Farriers, the next chapter...

Okay, here's the update on the "Farrier Chronicles". Seems the guy I have been using for about 4 years now, the one who I have a devil of a time getting to schedule me in to shoe my horse has spoiled my riding time for the last time. After my horse was stuck in his old shoes for 12 weeks, with his hooves looking like he was wearing duck feet I asked another boarder who she has for a farrier. I then called him and he came to shoe my horse on the same day he was working on her horse. His only concern - that my horse be well mannered while being shod as he will not take on any problem horses. My horse kept his end of the deal and was a gentleman. I was very pleased with this shoer's work and he will gladly take care of my horse.

The best part of the story is that during the nearly 2 weeks of time that I kept calling the previous farrier, asking when he planned on taking care of my horse and then why he hadn't shown up when he said he would, he always picked up the phone and then proceeded to give me excuses. Have to give it to him - he could have banished me to voicemail purgatory. When I finally was finished with chasing him, and I knew the other farrier was coming to shoe my horse, I left a message for the guy I was not going to use anymore, telling him that this is just not working out for me and while I appreciate his good business in the past, I cannot lose anymore riding time due to his scheduling issues. Then when I stop by the barn the next day, it seems Mr. I-can't-find-time-to-shoe-the-horse showed up and did his other customer's horses in our barn, on the coldest day of this winter so far (10 desgrees out, with windchills of 5 below 0). And the best part about THAT is - last year as I was going through this with him and my horse going 11 weeks without shoes, he had the excuse that he, "never does shoeing work when the temperature is below 20 degrees outside, that it is not comfortable for him or the horses". What a piece of work...