Posted by Phil Armitage on September 27, 2003 at 09:22:17:
In Reply to: Expanding my business to allow the " bring them to me" option posted by John Redditt on September 26, 2003 at 23:44:14:
: I am in the early stages of a land purchase to allow customers to bring their horses to me. My business is great for my so few years of shoeing, coming 4 yrs. I went to school at OFC, and have no complaints about my education there or from the great, accomplished farriers that have taught me more since then.
: I have never shod a horse in a set of stocks. I've seen it done. With a little more study, I'm believe I could do it. As the most accomplished farriers do, I turn down the horses that lack an education to the point of not standing for the farrier. With a set of stocks, I believe that I could keep horses lined up, to shoe. I don't think that I'd turn down so many. I just wonder what problems I'm going to run into with that expansion. Will it be tough to become efficient using stocks when they are needed? Am I being greedy? Thanks in advance, John
I think having the facility that clients can bring horses to you is great. I have thought of this, but along the lines of having a facility that can provide care for injured/lame horses that require frequent care. As far as stocks, I can see the need for draft horses, but I would never confine a saddle horse and if there guite enough to get them into stocks, you can shoe them anyways. Drafts are calm by nature vs. arabians, morgans and T.B., it might be more comfortable for Q.H. and appies, those short tight front legs and knees, but agian keep in mind the hot and sensitve ones may panic being confined like that.
Hope this helps
Phil