How much do you tip your farrier? [Archive]

Tatesgram

07-29-2009, 08:04 AM

My farrier is coming this afternoon and I just wondered how much others tip their farriers. I usually add 10%, do you add more? He trims only, no shoes. He's good to my horses but doesn't let them misbehave. He usually shows up when he says he will, but never more than thirty minutes late. He usually returns my calls, and if he can't make it at all, he calls me. Of course, he can talk your ears off while he's working :rolleyes:.

Anyway, just wondering. :)

star197

07-29-2009, 08:05 AM

I've always just added $5 to the total.

WashingtonBay

07-29-2009, 08:09 AM

I usually haven't tipped mine, beyond offering cold or warm beverages, depending on the season.

He was here this week, and surprisingly, he'd lowered the price on shoeing by $5. I felt like he tipped me. :)

He now does two trims and one full shoe for $170. I still don't know to this day which is how much. I just pay it. :)

Just thinking... if I was a small job with only one horse (I think I'm just big enough to be worth the trip) I'd be much more likely to tip.

TheRedHayflinger

07-29-2009, 08:24 AM

I've never tipped.
I do make sure my ponies are caught, groomed, hooves picked, fly sprayed(if needed) and ready to roll when he gets here (and some days that means giving them a bit of a workout if they are really UP that day to mellow them out). Will also offer something to drink while there and when he leaves for on the road.
My farrier makes appointments to where he is working on several horses in the same general area (just got off the phone with him actually and he told me he is doing 10 horses a few miles away from my house and if that day worked for me....and it did!) so I don't feel bad that he's coming out just to trim two ponies...lol

carla

07-29-2009, 08:33 AM

I've never tipped. In fact, I've never even heard of or thought about the concept. :huh:

However, I am with TRH.. I have/did always have my horse caught up and cleaned up before the farrier arrives. I think that's the least we can do.

oursarge

07-29-2009, 08:35 AM

It depends 2-5$. He doesn't charge very much so I feel like I should give him extra but don't want to pay too much either, it's weird to know how much to pay. I always have my horses here and ready for him and usually they are pretty good so he doesn't have to fight with them.

Gypsy Rose

07-29-2009, 08:59 AM

I've never tipped, either. However, I do try to make sure that Gypsy's caught and ready for him- hooves picked, reasonably clean, and fly sprayed. Many times, he's only able to give me a vague idea- like within a two hour time frame. In those cases, I spray her early, and have the halter right at the door, and keep an eye out the window. By the time he's parked, and has his apron on and tools ready, Gypsy and I are usually coming up form the pasture, as it's only a stone's throw away from the house.

I normally offer him a drink, or if I happen to have freshly made rolls, which is not often, lol, but usually, he has his thermos full, and munchies in his Jeep!:D He will come in and warm up a bit if it's cold out, though, and more often than not, checks out what projects Shadowdancer and I are up to.

carla

07-29-2009, 09:26 AM

Oh yeah, drinks.. I always want to offer my farriers a drink (they come as a pair, lol).. but they always offer me one first! They keep a cooler of waters in the truck and ask a couple times while they're working. They are SO cool. :)

Remali

07-29-2009, 09:27 AM

I've never tipped the farrier, I don't know anyone around here who tips their farrier either.
I'll offer drinks or some help holding horses, but that's it.

miatapony

07-29-2009, 10:02 AM

ive never tiped him but i have bought sodas for him and his helper.

vicklynn

07-29-2009, 10:09 AM

My farrier is coming this afternoon also. Rarely do I tip him, but I send him new customers:D
I bring the horses up when he pulls up in the drive. My horses are on dry lot and close to me, so by the time hes set, I have a horse up waiting and ready.

lovesfortune

07-29-2009, 10:13 AM

usually we tip a little. this last time we didn't tip at all. he was over an hour late, finally called and apologized (he got his addresses messed up and was waiting somewhere else) but i was still pretty upset as he's been trimming our horses for over a year and he lives just down the road. we had to rearrange our schedule to stick around and Reno really needed to be trimmed. He felt bad and didnt charge us a trip charge either.

normally if the horses behave nicely it's about a $10-15 tip.

Vegashorselady

07-29-2009, 10:28 AM

I don't tip mine. I have four horses so it's not really a "wasted" drive for him. Plus, he now does 7 other horses at my barn as well so he's got business because of me. I usually bring coffee and doughnuts or sandwiches and water depending on what time of day my appointment is and I buy him a gift card at Christmas time. I'd like to think I'm a good client but I dunno, the farriers might have a different opinion.

lovesfortune

07-29-2009, 10:34 AM

oops, i forgot to say i also have the horses up and ready for him, so he doesn't have to wait.

quest

07-29-2009, 10:44 AM

I've also never tipped a farrier.

WashingtonBay

07-29-2009, 10:45 AM

normally if the horses behave nicely it's about a $10-15 tip.

Heh... did you mean that? He gets a tip if your horses behave nicely? I think it should be the other way around! :)

I guess it sounds bad that I don't catch horses or pick their feet before he comes...

But he trims and shoes about 3 feet from the gate where they are, so it's not like we have to track them down. In winter when it's muddy I try to entice them to stay in the barn that morning with hay, so they aren't super wet.

If possible I take Bay out and lunge him for awhile to loosen him up while we're waiting, so he's not stiff holding his legs up. It makes a difference I think.

lovesfortune

07-29-2009, 10:53 AM

yeah, WB that's what i meant! because sometimes they are tools.

and i don't think it's bad you don't catch yours. if our farrier had to wait for us to round up 3 horses on 80 acres, he could be here for DAYS!

shewasmyshadow

07-29-2009, 11:00 AM

I tried to tip mine, but I felt so silly that I never did it again. The last time I paid the farrier it was back when I was in college. I was broke and the farrier knew it. He looked at me like, "What are you doing? You can't afford that!" So, from then on I broke a cold cola out for him and never tipped again.

LittleRedMare

07-29-2009, 11:20 AM

I've never tipped a farrier. I usually only tip for services where workers are paid a wage, not where they keep all the money I pay. I did, however, raise my farrier's rate for him, lol. He's really good with my horses and has been coming around for quite awhile so when gas prices here skyrocketed I just started paying him an extra $10. Neither one of us has ever mentioned the increase... Now that I think about it, I guess that's sort of like a $10 tip isn't it? Now I feel silly- I guess I do tip my farrier :p

AppyLover

07-29-2009, 11:36 AM

I don't tip, but I do gift $50-$100 extra at Christmas time.

Tatesgram

07-29-2009, 01:11 PM

My farrier doesn't live far from me, hasn't gone up on rates, even when gas got so high. My horses are usually in their stalls waiting and he trims in the center isle. I have four so it's not a trip for one horse, though he has come out for one if I need him to. He always turns them out in whatever pasture I ask him to. I started giving him the tip late last year and I've continued to do so, he only charges me $100. for all four horses, so an extra $10 doesn't seem like that much.

Plus, he listens to me and explains anything I ask.

I had called another farrier before and his attitude really ticked me off. The first thing out of his mouth was "where'd you get this number?" when I told him the vet gave it to me he said, "well, I'll have to get back to you. " Didn't hear from him for the longest time and had already gotten Ryans name by then, and made arrangements for him to come out. He couldn't believe I had called someone else and didn't wait on him. I've been happy with Ryan ever since.

Peggy Sue

07-29-2009, 03:40 PM

warm drink in winter , cold stuff rest of time, big christmas bonus and easy to work on clean horses ...

now when he shows up two hours early like last time they are dirty but that is HIS fault for being SO early

dame_wolf

07-29-2009, 03:45 PM

We've never tipped our farrier. He's already told us he appreciates the business as he feels he is over charging us!

vicklynn

07-29-2009, 03:49 PM

OH, I forgot to tell you. The last farrier I tipped, I later found out, he was a Meth head.
Great farrier, just does drugs. I also hear he is in prison now:doh:

dame_wolf

07-29-2009, 03:56 PM

We've never tipped our farrier. He's already told us he appreciates the business as he feels he is over charging us!

I don't feel he over charges us. He's a great farrier, wonderful with the horses, he is always late but... And he only charges us $120 to trim the 3 horses and put shoes on the front of 2 and on all 4 of the 3rd. Sounds cheap to me but he is convinced otherwise and always apologises when we pay him.

magayle

07-29-2009, 04:04 PM

i don't tip $ but usually have a bag of home made cookies or a loaf of zucchini bread for him...for the winter holidays i make him something warm from fleece - hoodie, socks, hood/hat....he's a single guy and always appreciates my motherly pampering....i too always have everyone ready for him

cheval

07-29-2009, 04:49 PM

$15-$20 each visit. Sometimes more if I've got it.

My farrier is a God and will be treated as such. If he needs a new bigger rasp or nippers, he gets it. I bought him the HoofJack too. He literally saved Solon's feet from the hands of lesser beings. :)

palomino

07-29-2009, 04:57 PM

LUCKY farriers!! I want zuchinni bread- heck, I would love to be paid with the stuff!!! YUM!

gabhainn

07-29-2009, 05:19 PM

wow my old farrier got the short end of the stick, he gots what he charged, no christmas bonus, zucchini bread of fleece-y whatevers. usu had a cold beer for him in the afternoons (when it was his last job ) or a cup of coffee in the morning.
my new farrier I have never even seen, he was my old guys apprentice and just took over for him. I come in horses are done and the check I left is gone......Kevin

42many

07-29-2009, 05:30 PM

I've never tipped a farrier or known anyone personally who has even talked about such a thing (except on here, of course!).

Once I asked him if he wanted to increase his prices some (when gas was going up) but he said basically "nah" and that he didn't feel it was a good idea. :)

cheval

07-29-2009, 05:31 PM

Everyone here tips their farriers. It wasn't until I joined h.com that I found out people didn't.

magayle

07-29-2009, 06:04 PM

carla

07-29-2009, 06:24 PM

He looked at me like, "What are you doing? You can't afford that!"

:hysterical: OMG, I got SO tickled at that for some reason. Now that's when you know you're REALLY broke... when OTHER people have to remind you! :D

ImaBronsonBear

07-29-2009, 09:00 PM

I have only tipped my farrier one time, and that was when he drove out of his way for my ONE horse, caught him, shoed him, and put him back in the pasture for me. If he does all of that extra (this was the one time i couldn't be there) then he definitely deserves a tip. But if i'm there, catch my horse, hold him, and make him behave, then i'm just paying my farrier for his job.

natisha

07-30-2009, 06:41 AM

Palogal

07-30-2009, 06:28 PM

I don't tip either, I have 4 horses so when he comes out it's worth the trip. I always offer a drink and send him out with cookies once in a while.

luvs2ride1979

07-31-2009, 02:12 PM

I don't tip. When I do pay my trimmer to come to me (I usually trim myself), I make sure my horse is caught, groomed, fly sprayed, and "mellow." I will give a "christmas gift" if he comes in December, usually $20-40 in a card.

WashingtonBay

07-31-2009, 02:18 PM

Years ago I would 'tip' :innocent: my farrier every six weeks. I was poor & it made everyone happy.

Now, my farrier gets a hug & kiss & is sexually harrassed. One year on my B-day he gave me a no charge bill, $130.

LOL - My farrier was telling me last time, that he got propositioned... twice... in recent weeks. He's a married man... and these women were not single ladies...

I guess the farrier is the modern horse owner's 'milkman'. :D

Reports farriers? :D:innocent:

luvs2ride1979

07-31-2009, 02:22 PM

LOL - My farrier was telling me last time, that he got propositioned... twice... in recent weeks. He's a married man... and these women were not single ladies...

I guess the farrier is the modern horse owner's 'milkman'. :D

Reports farriers? :D:innocent:

LOL! I had ONE farrier that I thought was a cutie, and I'm sure he got propositioned often. My current guy is a great farrier, but that's about it, lol. I've caught him eyeing my rear end and friends' before though, :innocent:. The rest of the farriers I have used were older (50+) and, um, well, "not handsome." :doh: lol A friend of mine uses one guy who is younger and definitely a cutie, but only about 5' 6", so everytime I see him, I think of Hobbits, LOL!!! :p (I'm 5'8")

Now, my VET is older (late 50s now) , but boy is he still a hottie! lol

WashingtonBay

07-31-2009, 02:28 PM

One of my vets is very darn cute... I've admitted before.

Funny... hubby often takes time off from work to be there when the vet comes... not so much the farrier! ;) LOL

4606

TheRedHayflinger

08-01-2009, 06:56 AM

I think my vet is kinda cute (even though he's way older than me..lol)....I think a LOT of it has to do with his heavy spanish accent (he is from Grenada Spain)

Joey A

08-03-2009, 07:12 AM

cheval

08-03-2009, 05:46 PM

I make it a point to keep myself very business oriented when I work for women. I do have a client that gives lessons to this lady that I have to watch my ass around. My client and I have had more than a few laughs about it, and we decided to schedule us on different days now.

I bet you get a lot of propositions! I bet HF does too. What is it about hot looking farriers??? LOL! :)

HoustonFarrier

08-04-2009, 10:46 AM

[...]I bet HF does too.

Nope....never...and I have had a ton of female owners, but I have never been hit on....or at least, I didn't 'catch' it????? I'm not always the brightest bulb in the package when it comes to these things :D

Steve

Tiz

08-04-2009, 11:02 AM

How did this go from tipping to being afraid to bend over a hoof? That your fault, wf? Oh wait, now I see it was natisha.
Steve? You probably missed it, but maybe you are being worshiped from afar.

hoofservant

08-04-2009, 04:13 PM

I have never tipped my farrier. Quite frankly, it never really occurred to me. Which is funny because people tip me periodically for bodywork on themselves, however never for bodywork on their animals.

When I had a farrier/trimmer, and wasn't trimming myself, I always brought hot drinks in the winter for them, cold drinks in the summer, they were invited to dinner and different parties we had at the barns. The horses were cleaned, sprayed and ready to go when they got there. And if I was running late, I always called them to let them know it and had the barn owner pull the horses out and get them ready.

The first one, I bought three horses from, so I think that was a great tip. And the last one charged $50 per trim, so after shelling out $100 for trims, I really didn't have the money for tips, just pop, water or hot cocoa. ;) The last trimmer initially came in to the new barn for just my pony, later for my gelding that we added to the roster and ended up with 2/3s of the barn as clients by the time I left from my recommendations and the proof of her good work on Sadie's feet.

cheval

08-04-2009, 05:43 PM

Nope....never...and I have had a ton of female owners, but I have never been hit on....or at least, I didn't 'catch' it????? I'm not always the brightest bulb in the package when it comes to these things :D

Steve

I'll bet you just didn't pick up on. And I'll be plenty were thinking about it.

Just sayin'.

:innocent: