So not to derail the other threads where its come up... I understand price as come up more than once its my understanding that 100 bucks is pretty much the low point ..my question is this..I know alum is common up front but is that the normal on hind feet as well??......also when the owner is billed and lets say the farrier charges 120.00 is that 120 for the shoeing alone or does that cover the shoes as well??.. also when other charge for extras like pour in pads ..alum shoes..glues..and plastic pads..do yall just pass the extra cost on or do you put a mark up on those extras???..and Iif you mark them up how much % mark up do you put if any??..
Travis with harness race plating some trainers supply the shoes, pads, nails, etc. they want on the horses and some don't. I've been approached by several trainers over the years both harness racing and TB runners when they have seen my work on riding horses and the first thing every one of them wants to do is negotiate prices and they all have said they will supply the materials (I'm thinking they don't want to pay my markup on materials.) So I tell them I'll knock the fee down by the cost of materials but that still puts me $30 to $50 over what they paid the last guy and the only reason they are firing the last guy is because he did exactly what they told him to do and it didn't work. Needless to say, I've never shod for a racing trainer. Probably missed an opportunity to learn how it's done though.
The bottom price for a good Farrier is 100.00 a horse some go as high as 175.00 for regular Alum shoe. . Some do it for less but its a slap and tack. I do about 20 head only because I don't bill out and I really don't like to shoe race horses. I get paid when the job is done. If no-vibe or pads are done its 30.00 at least for a pair. Z bars for quarter cracks and wiring are about 250to 300 a horse.
Smitty I would call a good farrier one that give it his or her all at each and every horse..I consider there is a diff between good farriers and talented farriers...talented farrier to me are ones that things come a little easier to..they are able to think out the box and nothing is black and white to them..they do have some art to put with the science end of it as well..that just kinda how I see it..
Well smitty, From all the work you posted I would say its really good Farrier work. What you charge would be how you price good Farrier work in your area. Same goes for here and any other place.
NO!!!!! it isn't!!! Smitty is what we call a Master Blacksmith/Farrier..........he is the highest level of what all farriers should strive for!!!!!
there are others here too, that are just as much as a Master Blacksmith as Smitty; and you should see their work as well. We all must strive to be a great as they farriers are in our shoeing, forging, and knowledge.
I can name a bunch of good farriers on the site. I was not trying to single out smitty as the only one. He is the one who asked the question. Thats why I read and look at all the jobs posted. It's very refreshing to see Farriers who take pride in there work. Before I seen the site I was under the impression it was a thing of the past Looking at most of the work in my area. Thought I was O.C.D. about my work.
Chris the days of shoeing 10 head in one day are over for me...just do not want to work that hard anymore...
For Educational look of Block heels on a racehorse that was pulled off. not my shoeing and was due to be shod.
