AFJ Feedback

What I have done and try to do is to find enough clients in a given area that will make it worth my wile to travel to that area-also remember that you can deduct .37 for each mile traveled for the "Art of Farrier". I want to keep my prices a little below average so that everyone can afford my services! Now the price of fuel has subsided, and I have informed all of my clients that if I have to raise the price it will be only while the fuel is so outrageous and as soon as it comes down-so do my prices! Personnaly I like charging $25.00 for a trim and $50.00 for Shoeing! Afterall I'm in the business for the horses care-not the clients!

Hopefully you guys subscribe to the AFJ. This last issue has 2 topics devoted to farrier rates. Traveling fees are covered also.

I personally charge a traveling fee according to zones. I have a very small no charge range right around my hometown, then the zones extend outward in 5.00 increments up to 20.00 at the farthest end of my coverage. I encourage horse owners to develope a clientele for me by telling them I will split the trip fee at that single stop.

I list these zones and fees on the back of my business card. This eliminates calls from people who cannot afford my services. I also charge a 5.00 check handling charge! I also charge extra for unruly, dirty horses. More work requires more money! I refuse to give discounts - the horse owner typically gets overtime pay - why should I get less money for more effort?

When questioned about the trip fee I counter with,"You pay a vet a trip fee, right?And the refridgerator repair guy? Or the A/C guy? It usually is more tahn 5.00 right? I am offering you a MOBILE service and my truck needs gas, tires, insurance & mainainence too. My trip fee ought to be more because I have to come out more than the vet! You could save yourself a trip fee and spend your time and gas money by bringing your horse to me!" This usually gets them to thinking that a nominal trip fee isn't so bad.

At the last clinic I attended fees and charges came up as an impromptu discussion between a dozen of us. The underlying theme was you charge what you think you are worth!

Charging LESS than what the average is in any given area may ensure that you have clients but will they be QUALITY clients? My experience has been that the ones that are ONLY concerned with COST are NOT concerned with the horse's feet!

Also if you charge a bit more then you don't have to do as many horses to make the same daily intake. Talk to any farrier who has several years in the business and they will tell you that you only have so many horses in your body before breakdowns occur. So why spend that effort on rank, ignorant horses when there are many GOOD horses to work on?

Once you raise your rates why on earth would you reduce them? Does Walmart warn us that their prices are going up? Yeah, they may do roll backs, but the roll back is not permanent; and is usually the result of their suppliers being able to job out the goods to a cheaper producer which usually equates to a reduction in quality.

I continually strive to IMPROVE the quality of my work and attempt to do a better job than the farrier before me (even if that farrier was me)! Continuing my education and upgrading my skills costs money which I can re-coup by offering better work which means I can command better rates which means I can attend more clinics which means I can continue to improve which means.....

Good farriers are knowledgeable people with artistic specialized skills. We do work on an individual basis. Footwork is not something that can be done assembly line fashion! Each foot has to analysed, determined, manipulated, corrected, improved, protected & supported to allow that particualr horse to be it's athletic best! No two feet are identical or fit an exact mold. They don't come with interchangeable parts and one size does NOT fit all!

Today's client is too used to "buying in bulk to save a buck" or too used to "use it once and dispose of it" or having a "convenient store on every corner".

It is our duty as full time, long term farriers and new farriers to get the client to realize that the horse in their backyard is NOT the same as that car in their driveway!

Having the oil changed at the corner "10 minute Quik Change" is not the same as having a personal mechanic come to the house and service that car. The personal mechanic will take better care of the car than the "quik change guy". He will look at the entire car - just as a good farrier will observe the entire horse!

Just becuase a lot of farriers use premade shoes does not mean that those shoes are ready to be installed on the foot! You can't just "un bolt it and install a new one"!

The foot must be assessed, trimmed, balanced, aligned, and prepared. The shoe must be assessed, shaped, modified and prepared. The assembly of the two also must be done meticulously or else all the effort so far is for naught!

Those of us who have done this process repeatedly for years make it look easy as each of our motions flows from one to the next and our analyzing is done on the fly; but just because we have become efficient and adept in our efforts does not mean that we should reduce our rates! Farrier work is a job of traditional methodical means that is in direct contrast to our "instant - just add water", microwave society! Horse owners typically want instant results for very little effort on their part. They must be made aware that the horse is NOT a machine!

It is typical for beginning and part-time farriers to charge less than full time - established farriers. But unfortunaltely that works against the entire profession because the client realizes there are enough beginning farriers out there that they can always get hoof work done cheaply and the horse is the one that suffers - From inexperienced farriers continually working on him because his owner is not aware of the tremendous knowledge a good farrier needs.

Those few horse owners that have always hired farriers based on cost and yet realize their horse's feet aren't right(usually still lame) and then hire a more experienced higher priced farrier will often times go back to the cheap farrier after the horse is not lame any more!

Horse owners only interested in COST don't take into account what it COSTS the horse!!

Well for 2005 my fee will be $30.00 for Trimming and $60.00 for shoeing, $40.00 for the fronts with the rears trimmed I will be charging a $10.00 out of area Fee, my area is quite large though it goes from Bowie Texas to Weatherford Texas and then out to Jacksboro Texas, many of my customers have multiple horses on the average 4 or more, so I can "Spend all day" in one area by scheduling more than one client per day and in the Summer Months it doesn't get dark here till 9 p.m.. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one that will or does charge for upkeep on My truck! Thanks Kim for your input because here in Texas it is really hard especially with the economy the way it is! Pat thank you too! HAPPY NEW YEAR!