ps. $50 for lost shoe is standard rate here at horseshows for most of the guys; whether they have the shoe or not.
Our local car dealer gave us the same kind of deal .sold me a hat with there name on it for $16,000 and gave us a car for free.
The best advice in horseshoeing i ever got was many years back on a forum before I even heard horseshoes.com when I felt my business had flat lined ..had work but it was mundane backyard horses ..so I started looking on line for info education and did not even know what I was looking for..but I knew I wanted to shoe better horses I just did not know how to get there.. I explained how I was going about things and what I charged ..I was getting 60 bucks for a full set and 40 on half set...for ol country boy I thought I was in high cotton..and was convinced that's all the money I could get and thought I was doing good work..I fit ever horse the same ..the typical recent farrier school grad way and I was a highly trained farrier with this little certified pc of paper from a horseshoeing school so I knew my shit..lol.. these two assholes named Jaye perry and Brian macelwee..( can't spell Brian's crazy azz last name).. called my ways of picking up clients gimmicky and silly and for my area I was way out of line on priceing..there delivery was a bit harsh and I had thin skin and I hated them assholes..they said I run my businesses like a hobby and had a loooong way to go and needed more education and would never ever know enough ..I hated to hear that but after a few months I realized they where right and I was wrong.. I applied what they said I charged for my work..I figured out what the real cost was to run a Shoeing business..and I started finding folks to work with and ride with..it got me real humbled fast..I did not know shit...and still don't but at least I'm a paid dummy and I now know when I get in over my head and get on the phone and ask others for help when needed.. them two assholes saved my business and both turned out to be really nice guys that I feel I can call on in a jam if needed..and I have seen many farriers over the years take people on forums a little harsh and get there feelings hurt..I've seen some go and some stay and improved ....Shoeing is a humbling trade and about the time you think you know something there's always a asshole to remind you just what you don't know and how much more you can improve..
Thats the down side to this Travis .for over years i took on every rank ,ill mannerd ,silly, lowdown creature that paid and a few of them had horses that i dident hold in high asteem eather .a while back i cleaned house i have a good clietel hear and some fine horse flesh and while it has dwindled some it still beats peddling burgers.however this ,starting in a new ariea i beleave will have me starting over agen .every one knows the new guy gets the leftovers and while im not to proud to pay my dews im not looking forward to it.
I feel ya ray...branching our is a hard thing and i have found if you go to looking to branch out it is just like starting over ...if brought in out of town by a client its a little easier... I'm sorry I'm not much help on starting over s I have not had that pleasure yet but bet its hard...my helper was saying just yesterday we need to branch out farther ..note he said this during a two he drive to shoe one horse ..not damn sure how much farther he wants to go ..I told him we have a good business now and it takes all we got to keep the wolves at bay as it is..he young and still finds overnight trips fun.. me not so much I like my lazyboy and tv at night...
Off to play with citty ponies today .no advertising yet.word seems to be getting out there on its own.amazing how small the horse world is.
We always got room for rods and coolers and cricket buckets.. lol.. I been talking about putting in a moble satellite and tv so we can get on the road a little faster each morn because I gotta catch Dr Phil at 8 am ...
I like streams and forests also, but not for the fish, my tackle box is replaced by a gold pan and rock sifter. haha
I Welded rod holders into the bed rails of my truck I use to back my truck up to the river swing the forge out and make shoes and dround a worm between horses. My ex use to complain that all i wanted to do was fish and play with horses ,she packed up and left so now all i have to do is fish and play with horses but i met a lovely lady who actuly likes me and my way of life so my fishing gear is gathering dust ,im buying keggers and loveing life
Historically, in our profession word of mouth and business cards and maybe a name and number on our trucks have been our only means of advertising. I have openly discussed my dislike of internet ads like on craigslist but even I have been considering this approach to getting new clients. It used to be when someone needed a farrier they called a friend or vet or the feed store etc. Now in this day of full internet access from your cell phone, this seems to be where most people turn when they need something. I cant begin to tell you how many of my clients want to communicate via email or text message or some other form of online communication. I think we really need to start considering alternative methods of advertising to keep up with the current trend in communication.
Yeah word of mouth seems to be my biggest advertisement. I haven't put out cards in 18 months.... (regret buying 500 of them). I had the magnetic signs at one time on my truck, but I don't have any "barns" so to speak so they didn't really do any good. Maybe noticed at the gas station I suppose. I'm in a rural area, so feed stores and vets are still first place people look.
