Happy New Year Everyone !

Was wondering if you could help me out a bit. I'm sending out my new prices and all my records are in storage and I don't keep old catalogs. My last increase was in Jan '03 and I was wondering what % of increase in prices have we seen in supplies, gas, etc. in those three years. (color me lazy for asking and not figuring out myself) Thanks.

Mike

Here are my price increases by year - what I have charged and what I plan to charge in the future.

2002 = 4-shoes for $70
2003 = 4-shoes for $75
2004 = 4-shoes for $90
2005 = 4-shoes for $100
2006 = 4-shoes for $120
2007 = 4-shoes for $145
2008 = 4-shoes for $175
2009 = 4-shoes for $205
2010 = 4-shoes for $225

Tom Bloomer, CF

I guess it pays to keep up on the increase of supply costs but supply costs are such a small percentage of what it costs to shoe a horse that doubling supply costs might not add much. Most of what we charge for is labor. The costs that really effect us is what it costs us to live rather than what it costs us to shoe a horse.

With the exception of some local folks that I started too low when I started taking clients again, I charge $140 for 4 keg shoes (new or reset) and $40 for trimming. For $140 I'll do some basic shoe modifications without charging extra (though I should stop that because it sure can make the job take longer) but I charge $20 for a pair of pads. I charge a lot extra if I use equipak or something just because it's so expensive. I've been charging $40 for hand mades. With store baught shoes other than the garden veriety steel kegs I decide what to charge when I use them.

One thing I have started that I didn't used to do is charging for real problem animals. I've had several calls from folks with unbroke donkeys and other pasture ornaments that no one else will do. I do them but the cost depends on the job. I charged $90 to trim a donkey that hadn't been trimmed in 2 years, had 12 inch curled feet and needed to be drugged before you could get near her. I charged 80 for another similar job. Some guys refuse the work. I just charge for it.

I try to charge for the things that take time and are more work. The other thing that I'm going to start charging for is lousy working conditions. you know?...having to work out in the summer sun, winter wind or such soft ground that you can't roll your box, stand right and your fan just blows sand in your face. Those things make the job MUCH harder and you should get paid for it...unless you just refuse to do it. I'll do it as long as it doesn't seem ******ly dangerous. I can't do as much of it in a day though and I can't afford to just agree to work harder for less.

Y'all up north of the Mason Dixon have it made! If I tried to charge $140. for kegs, I'd be swinging by my neck from the highest tree !I hate the COLD but if y'all are getting that kind of money I'm going to be your new neighbor! I WISH we could get away with prices like that for kegs. Now handmades and special shoes we can set our price high but still hear the crying--- last farrier only charged me $30.00! $95.00 for kegs is about as high as they will pay. My gaited clients, they are not a problem, they want them to gait so gait they will,no problem having enough ink in their pens! The rest of the horsesowning public all act like they are on foodstamps! When the gas went up I was able to slide a hike in but some decided to pull and trim for a while until they could catch up themselves! Hard to win the game like that? Best to all, P.S. Send me some photos of some places for sale near you Neighbor! Just kiddin, Gary

Gary Hill wrote:
It's not all so easy. I drive a ways for most of my work (like 2 hours or more). There are guys closer to where I live still shoeing for $65 and some people go to the omish to get it done cheaper than that. I can work cheap close to home on rank horses and in lousy (even dangerous) working conditions or I can drive further and do broke horses in nice barns and get good money. I do the driving and I'm often gone overnight and sometimes longer.

Mikes right but i have started to shoe Amish horses and this will scare most of you
drill tech on 4 shoes 36dollars
resets 26dollars
i can do it just as fast and or better than the Amish i do it to keep in shape and they call me back

You ARE scareing me... How many are you doing a day? How long does it take you to shoe a horse? Assuming your costs arent any differant than ours, How can you afford rent/mortgage, insurance, car payments, utilities, and to eat? I understand that living expenses are differant everywhere, but 36 dollars?!?! With DrillTec?
________
Dodge intrepid esx history

No offense Mike but I wouldn't even trim one for 25 much less reset 4 shoes....
good luck.

Come work for me. Please. I'll gladly pay you that $26.00/horse.

When can you start?

Rick Burten wrote:

I Bid $26.50 and feed him once a week.

Mike,
Go over your books, please! It costs me more than DOUBLE what you are CHARGING to shoe a horse! If you want to lose $30 a horse, just send me the cash everytime you shoe one...
How do you stay in bussiness?
Jason

I bid $27, the seasonal horses I usually won't do are going to start calling.

Mike,
Please list for us the expences you incurr shoeing a horse.
Thanks,
Bill

I get it he meant 36 for one shoe,I hope. Scott

I bid, $27.50 and I'll provide the rasps and band-aids.

Dave