Need a new farrier, how do I tell him?

Question

so i think i need a new farrier, i'm not happy with my horses hooves. i've talked with him about the problems, but i think it's time to find someone else. so how do i tell him that i'm going with someone else? i don't want to burn any bridges, i just need to do what's best for my horse.

Answer 1

what I would do is just don't schedule another appt,call and cancel and if he asks say you don't want to make an appt now then never call again,he will prolly forget about you cause he has other clients...then you don't have to hurt any feelings or make anyone mad....

Answer 2

Don't say anything, just don't book another appointment with him.

Answer 3

Tell him you have a relative who became a farrier and you want to help him start out.

Tell him you are filing bankruptsy and can't pay him.

Call him and tell him you'll need a payment plan.

Hit him up for a loan.

Tell him your horse told his psychic he wants a new farrier.

Tell him you've just completed Farrier training and will be doing it yourself....then, if you ever need him back, you can fake a limp or bad back or whatever and say you need his help!

Of course, you could just say you want to go in a different direction with your horse's hoof maintenance, in which case bridges will be burned.

Answer 4

some farriers you have to ring up when you want them to come out so just don't ring back. he he, or jus ttell him straight if he's a pro he shouldn't take it to badly

GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

Ha! This is an old story in my area. It seems every Tom-d**k-and-Harry is a farrier around here, but most of them couldn't even find the back end of a horse if the tail hit them in the face.

The best way to tell him without burning bridges, tell him that your going to go barefoot for a while and will call him when you start riding again.

Now the not so nice way, is to tell him that he has not done one thing with your horses feet that you have asked and that you are going to use another farrier.

I don't always have good tact in these cases, I have no problem telling a farrier that I wont use him again and for what reason. I may hurt someones feelings but I am honest and strait forward, and I don't like to beat around the issue. I can shoe my own horse and do it as well as many farriers. I personally don't have the time to deal with 10 horses on my own. So I use a farrier from the race track. A race track farrier would probably be your best bet as a replacement farrier. They have seen more foot problem than many vets and will know good foot treatments for any problems that may arise.  You may pay a bit more, but you know the old saying. You get what you pay for.

Answer 6

tell your current farrier that his work does not meet your standards  and that you are sorry that you had to let him go

Answer 7

I have no tact when it comes to my horses feet. My last farrier in south dakota was great..when he'd show up...which was okay as he always called when he couldn't a day in advance...but when he didn't call and then showed up out of the blue 10 days later...forget it. Told him I would be alright without his services....grrrr. I will never let a farrier touch my horse without me being there.

Just be straight up with him. Tell him you aren't happy with the job and that you are going to try someone else.

Like you said...You need to do what is best for your horse.

Answer 8

If i needed a new farrier i would tell the previos one that you think he does a wonderful job but you would like someone more profecional.

Answer 9

Call your present farrier and tell him he's fired and you might give him a call if you change your mind.

He works for you does he not?

Answer 10

haha just dont ring him back AND if he turns up at your house tell him his not welcome. Thats what we did with my old farrier becoz if my horse didnt stand he would wack him over the head with the leadrope :(

Answer 11

There is an old saying that you cannot please every body all of the time. He could be the best farrier in the world but there will still be clients that he cannot get on with. As others have pointed out, if he is professional, he will take it on the chin, but you have to tell him. Do not just book another farrier and not tell him, there is nothing more infuriating than turning up to do a horse and find someone else has already done it! Honesty is the best policy, as when it boils down to it, the guy is in business. If it turns out to be a disaster there is nothing stopping you from calling him back, so long as you have been straight with him. Book another farrier, but please tell your current farrier that you are exploring another farriers work, as you are not 100% happy with your horse's feet and are looking for a second opinion. If you and the new farrier can see eye to eye, then you are on a winner, if not, hopefully your existing farrier will be more agreeable to listening to you. Good luck.

Answer 12

Say "Thank you for caring for my horse's hooves, but I'm actually exploring my options with other farriers at the moment, so if I need you in the future, I'll give you a call."

If he is a professional, he won't ask questions and will appreciate you giving him a heads up.

Answer 13

Are you at a barn of some type or is the horse on your private property?  If you're at a barn or stable with other horses, just tell him politely that another farrier your friend uses has offered the stable discounts if he does more horses at once, so you're going to give him a try and see if he works out.  If it's just your property and your horses, it might be trickier.  Perhaps you could say a friend reccommended a new farrier and you felt obligated to give him a chance.  That takes the focus off him and doesn't sound like a confrontation or accusation.

Answer 14

Just tell him thanks for your service but I think we're going to have to pass up on the next appointment because Im not quite fond of the work you do on the hooves. So I think were going to have to look for a new farrier. Im sorry and thanks for coming out here and shoing for us. and Im not trying to critisize your work.. But im just not comfortable with how the shoes are being put on so i apologise and thanks for your time. --- thats really all you can do.. don't worry so much about how they will take it.. its going to be your last time seeing him anyway.. make sure you wont need him again later though! good luck lol

Answer 15

Just say "I don't think this is working out and I found a couple of farriers I want to try out, but thank you a lot for helping out with my horses feet so far."

Answer 16

This is a good exercise in life.

Honesty is the best policy.  

Here's what I would do - I would call upon another farrier, have him out to see the horse(s) and see what his opinion is.

Sometimes the problem isn't the farrier's ability to trim but his ability to understand what you're trying to get him to understand.  Heck, some just trim the way they want and don't believe the owner knows what's right and wrong.

I would search for an AFA Certified farrier if possible, have him out and see what you think.

Then simply be honest - tell your current farrier that you've found a better fit with another farrier and will be switching.  It's your horse and your money.

If you find that he's upset and blabs to others about how awful you were when you were just being honest, then he's not of the respectful understanding type you need anyways (why do I feel like I'm talking to a friend about how to dump a boyfriend?  I guess it's a lot the same).  If he gets nasty, then how good was the relationship to begin with.

If he understands and he's smart - he'll just wait and if you need to call him back, he'll understand.  However, don't put yourself in the place to need him - find someone ya like and stick with him, keeping appts and a good relationship.

By all means, don't go blabbing to all your friends about how that farrier was awful.  What does that say about you?  If you'll say negative things and run that person down, you'll do it to anyone else - it doesn't show professionalism and respect it shows you are more interest in your own knowledge and ego.

The best thing to do is smile and only give an honest opinion of his abilities if someone else asks.  Some one else may find they fit their needs very well - and you wouldn't want to take that away from them.  Just tell them your experiences and that they should contact him themselves and see what they think.

Now - if the guy's beatin' on your animals and misses appts or is late or something, that's different and pretty black and white.  I've had farriers that are chronically late all the time - this shows an inability to plan. organize and control.  You might tell another person that the farrier was OK, he was just always late- they might not have a problem with late if he fits their needs.

Hope this helps.