Farrier trouble!

[jaynedge]

I wonder if anyone knows of any farriers that may be prepared to come down as far as me?! I'm in Tweedsmuir, about 15 miles from Biggar and have had a real problem in getting a farrier to come this far out.

The current lad is okay as farriers go, but desperately unrealiable and Magic had lost a shoe when I went to ride him tonight. The big problem is that although I've phoned and left a messge for my farrier, I'll be lucky if he bothers to get back in touch with me within the next 2 weeks!!!! I'm really at his mercy as I just can't seem to persaude any farriers in the South Lanarkshire area to come this far down. It's a total nightmare and I'm at the stage of thinking that if I can't get someone reliable that realistically I'm going to have to give up on having a horse that needs to be shod at all.

It's soul destroying as I really want to do as much as I can competively with Magic next year, but if I can't get professional help with him, then it's a non starter and I may as well not have a horse at all!

Sorry to offload, it's just the way I'm feeling just now, but everything I've tried to achieve over the last 3 years, just seems to have gone wrong

[chestnuttymare]

friend on yards son has just gone on his own, he might, i will check and get his number for you. he is very good.
brian alexander goes down there i think also

[jaynedge]

Thanks so much for that. I did ask Brian who was happy to shoe for me, but I would have to bring the horse to him.............which is really not possible, as Brian doesn't have a yard himself and it's a bit rude to expect others to accomodate me everytime I need the farriers services!

If it's not the case that they won't come this far, it's that they are so busy they can't take on any more clients! It's just a nightmare and I'm really at the suicidal point with the whole thing.

[misstickle]

go to www.farrier-reg.gov.uk/ and then find a farrier
I found three when I put in lanark

[jaynedge]

There are loads, the problem is that I've spoken to them all over the last 6 months and they just won't come this far out!

I'm really at the stage of having 2 options.....................1) To move to another area (which my OH won't hear of!!) and 2) Just give up horses altogether. I know it sounds drastic but I'm just so fed up with all the hassles of living in an area where I have to constantly struggle. Would anyone like a nice Irish TB to work on?!

[eyesdontlie]

I cannot help on the farrier front as I travel mine from edinburgh to lanark to be shod and my farrier is so good eyes does not really lose shoes any more

how would magic do barefoot? I know you would still require the farrier but would not have the hassle of trying to find one in an emergency with a lost shoe?

try not to get so down about it I was in your position last year hence why I now travel him.

[jaynedge]

I did wonder about the barefoot aspect as my arabs have always been barefoot, but I just wasn't sure as to how well he would fair. He seems to have good hard feet, so I guess it's worth a try. The problem of course being that I've picked the wrong time of year to go down that road!! It is better to start the barefoot journey when the Spring/Summer is starting.

My other worry is that I am going on holiday on the 20th September to Northumberland and I'm taking Magic with me. I don't know what the terrain is going to be like for him and I don't want to lame him or have him sore at the start of the week.

Aaahhh, what a dilema!!!!

Thanks to you all though for the support and suggestions.

J
x

[eyesdontlie]

well I do not have the number for my farrier as it is arranged through my vets but he does shoe in the lanarkshire area but not sure how far in either direction but if you search for stuart armstrong you will get his number.

[jaynedge]

Thanks will give him a ring tonight and see what he says. I guess if I had about 8 horses, it would be worth a farrier making the effort to come here, but since I only have 2 no one is interested!

[bingbong]

oh no what a shame maybe you could buy those boots we were talking about on another post for when he looses a shoe and your waiting for the farier to come?

hope you get it sorted i dont know anyone in that area as im in glasgow - sorry

[jaynedge]

I've got a set of boa boots but they won't fit him!! I had them for my PBA that I sold a few months ago as he was a barefoot guy and I used them if I was going over rough ground. They are great, so I will need to see if I can get some to fit Magic.

[chestnuttymare]

friends son doesn't go that far, sorry. stewart armstrong is really good too, and not bad looking i think he goes there. you will get something sorted. there are lots of horses down there, can't you ask around the yards to find out who they use. what about tommy telford too.

[jaynedge]

Unfortunately there isn't lots of horses in my direction which is why I'm having such a problem. The nearest town to me is Biggar (15 miles away) which does have a couple of yards, but the attitude so far from most farriers is that it's a 30 mile round trip for only 2 horses which isn't viable to them in time. The next place would be Moffat which again is 15 miles south of me and there isn't a livery yard there although a couple of people have horses. I am going to try some of the farriers in Lockerbie and see if they would come up to me. After that there is Peebles (22 miles away) and again my own farrier seems to cover a good bit there, but as and when it suits him!!!

I did ask Tommy and he was happy to shoe, if I can bring the horse to him, which is do-able, but at the moment I am in between transport (need to sell my newly converted lorry to buy a new trailer) so everything is just a nightmare...............nothing is ever simple is it?!

[getatem]

hi jayne im from your area well netherburn , i have brian as my farrier but hav had lots of problems and ended up with a £600 vets bill through it , but i have always used him and he had always been okay but as they say accidents happen , i used to use sandy beveridge and stuart armstrong but they dont really do horses at other peoples yards anymore they are brilliant farriers and think they mostky concentrate on remedial shoeing as this is why i ended up with brian as my farrier, the ones i know of are tommy telfer i can get you his number , colin greig i can find hsi number for you too , i dont know how brina wont come out as far as you as im sure he goes up that way , heres some more for you : r M D Renson DipWCF BII
1 Raeburn Common
Pettinain
LANARK
Scotland
ML11 8SX

Mobile: [phone] Mr D Hannah DipWCF
Oldbrigend
Kirkfield Bank
Lanark
Lanarkshire (South)
ML11 9JN

Tel: [phone]

the ferries are also excellent and i have heard they are travelling to some areas now , if you need any more help please just pm me , i use the cavallo simple boots on buzz they are simply amazing xxx

[chestnuttymare]

stuart has gone on his own now, so may be more inclined to travel. worth a try.