guess what....of the 23 years of shoeing:...........this is the 1st handmade I ever found on a horse in this area!!! and It's on Trail horse that didn't need it. but but he puts kegs shoes up front on the same shoeing 5 weeks earlier to clarify; the horse was shod only 5 weeks earlier and with kegs up front; and hand mades on the back.
I was cursing in British we have to keep our European shoers feeling welcomed in this country and forum, Lassie
You stated that we "didn't understand Americans". Aren't most of your clients women like the rest of our's are? Are they they ones treating so poorly? Sounds like women being sexist to women.
1. I got a guy "right now" telling all my old and new clients that I don't shoe horses anymore at a few farms. 2. Had another just blatantly right in front of my face in front of another farrier; that I or any women should not be shoeing horses. ..."oh! don't listen to her! what the Fxxx does she know!" this farrier who respects my opinion privately was asking me a question on shoeing a racehorse with a problem; and my answer was "to put on a roller motion shoe; what size? He said, " he takes a size 5 racing plate." I said, "then you should get a size "0" shoe.... when 3rd older farrier said just that! in front of as many people who could to embarrass me. 3. Had $1,500 dollars worth of my tools stolen out of my truck to keep me from shoeing to teach me a lesson that I am not wanted here. filled out a police report but to no avail. 4. I have been assaulted [groped while under a horse shoeing it] on the racetrack and whistled at, "hey honey" ect. said to me. 5. My old trainer knew of someone who want to change farriers; and suggested me; well, something was said by another farrier; and so the owner got scared and decided it wasn't worth the hassle of getting the other farriers mad at them by using me. that just some of the things I have had to deal with in the last 23 years of shoeing.
Well I have been the victim of sexual and gender bias and discrimination. I had a client who bought a horse from a local young gal who shoes horses. About a week after he got it, the horse threw a shoe and she came out and replaced it. When the horse was due to be reshod, I came out and did it with his others and he mentioned to me; "Bill, I think you're probably a better shoer than she is, but I sure like watching her work a lot more than watching you".
I've just been given the whole yard and it's 35 head not 25... didn't actively poach it at all, tried to give the regular guy a rap. I doubt he'll see it that way however. It's a horrible feeling loosing a big yard. It's happened to me, all of us probably. But I have a feeling this story ain't over.
Me either .But I wont stand there and be mistreated either,I will stand up for myself if need be , but Usually I don't have a problem .
It's always true that certain Farriers can't get along with anybody and others get along fine with everybody. I've known some who just can't keep clients and can't get new ones. They leave and start up in a new area and darnedest thing if it isn't the same thing there. There are horse owner groups who won't have me work on their horses and groups that I do who won't have the guy who dose those others. Get's down to individual personalities.
About ten to fifteen, John. We all get along fine. Help each other with things, help the new ones, cover thrown shoes, and warn of bad horses and clients. We're actually starting to plan a big party for a guy who just retired after 62 years of shoeing.
Totally agree here, being able to relate to clients is huge with client retention and referal. As to the groping, I have had a weird experience and a male farrier friend assures me it is perfectly normal but he likes to pull my leg sometimes. So I am going to ask you all too. I have a few heterosexual female clients that insist on putting the money they owe me in my back pocket while I am working. lol It sounds so dumb and it's no big deal but really I never paid anyone this way and it just seems sooooo strange. I even expect it now and have managed to throw a hand up and intercept but wtf?? do others have this happen? BTW I do not consider this groping but Linda's comment reminded me.
" ...heterosexual female clients that insist on putting the money they owe me in my back pocket while I am working." SH>t, Money in the pocket in or off the clock girl! Bid, $ 1,000.00 !
