Ah ! Rachael,,, your now getting initiated into the business part of the Farrier World ....
And your getting intiated into the scheduling part of this crazy world of horse owners.
Ricks two last posts are so sensible and actually have worked for many of us. Take heed to what he suggests it really works.
Do you understand now why through the years some farriers come on this site with exhasperated attitudes towards our paying customers ?
It does become easier once you accept the fact that this is how it is and it will never change. You learn how to adapt and survive.
Down here the few backyard horses I have taken on I won't even schedule them anymore. One day they are here and the next day they are gone.
So I just tell them to call me when they feel their animals need trimming or shoe's again. Then I will fit them in whan a space is available.
I really don't care if I keep them or don't. They are just a filler for slack time to me ..
It is my draft customers that I schedule and take care of. my goal is to be busy as I want by the beginning of nest spring.
That means "CULTIVATING" and Selective advertising, and presenting myself to the clientle I want to work with.
When you go into a candy store you spend some time reading and handling and smelling and looking for the most apealing, before you buy.
Do this with building your customer base.
It takes time to be selective. You have to sell yourself in a manner that attracts the customers you want.
How do you sell yourself ?
1. by the work you have performed on area horses.
2. by knowing the breed and the work they do when performing. Understand what is needed/required/ and expected from them. Become expert at correcting what ever problems thjjat plaque this dicipline pr breed. "MAKE YOURSELF VALUABLE TO THIS TYPE OF HORSE OWNER. tHEY WILL BEGIN TO SEARCH "you" OUT.
Talk the language of this breed/owner.
I get different questions and show different things to draft owners than I do with other horse owners.
This is what I specialize in and it makes me valuable to the draft owners.
Don't try to be an "every horse" shoer. You will have to do it in the beginning but work for specializing and becoming an expert with that breed or dicipline. You will find being a farrier is much more enjoyable.
my 2 cents worth