Posted by Gary on September 28, 2003 at 11:41:37:
In Reply to: Re: Expanding my business to allow the posted by Jaye Perry on September 28, 2003 at 11:32:13:
: : : :: : 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
: : : ;I shoe several horses using stocks and have found that they are not for all horses drafts are good in stocks as they are generally pretty calm ,older horeses seam to actcept them as they find it nice to lean on ( less stress with the arthrituse ect.) Young horses that are hyper tend freak out and can often injure themselfs leaving you with an ugly job of explaning your moves to a very angery client. I have three sets of stocks (Miniture,Horse ,and draft ) and have learned when and where to use them ,all of whitch are portable,and are used with the written aprovale of the client and thier Vet. Don
: : Phil and Don,
: : Thank you for your quick responses. You have both given me valueable information. I appreciate you sharing your experiences. I'm sure that I'm not alone with that sentiment. I don't know about everyone else, but have spent lots of time at my desk since my discovery of this site. John
: The home shop is good for the one'ies and two'es that somehow get lost on the regular schedule sometimes. They get a discount on the shoeing bill. Works for both parties invovled. My motto for the shop is "only good horses are allowed", just like my in road business. It also makes for a favorable tax benefit also.
: Jaye
I have a home shop, and one problem is the fact that people will just show up at anytime to have their horse shod or a shoe tacked on or what ever, but the fact that alot of the time they will not call bothers me. I can be in the middle of a meal or in the shower, but they don't care they want it done then because they made the effort to drive to me! Oh yeah NO Discounts! The way I do it, Good Luck! Gary P.S. Sundays mornings are bad too!