard standing, stables and lights so it’s not like they’re having to work in rain, mud or dark. I’m never late or keep the farrier waiting and I always pay cash on the day. My Horses are also saints to do and farriers always say they are a pleasure to do.

Has anyone else had this issue? I just don’t understand why you’d agree to take on a new client and then seem uninterested with my custom later down the line. Should I just ask if there is a problem and if I need to look elsewhere? Or is this normal? I understand cancellations will happen but it’s always very short notice. I’ve wondered if I should just stick it out and keep nagging for appointments or give up, find another and accept they just don’t want to do my horses for whatever reason.

sorry for ranting - but I’m worried I will have to give my horses up if this continues, as moving to a livery yard isn’t an option for me.

Sounds like you've been very unlucky.
I have a fab farrier. He'll trim them in the field, he'll trim them in the stables, he even helps me turn out afterwards!
I am very lucky in that I work from home and can therefore be very flexible. I just text him a week or so before I need him to come (mine are barefoot, so again, I can be more flexible with timing), and he fits me in when he is doing another client locally.

I also think you've been very unlucky. Just ask the local farrier for another appointment.

Ours is brilliant. Bang on time always. It helps that everyone on my yard uses him.

Go barefoot and do it yourself.

I also think you’ve been very unlucky. Our farrier is fabulous - he’s turned up at 10pm to sort out a lost shoe the night before a competition and hasn’t ever let us down. He works on ‘farrier time’ so when he says he’ll be here first thing I mentally block out the whole morning but I mostly work from home and manage my own diary so that’s not an issue. There are brilliant farriers around so it may just be a case of persevering with another one?

Mine was telling me they are facing a crisis in the profession & there are no new farriers coming in but many retiring & approaching retirement.

There was something to do with the examination & registration process (I can't remember exactly what it was) plus extortionate increases in costs, insurance etc. They have to take on more clients to make ends meet & the more clients they have the less flexible they can be to re-arrange etc.

There is definitely a shortage in some areas with farriers not able to take on any new clients.

It's worth asking around if you can box over to a large yard to have them done there. Racing yards will have their own resident farrier.

If that's not possible then offer to pay a call out or mileage fee to a farrier that takes you on.

What a fabulous idea, I’d never have thought of doing that. I know a yard owner quite well that’s only 5 miles up the road. May have found a solution, thank you 🙏