What do you pay for a trim or shoeing (long)

[starjj]

Tell me what the prices are in your area. I stopped at a house on the way home from work because I know she has registered quarter horses. She told me her guy comes from pretty far away so I know he won't come out for one mule. She told me about another guy (not close) she use to use. I called him and he said if he comes as far as I live he charges $20.00 for a trim BUT he said it would be at least 2 months before he could come out.

So I went to my neighbor who is Mennonite and asked if he knew any Amish farriers. He had no idea what that was LOL. So I said a horse shoer. Told me the Amish guy down the road about 5 miles shoes and trains. Of course he doesn't have a phone so I drove over there and he charges $10.00 a trim and if i want her shoed $1.00 a shoe. He said I probably don't need shoes on her because I am not doing any heavy duty riding. To tell you the truth not thrilled using Amish because I think they tend to be rough BUT I will try him. Of course I have to pick him up and take him home.

So what is the price you pay???

[CheerfulMom4]

I pay $30.00 for a trim. Just had a trim and front shoes for $75.00, it will be cheaper when I have the same shoes reset but I'm not sure how much it will be then.

[wolffeathers]

$25-30 a trim/horse. If the ponies behave I get a "group discount" because I have three, but the day one of the three decided they were going to kick out a couple of times I got charged $30.

[littlebitfarm]

$20 a horse.

Kathie

[southerngurl]

I don't see how it's possible to trim a horse for $10 and do a decent job. Not even $20 really. If the horses were angels and trimmed regularly maybe. I charge $40 for a first time trim and $30 after than on a schedule. I do well with good horses, with difficult horses sometimes it doesn't seem worth it. I hate charging a fee for difficult horses but I really should more often. Trimming one difficult horse is like trimming 3 good ones.

[SFM in KY]

I have had more difficulty with farriers here (southern KY) than I ever had in MT. I don't have anything shod as I don't ride enough to require it, just trimming occasionally ... youngsters mostly ... occasionally a broodmare ... and the studs that have to be kept up. Because they aren't done often or regularly, they aren't always particularly good with it ... but none of them are nasty about it either.

Anyway ... most of the farriers I've had want regular/routine calls ... several trims on a regular basis or it apparently isn't worth their time to come. I'll get one to come 2 or 3 times ... maybe half a dozen times at the most and then they just simply don't keep the appointment.

I have used two different Amish farriers. Both were good, fast and had no difficulty dealing with a youngster that tried to take his foot back. They weren't rough with them, they just pretty much ignored the entire hissy-fit and got on with the job.

Amish farriers were the cheapest at $10 per head ... and preferred at least 4 or 5 to trim at a time. I currently have a 'new' farrier who seems good, is hopefully going to be reliable ... and charges $15 per horse for 4 or more ... $20 if there are 3 or less to be done.

The Amish were the lowest at $10, but we were driving 20 miles to pick them up and take them back. All of the others I've had charged between $15 and $25 for a trim.

[whodunit]

We just paid $80 for two donkey trims. I guess the gas prices are killing the farrier. He did a good job especially on one of he donkeys who had some kind of hoof/lower leg issue developing.

[offthegrid]

I pay $35 for a trim (actually $35 plus tax, but my farrier hates having to collect sales tax so he usually doesn't...so I always give him $40). For a trim plus front shoes I usually pay between $65 and $85 depending on whether the shoes are reset, glued on, pads, winter studs, etc. Usually averages around $75.

I can't imagine the trim you'd get around here for $10. Maybe if you trailered your horses to someone you could get it done for $20/$25...but doubtful....! Can you even buy shoes for $1 each? Wow.

[Huntinfamily]

We just paid $50 for our two Mini-donkeys plus $10 for mileage.

[dkrabec]

I pay $30 per horse for trims, luckily I don't have to put shoes on any of my horses. My farrier is older then dirt and knows what he's doing. I am afraid of what I will do when he retires. I have tried some younger guys around here and they all have messed my horses angles up and I can tell the difference in how they ride and work. And they charge $30 for poor work.

[starjj]

Thanks for saying that the Amish do charge $10.00. I think he is only doing a one mule trim because they know my neighbors really well. Since he trains horses he gets a lot of farrier work from the other Amish. When I drove over there he was working a horse to a buggy and he must of had at least 15 other horses there. When I mentioned who I was a neighbor with he told me how he had to go to the hospital last year and my neighbor helped his family out and allowed them to stay at their house while he recovered. He is only 5 miles or less away from me so no big deal picking him up. I just hope it works out if not there are other houses with horses and i will just stop and ask until I find someone.

[saanengirl]

I pay $30/horse per trims. My farrier does not give bulk discounts. Currently I have him trimming 11 horses that I oversee (fortunately I only have to pay for 3 since the rest belong to either the University or someone else). These horses are generally well-behaved and we generally get about 4 done per hour.

[lasergrl]

my amish neighbor will trim for free, but charges others $10. He is just as good as the $50 trims from my coworkers hubby who went to school for it. The amish have to do a good job, its their transportation!

[Tiempo]

I charge $35 per trim plus a $10 farm call over 20 miles.

Before I quit shoeing 4 years ago due to 5 ruptured tendons (both elbows bi laterally and a ruptured long biceps tendon...multiple fractures over the years) and a ruined back, I charged $75.00 for basic fronts, $120 basic all round....pads and corrective extra.

I'm sorry, I hate to sound stuck up but $10 per trim is not worth me leaving the house for.

I love my work, but I'm almost 48 years old and need my husband's help to get off the couch and to my bed at bedtime..that and the years and $$ I put into expanding my knowledge and experience, plus the customer service I take pride in giving are worth more than $10 to me.

[Tiempo]

As an aside, the other night hubby and I were watching "Bones" on Netflix....Tyler said, "I'd love to see what Bones would make of YOUR skeleton!"

[Tiempo]

I should also add that I still do some pro bono work for rescues and I will as long as I can stand up.

[Teej]

Was paying $20 a trim on the horses and $10 on the minis. Last time he was out he told me he was going to start charging 20 for the minis too. That's ok since he has never gone up in price or charged a trip fee in all the years he's been coming here. $65 for eventer shoes all the way around.

Comes every 8 weeks, but the minis only get trimmed every other visit. I always have 1 out of the 9 full size horses that has to be a brat. Not always the same one, I think they draw straws to see who gets to cause the aggravation. Not bad as in dangerous, just wants to lean or put foot down. He doesn't charge extra for the bad one. 2 of the minis are ALWAYS bad. It embarasses me but I don't know what to do to get them over it. They're perfect angels when I handle their feet.

[malinda]

Originally Posted by lasergrl

The amish have to do a good job, its their transportation!

Does owning a car make you a good mechanic?

In 17 years as a professional farrier, I've not yet seen Amish shoeing that even comes close to good farriery. I live in an area with quite a few Amish, and I'd say 80% of their horses are head-bobbing lame as they trot down the road. Those $20 shoeing jobs? You get what you pay for.

[where I want to]

$40 per horse for a trim- and he is less expensive than most. But our gas prices are the highest in the lower 48 and he has a lot of travelling to do. Nothing is close to anything else here.

[starjj]

Originally Posted by malinda

Does owning a car make you a good mechanic?

In 17 years as a professional farrier, I've not yet seen Amish shoeing that even comes close to good farriery. I live in an area with quite a few Amish, and I'd say 80% of their horses are head-bobbing lame as they trot down the road. Those $20 shoeing jobs? You get what you pay for.

Sorry did not mean to start a war here. I forgot that there are farriers on here until I saw the post and then thought OH OH bad question.

I agree the potential for a bad trim from Amish may be high but it is high if you take anyone on for the first time. I was recommended a farrier when I had my horse and he charged $65.00 for a trim and front shoes and did a bad job of it. Didn't mean to step on any sensitive toes with this post though.

[SFM in KY]

Double post

[SFM in KY]

Originally Posted by malinda

Does owning a car make you a good mechanic?

In 17 years as a professional farrier, I've not yet seen Amish shoeing that even comes close to good farriery. I live in an area with quite a few Amish, and I'd say 80% of their horses are head-bobbing lame as they trot down the road. Those $20 shoeing jobs? You get what you pay for.

Of course not, but for the Amish, their horses are not only their transportation, but their tractor and everything else. If their horses are not sound enough to work (and work hard) all day 6 days a week, it's like a farmer having crops in the field and his tractor not running. The Amish farriers get the majority of their business from other Amish. If they don't do a good job with the Amish horses, they don't have enough work to stay in business.

I do hear stories about them not taking care of their horses and being rough with them. It may well be different in different communities but we have two Amish communities in this area. We often see them in the fields and on the roads with their horses and equipment and I have to say that I've never seen one that was obviously lame or obviously not well cared for. I also know several people who have had horses trained by one or another of the Amish trainers and been happy with the job and one of the best horses I've ever owned is my Haflinger mare who is Amish trained.

[Irish Pixie]

My farrier charges $30 per trim, but I get the special "her horses will stand well until hell freezes over" rate. It's the same reason I can still get the pretty much retired Vet to come out every time I call.

I absolutely understand why a farrier will charge more for an unruly horse, plus it's the owner's responsibility to train the thing, not the farriers.

I completely agree with Malinda, a horse to most Amish people is a tool and many people don't care about their tools. I don't personally know any Amish people, but I've seen enough of their work (farrier and training) to know that they will never touch my stock.

[Tiempo]

I have an Amish friend who is a fabulous farrier, but I've seen the bad too.

[where I want to]

The bottom line is there are many full time farriers who are bad and non-specialists who are good, whether Amish or not.
Being a good farrier neccessitates experience, good ethics, attention to detail, patience and a good back.
I've seen good come inexpensively and I've seen bad come expensive- and visa versa. I will pay as much as I can afford to get what I want for my girls.
I also believe that a farrier (and a vet for that matter) has a right to expect that a horse be trained enough that he is not likely to be hurt.

[Rogo]

Through all the years and all the horses, mules, and donkeys, none have ever needed shoes. My stock have always roamed free on the acreage. The land is rocky, up to boulder size. Some of my homes have had mountains on them.

I ride on the same type of land. Love the tough mountain rides.

The land keeps the hooves beautifully trimmed. No cracks, no splits, no abscesses, no problems.

Since our sun temperatures are up in the hundreds for 6 months of the year, if I don't go up north in our state to ride during this time, a trim or two is needed. It's been a long time since anyone has needed a trim, but I think it was $25 or $30.

[beccachow]

$35 a horse for a trim, but the farrier is awesome and I don't even have to be there.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by Tiempo

I charge $35 per trim plus a $10 farm call over 20 miles.

Before I quit shoeing 4 years ago due to 5 ruptured tendons (both elbows bi laterally and a ruptured long biceps tendon...multiple fractures over the years) and a ruined back, I charged $75.00 for basic fronts, $120 basic all round....pads and corrective extra.

I'm sorry, I hate to sound stuck up but $10 per trim is not worth me leaving the house for.

I love my work, but I'm almost 48 years old and need my husband's help to get off the couch and to my bed at bedtime..that and the years and $$ I put into expanding my knowledge and experience, plus the customer service I take pride in giving are worth more than $10 to me.

My friend Larry Surrett (Minnesota Horse Training Academy) survived his "salad days" because he is also an excellent farrier. He was trained at the University of Minnesota. He, like the rest of us is getting older and just needed a way to utilize his skills without destroying his body.

He is best known as a horse trainer, and his schools draw students from around the world, but he also does a farrier class around once a year.

Is this something you could do? If you really have the skills, and have some marketing ability, you could charge $3000 per student for a 3 week course. (he does)

Of course besides the tuition, he gets paid for farrier work for dozens (maybe hundreds) of horses during the course!

[lasergrl]

Originally Posted by malinda

Does owning a car make you a good mechanic?

In 17 years as a professional farrier, I've not yet seen Amish shoeing that even comes close to good farriery. I live in an area with quite a few Amish, and I'd say 80% of their horses are head-bobbing lame as they trot down the road. Those $20 shoeing jobs? You get what you pay for.

Well, the ones around here are great.
Never have seen what you describe, thankfully.

[bergere]

In Oregon... was $25.00 a trim and I went through 4 other farriers before I found one that knew what he was doing.

Here in VA $35.00 to trim and $85.00 to shoe all 4. This farrier was recommend by the Equine Hospital, as he does all their special needs stuff.