"I have several years of experience in trimming horses and working horses, I will trim any horse not matter the disposition of the horse. I am willing to travel if it is where I can get a couple of horse in the same location. I dont mind having to work with your horses a little in order to trim them but there again I am a farrier. Will trim all horses for $20."
Now, before someone out there says anything, NO, I am NOT trying to keep this Dude from making a living. What Dude here has failed to take into account though, is the following:
1) Pricing lower than the "Other Guy" will get you business to start with, BUT it also hurts you in the long run. Not only do YOU not make as much to support your family, and pay your bills, but it also detracts from those of us who DO charge the industry standard for our efforts. If you detract too much from some of these other fellows, well, *cough cough*... just sayin' here... some of those "Other Fellows" will get cantankerous about it. Me? Get cranky over something like this? Not so much. Actually, I rather enjoy folks like this who are all gang busters and out to trim all the horses they can lay hands on. Why? Because it all comes back to us in the long run anyways- at increased fees to the owner (unfortunately) because we have to repair what YOU have mucked up.
2) The attitude of "working with the horses a little" to get them trimmed. Dude, this WILL get you hurt in the long run. Trust me. Been there- Done that. Save yourself the pain, and teach the owners if need be, how to present the horse in a SAFE manner for work. Or better yet, make some veterinary connections, and advise the owners to have the vet out to administer a cocktail. Better living through chemistry at times is The Way To Go.
3) Ever heard the saying; "You Get What You Pay For"? I do believe that trimming (all horses) for $20 is a BIG indicator of that. In fact, I have already heard about the work of this particular person, and all I can say is "Thank You." Because you are going to feed my family by continuing to provide your brand of "service".
I am not trying to cut someone down here- this is apparently a younger Dude with 'Tude, and we have all been there, done that too. However, OWNERS, You Need To Be Penny Wise! Paying less in the beginning may seem like a good idea, but do your homework. Find out WHO he apprenticed with. Find out references- preferably at least one from an equine veterinarian, and FOLLOW UP ON THEM. Take a few moments online, to research hoof pictures- there are THOUSANDS of them out there. Ask questions of others. All that will cost you is TIME, and that education may just help your horse stay sounder in the long run. (Not to mention helping your bank account!)
Next- to those who will jump up and down and spank me for admitting we charge MORE to repair damage done by either the Owner's greed / stupidity, and/ or shoddy work from the person before us. Go for it. Spank away. Or try to- because here is The Deal. If you spend a bit of your TIME, and learn about proper hoof care, WE DON'T HAVE TO CHARGE EXTRA. If you line yourself up with a high quality hoof care provider in the first place, and DO NOT hop from one hoof care provider to another (as often as some people change underwear,) your WALLET will thank you. Your REPUTATION will thank you. Your HORSE'S HOOVES will thank you. It takes us Extra Time to repair shoddy work. There are times it takes the use of skills Dude up there has only dreamed of, to repair damage using things such as Equithane, Equi-cast, and others. Or rebuilding bar tissue to promote growth. Or rebuilding wall to stabilize the heel. That skill and time spent by us are what will have your horse sound and healthy again. Don't want to pay above the standard price? Fine- don't let someone muck up your horse.
And Thus Ends Todays PSA.
11 comments:
Yeah, that person would not be allowed to TOUCH my horse let alone trim their feet. There must be a reson they have to charge to little to get clients. Even those who are just starting out if they do a good job will get word of mouth referals. And normally farriers (or trimmers) have apprenticed for a bit so why isn't the person they are working with throwing a few clients their way? All I have to say is "yikes".
I was going to say...$20? That would be half what I pay to a great farrier here, and he gives me a break. Cheap in this neck of the woods is $30, and last time I paid that, I got what I paid for. I'll happily cough up the extra $5-10 to get a horse who's not forging as he trots down the trail.
Speaking of which...better send my farrier an email and make an appt!
I guess part of it depends on location... around here a good farrier is dang hard to find. (one of the reasons I put up with BS like todays missed appointment)
Around here $20 is below normal for a trim, the usual is $30-45.
But anyone saying to have that much experience and still looking to build a client base? (which I'm guessing is the reason for the low price) would raise a MAJOR red flag.
Well, that was the norm for where I used to live but our farrier also trimmed and shod about 12 other horses. Now here in GA I here 40 is the norm...thats a BIG difference...and seeing I am picky extremely picky about my horses feet...hope all goes well.
AMEN (((clap))) (((clap))) (((clap)))
I agree totally! Sometimes it can take a lot of work and time to get a horse accustom to being shod, if particularly rank, and you really dont want someone working with your horse when you dont know HOW they work with horses. Many dont uses natural horsemanship and have a hard hand with them, a no-no for me! And the price, yep agreed you get what you pay for...references are a must in my book!
I would never answer an ad like that. Just the tone of it says to me, he's not a good farrier!
I pay 45 for a trim and 125 for a full set of shoes. Some people say my shoer is a little spendy, but you know what, he does a good job, he's good with my horses and I like him.
I agree with you 100 percent!
Geez-even out here in the boonies a trim job costs $30. I'm all for reasonable fees, but that ad has a tone of desperation in it. No decent farrier is going to advertise that they will take on rank stuff...for the same price as a well mannered horse. And quite frankly, I find that a bit offensive.
Geez-and by advertising that you can just guess what kind of crap he is going to get to work on.
You don't have to apologize for voicing your opinion - Dude will learn soon enough and the people who use Dude will learn too.
Honestly that kind of an ad would never tempt me. My horse's feet are too important to send out to the lowest bidder.
I LOVE your PSA's!!! Like Stephanie, I would never even glance twice at an ad like this one. Farrier's are best found by word of mouth, and they should charge what they are worth, right?
And $20??? That's what we used to pay for a trim back in the late 80's and early 90's around here. The price has definitely doubled since then....
You go girl! Preach on. You know what you're talking about. :)
$20.00? I can't even feed my family at McDonalds for that price! What are they doing to your horse's hooves....soaking 'em in french fry grease and flipping the hoof patties over? Cover it all in special sauce...and you're good as new!
Talk about fast food hooves. lol!
~Lisa
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