Mixing business with pleasure - do you board your horse with clients?

Had a discussion with another farrier the other day and he was apparently shocked I do not want to keep my horse at any of the same facilities I shoe at. I shoe at some very nice places but my stance is if I am paying $600+ a month to board my horse I want to go and ride not feeel conflicted because I am relaxing or working with my horse and someone wants me to see to their horse.

I do not think he even could understand my perspective but then he has his horses at his own place so and doesn't take boarder so he likely has not run into this situation.

What do you all do with you horses?

Board a horse??? I worked up my arena today so I can leg up my horses for a Sorting next Sat...weather is warming up so at least the weather will be good and I can get them ready..temps jump up and down 20 degrees every couple days...

Alicia,
When someone wants you to "see to their horse" while you are on your own time just tell them you can't. Offer to set up a consultation for someone who has a question or want's a second opinion.
I had a gal ask me to look at her horse while I was shoeing one day. I said sure and spent ten or fifteen minutes and gave some advice, thinking I was getting a new client. She thanked me and asked for a card.
So about a year later she comes by again with the same "Can you look at my horse?" so I told her I could set up a consultation that would cost $50. She asked what I would do, and I said it would pretty much be like last year but I would wright out my suggestions.
She seemed concerned about the prospect of paying for an opinion, so I asked if she remembered what I had told her last year, which she said she did not. Then I asked,"If you had paid fifty bucks would you remember?" She got the point and I shod her horse for several years.
Point of the story is if you set a high value for your time and knowledge, then you'll be treated as valuable.

I have a horse that is in training at a barn I shoe in, there is no conflict when it comes to people wanting me to look at their horses...because I shoe all the horses in the barn. I've never been against giving free advice, but I do it at my convenience, mostly because I am the kinda guy that does for others how I would want them to do for me. I've needed advise before and was given it for free, I just try to repay that to others.

That's just me though.

Much like Shane I'm not gonna turn anyone away that walks up...not that I don't understand if another farrier does that ..its just not who I am or how I was raised.. Alicia I fully understand where your Comming from in fact I feel its a smart business choose.. my daughter took lessons at one of the farms I shoe at and its owned by a great lady but she has three diff trainers and one of those would throw dirt at the ponys to make them go in place of teaching the kids to make the ponys step up...she would grab a fist full of dirt and yell your horse needs monkey dust and throw the dirt at the rear of the horse.. so that was a issue for me ..then she had been drinking at a show and my wife was not happy but I down played it to calm my wife ..then she had a beer in a cup in the middle of the ring in a lesson..so that was it my wife said she was move her.. we did and explain to the barn owner and she was completely understanding and she felt with it by talking to the trainer..although I still do all the owners horses and most of the farm but a month later I lost 3 ponys that where under that trainer ..she called and said the owners wanted to change .. and I can tell a few other deals like such from other farriers and or vets I know ... I also have a hard stiff rule on my rig...( we don't get our puntang and our pay check in the same spot).. I tell the guy that helps me he can date ..screw..or hang out at night with any girl at the barns ..the only catch is he will stay at home on the days I have work at that farm..

When asked the Question. I respond by asking, "do you want me to trim/shoe your horse? If not, there's no reason for me to look at your horse"

I take it one step further. If someone is not a client and shows no potential to become a client, I say to them "So, you want a consultation. right? My fee is $150.00/hour and I do not prorate." If they are already a client, I take the time to talk with them because it will usually save me a phone call and/or having to go back to the barn to look at the horse.

All this talk of consultations and consultations fees makes it sound like we're a bunch of MD's or Lawyers or something...
If someone wants five minutes of my time to ask for advice, I generally give it freely.

Sorry Ray, but that is just a meaningless soundbite.
How is my advice any less valid if I don't charge for it?
On that logic, the trim I did for free for a lady on friday because she couldn't afford to have both her horses trimmed was crap and the one I charged her for was good, even though they were trimmed the same...

Gary, you should try to trim them all good.

Regards

Only if I charge for it, it appears...

Thanks for all the posts guys lots of entertainment and information.

The last two barns I have been at I have chosen partially because they were owned by other farriers just so I could avoid complicating my time w/work time. It works fairly well. It can be so complicated. I was barn shopping with a friend this weekend and I realized how easy it would be to burn bridges with either clients or barn owners if things don't work out and you have to move.

Anyways very interesting to hear all your opinions.

Alicia

I am currently boarding my horse at a facility where I work on about 30 out of about 50 of the horses including the barn owners' 6. My board is $840/mo. Everyone at the barn knows to look at my shoes and pants. That's what determines whether they can discuss their horses with me. If I am in jeans and work boots, I am on the "clock" and accessible. If I am in breeches and tall boots.... don't bother. Weekends, I intentionally take another vehicle other than my work rig... just so the message is that much more clear

The sad part is that I have horses at home too. Just not indoor facilities (of course with board that high, I could SAVE for my own)... After a long day at work, it IS nice to ride anytime, day or night. And the care is absolutely extraordinary.

The hardest part is when I work on a lot in one day where my own horse lives and don't have the energy to ride and I am there already

Patty that is really smart. Thanks very much.

Gary,
I give free advice all the time (especially here). I'm sure you've met the type who just want's to talk about their horse or is a bit obsessive about every little thing on Poopsie. These types can waste your time, but nipping it in the bud with a charge for consultation can train them to be a good client. The lady in my earlier story had quite the reputation for talking the ears off of Vets, trainers, and Farriers. After I 'wasted' my time with her the first time, at the 'threat' of a fee to talk she became a great client. Provided a half a dozen other good stories too.

I agree with you Bill, and I too have met my share of the time wasters and obsessives and if they want me to look at their horse, I ask them to book an appointment.

My issue was with the statement that unless I charge for my work it is worthless and that I should charge for every single job I do and word I utter.

Guess I'm just not like that.

I've met people like that too and I don't even work for them for money. The young lady in question has been a good customer for a couple of years having both horses trimmed regularly and paying on the spot. Times aren't easy here at the moment and she's had a hard month, so I decided to help her out, but now it seems that that has made my work worthless...

I don't think she sees it that way either.

I don't 'get my rocks off' trimming feet at all - but I am capable of a little humanity every now and then.