Hello all,
I have always guaranteed my shoes for six weeks. The farrier I apprenticed under did also, so I just never really questioned it. Also it seems to make certain customers more motivated to get the horse re-set when they need it, as opposed to waiting until the shoe is loose and about ready to be lost in the pasture! But I wonder if this is good business, since almost all of the other farriers in the area don't. I would love to get some feedback on this. On one hand I would say that it provides good customer relations, on the other I have to eat the cost of my time and possibly a shoe. I think I charge enough to cover that, and sometimes when it is quite obviously the horses fault, my customers pay me anyways. Just got me thinking, since spring is around the corner (hopefully!!) and if I'm going to lose shoes it is more than likely going to be then!! Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advise!!


Lori McBride
McBride Horseshoeing

It is normal to pay for a lost shoe here...and if its on my path and the shoe is found then I will do it for free...or just a tip for the apprentice...(his job mostly)
shoes don`t just fall off ,and as long as its not the same horse over and over again,then I think clients should at least cover,new shoe/nails,Gas..........

Most are happy that its a fast service and like to pay something....Here..

In my area it is viewed as bad shoeing if a shoe "falls off" .

All farriers guarantee their work (I'll only go 4 weeks), consequently all farriers around here ('cept me) shoe tight and couldn't give a rat's about corns etc.

I've got my regular clients trained but new clients invariably need to be educated and usually require an attitude adjustment.

In other words, it's just expected and I do it mainly for CR, they just have to ask me reeeeeealy nicely and I'll do it with a smile. I charge them for the shoe though if they can't find the pulled one.

i have seen this topic a few times and some say charge and some say dont.. i try not to fall under pressure of charging just because someone says so..i think one needs to work it out in there own clientel... like for me it depends first of all if its after 4 weeks i charge plain as that...after 5 i reshoe the horse and set the horse up on a 5 week shoeing... those are my only two set rules after that it depends..i have one farm i do that has about 30 or 40 head all owned by diff people and it has many padocks and if a horse losses a shoe i aint charging i try to charge enough on the front end to be able to replace a lost shoe here and there..and i shoot right over to fix a lost shoe so a lesson is not missed.. i do not want to take a chance of any farrier slipping in there on my easy street i baby that farm because i make good money there the place is a great place to work they let me come at night in the summer if i want to and work all night while its cool...and then i have some places where i might do 5 head and the barn may have 3 diff farriers that work there and i do not want to seem like one that will not come within 24 hrs to replace a lost shoe so i rush over as the day is done to correct whatever..because it would be just as easy for another farrier to replace that shoe and i feel the farrier should not be burden by my client and if a client thinks the other farrier does better service they may change....and i think we all have them clients that are a thorn in our side that we charge the heck out of in hopes they never call back(chargem till u like em)...so for me it depends right or wrong i dont know i just try to provide a good service and keep client and horse happy and still make money at the same time.. also if i here of a farrier had to replace a shoe of mine i try to make it a point to thank that farrier and do the same for him/her...

I say it depends on the client and how they take care of you in return. The clients who who stick to my 6-8 week schedule and allow me to make regular income, I absolutely do my best to tack a shoe back on with in 48hrs at no charge. Just take care of the people you take car of you.

I've had people ask if I guarantee my work. I reply yes, I guarantee I do the best work possible. As to lost shoes, if I have total control over environment and usage of the horse yes I will. Other than that, No I don't.

If people ask, I reply, "guaranteed to stay on till they come off."

Most (95%) never get it.

I will replace a lost shoe ffree of charge unless it is a package of sorts they never found. IF I have to do it a second time I charge because something is happening. I examine the shoes before I replace them if lost.

"I think I charge enough to cover"
Are you holding monies aside to pay yourself for those lost shoes? If you are "thining" thenyou are rustrated and most likely not.

Tony

I'm with Mikel, I guarantee that I will do good work not shoe loss. If it is in my travels and they have the shoe I do not charge. The other thing to consider is the shoeing package, pads, packing, studs, glueon, barshoes, Alum, etc. If you have to start new and guarantee your work then that can get a little costly.

A little off topic, but I can think of a lot worse things than a lost shoe. How about shoes that do not come off and it needs to?

Over the years I have seen all kinds of reasons shoes have been pulled off and thank God they came off and the horse did not get injured.

Hope this helps.

13puppet wrote:
agreed. I try to take care of the ones that take care of me.. It depends on the clients attitude. If they are real demanding I always give them the option to bring it to my house at the end of the day. I find out how much it means to them when they have to go out their way.

clearthinkingone wrote:
Good point.

I'll remember that one. Thanks.

The only guarantee is the "Outa Sight Guarantee, when I am outa sight guarantee is over":cool:

I guarentee for 5 miles, 5 minutes, or 5 steps; which ever comes first:D

I guarentee to do the best job that I can, and if a shoe is lost, to get it nailed back on as soon as I can.

I always guarentee my shoe's right up until I drive out of your driveway.

This has been my policy from the begining...

"How can you gaurentee something that is out of your control ?

Do you control how the person rides or WHERE the person rides or if the HORSE KICKS the wall or stall.

If the horse over reaches and pulls a shoe I will reset for no charge "IF" they have the shoe.... If they don't then they pay for a new shoe and services rendered. (I look at how the horse moves and will at this time make any adjustments to the rear or front to prevent this from happening again. (if at al possible)

GUARENTEE'S heck i cant even spell Guarentee !!!!!

my 2 cents worth

i loose maybe 6 shoes a year. usually it is on the horses that are at 7 weeks. i figure if my percentage rate is that good then i should be able to keep all shoes on, and wont charge to tack one on. i shoe very full and usually have a bit of heel, i do not shoe tight. i tell my clients this is how i shoe, and i expect to lose a shoe once in awhile. if a horse loses one, give me a call and i will over asap. then i might close the shoe up a bit.

i do have clients 4 hours from my house. for them, i let them know that there will be a trip charge if i have to come in between my regularly scheduled visits, which is every two weeks. nobody has a problem with either waiting or paying the trip charge.

so yes, i guarantee my shoeing.