Posted by Derin Foor on August 07, 2003 at 15:54:39:
In Reply to: Re: Trainer Badmouthing My Shoeing posted by Bill Adams on August 07, 2003 at 11:51:00:
: : : : There is a horse trainer in my area who is badmouthing my work and abilities to horse owners in my area...mainly clients that I referred to her to train their horses! Pretty ungrateful, huh. She's an excellent trainer, but she now is under the false impression that she knows everything about horseshoeing and she refers em to her guy. I always try to learn from any mistakes I make (and I'm certain I've made a few in 12 years of shoeing), and I have given much thought to her claims. I tried to discuss this with her 4 months ago and she denied everything. The customers who did tell me what she said would have had no reason to make this stuff up. Should I confront her again, write a letter to the customers, or do nothing. I doubt seriously I can stop her, but I know I do a good job as a farrier. I have a booming business with more work than I could do in my lifetime, but I want to handle this in a professional manner. What do you guys think?
: : : : Meg
: : : Most trainers and even Vets have their own "guy" that they like to use. My Trainers will not use the other guys because I always keep the lines of communication OPEN! We talk about anything we do differant or the way each horse goes. You have to develop their Trust in you and your shoeing talents. And then if you have a full book don't sweat it, their "guy" will make a mistake just like we all do so just remember in this business you can go from Hero to Zero with one bad nail or one lick of the rasp too much! Good Luck! Gary
: : Its been this way since I have been in the horse industry. They to it to vets as well as farriers. The best thing is to carry no tails (pun). Let then jack there jaws, soon they will hang themselves. Most of the time it is when they leave the horse business and go on to something else and you are still there.
: : Can't even begain to count the number of "professionals" that I have know that have come and gone in my 44 years. Only a hand full remain and are making a true living at it. No second job, or wife or husband supporting there business.
: : Let it roll off your back. I always told my clients: If you like the work I am doing and you don't have any problems. I guess we will continue. If we have a problem and we will see if it can be fixed. If it can't I will move on. Because I know where I have been, where I am at and I think I know where I am headed.
: : Life is to short to worry about these jaw jackers.
: : Just my thinking.
: : Ray Miller
: Meg,
: I heard something like this about me yesterday. The person who told me said it with a "guess what this big mouth is saying now" attitude. Every one who deals with this person, or those like them, knows how they are.
: They talked about the last shoer like this, and will talk about the next in their turn.
: Welcome to the club, and be ready for this person to call you back someday, it'll probably happen.
: My $0.02,
: Bill
Hi Meg,
I had a similar situation a few years ago. I show up that morning to shoe 4-5 horses and the trainer left a note (because he is too much of a weasle to do things face to face) that there werent any horses to do that day......fact is he had switched to someone cheaper.....no problem but a phone call would have saved me a long trip and left me some time to work on other horses
About a year later he asked me to shoe some horses he had in for boarding/training and I "just had no more time in my schedule for more horses"......since then I have taken on a few horses at the same barn for other boarders....now, he's not the brightest guy in the world but I sure bet he is able to figure out the bottom line here
As farriers we are often asked to recommend a trainer in the area and for some reason this guy's name just slips my mind....if the people specifically ask about him by name I just say that he is a good trainer and leave it at that
I refuse to bad-mouth him but I'm not going to bend over backwards to help him either....I am polite when I see him and that's it.....he occasionally makes comments to my customers about the shoeing but they know who has been keeping their horses sound for years.....it is the yery young and/or inexperienced horse owner that this person will have the most impact on, and the last time I checked they were the least reliable sources of income for the farrier anyhow :)
My advise would be to be too busy for them when they really need you next time.....it'll speak louder than all of the bad-mouthing they could ever do about you
Derin