FARRIER APPOINTMENTS
Currently farrier appointments are offered Tuesday through Friday and scheduled to start anywhere from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Some rare exceptions are made solely at my discretion and abilities.
Some rare exceptions are made solely at my discretion and abilities.
SCHEDULING LARGE STABLES
Larger stables with many horses are straightforward to schedule.
A day of the week which is convenient for both parties is selected (Tue-Fri generally)
That day then becomes the repeat "Farrier Day" which I plan on working at that stable.
We plan as many days as needed for the total number of horses to be worked on.
That could be every week, every other week, every third week... Occasionally it may look like 2 weeks on, one week off.
Dedicating a day to farrier work and repeating that day on some weekly cycle guarantees I am in the barn for routine farrier work, and take care of any potential surprises along the way.
A day of the week which is convenient for both parties is selected (Tue-Fri generally)
That day then becomes the repeat "Farrier Day" which I plan on working at that stable.
We plan as many days as needed for the total number of horses to be worked on.
That could be every week, every other week, every third week... Occasionally it may look like 2 weeks on, one week off.
Dedicating a day to farrier work and repeating that day on some weekly cycle guarantees I am in the barn for routine farrier work, and take care of any potential surprises along the way.
LONG TERM SCHEDULING
What It Means:
Easy, worry-free appointments, generally scheduled out in 6 month blocks
My preferred scheduling method for 98% of the horses on my books.
I use this method for nearly all of my larger stables and private owners.
PROS:
CONS:
My preferred scheduling method for 98% of the horses on my books.
I use this method for nearly all of my larger stables and private owners.
PROS:
- Horses are guaranteed hoof care
- Essentially they have a dedicated time block. If changes need to happen, it's easy to shift these time blocks.
- Prevents over-scheduling problems.
- No waiting to hear back about when your next appointment is.
- Clients know upcoming appointments months in advance
- Easier to plan shows, clinics, events etc.
- Long-Term Scheduling horses are always top priority over new clients or those who wish to go with Short-Term Scheduling
CONS:
- Takes a bit of time to set up
- I have to sit in my office drinking coffee. Poor me.
How It's Done:
This is a very different approach to scheduling within the farrier community, and it requires a bit of work upfront.
From each client, I need to know:
IF CHANGES NEED TO HAPPEN:
Just let each other know, find an appropriate time block to swap with, and carry on. It's that easy.
Occasional changes are expected. Frequent repeated changes within a 6 month block warrant a re-evaluation & possible renegotiation of services.
From each client, I need to know:
- How many horses will you have on the schedule? Will that number fluctuate at all?
- How often would you want your horses trimmed or shod? (6 weeks is average)
- How many of each: trims, half sets, full sets?
- What shows, clinics or events will I have to plan around?
- What day of the week and time generally works best for you?
IF CHANGES NEED TO HAPPEN:
Just let each other know, find an appropriate time block to swap with, and carry on. It's that easy.
Occasional changes are expected. Frequent repeated changes within a 6 month block warrant a re-evaluation & possible renegotiation of services.
SHORT TERM SCHEDULING
What It Means:
A traditional approach to farrier appointments & my less preferred method.
NOT available larger stables.
ONLY available to VERY understanding clients who ONLY have trims.
Appointments are scheduled one of two ways:
PROS:
NOT available larger stables.
ONLY available to VERY understanding clients who ONLY have trims.
Appointments are scheduled one of two ways:
- At the end of the current appointment
- When I am able to get back to a client after they reach out.
PROS:
- Client can make appointment when needed
- I may not respond to your call text or email as soon as you would like (yes, possibly weeks)
- I am busy balancing between my Long-Term Scheduling clients and a healthy personal life
- I might not able to make it out for 6 weeks from when you call.
- Your horse might be lame and their hooves could look really bad because they went too long between appointments.
- Your horse could look bad, walk bad AND have to wait before:
- You hear back from me
- You are able to have me out to work on your horse
How It's Done:
A few things I need clients to understand before choosing this method:
WHAT CAN SHORT-TERM SCHEDULING CLIENTS DO TO HELP:
- You chose this method. Better methods are available.
- You accept all potential outcomes of this method
- You understand the possible detriment to your horses hooves with this method and accept all responsibility for that.
- You understand I will take time to get back to you, possibly weeks
- You understand that when I respond, it may be another 6 weeks before I can get your horse on the schedule.
WHAT CAN SHORT-TERM SCHEDULING CLIENTS DO TO HELP:
- Give PLENTY of time
- Reach out 4 weeks prior to when you think your horse might need to be trimmed, AT MINIMUM.
- Be patient and understanding
- I have a lot of other horses on the books who have dedicated appointments at 2, 3, even 6 months in advance. These people have taken the time and effort to help make this happen and their horses will get first priority.
- Consider Long Term Scheudling
- If you don't like the outcomes or risks, consider committing to consistent, reliable repeat appointments.
NOTE:
For the few owners on the books who do currently utilize this method, it works very well for their horses and their life styles.
These few horses have rock solid hooves, zero significant lameness issues, and currently lead easy retired lives.
These owners are great folks who care a lot about their animals, know them well, and are very in-tune with how to best navigate setting up appointments as we go.
If owners utilize this method and I see that it is having an significant negative impact on their horse's hooves, I will always put the horse's first and require owners to switch to Long-Term Scheduling if they wish to continue with Finger Lakes Forge.
For the few owners on the books who do currently utilize this method, it works very well for their horses and their life styles.
These few horses have rock solid hooves, zero significant lameness issues, and currently lead easy retired lives.
These owners are great folks who care a lot about their animals, know them well, and are very in-tune with how to best navigate setting up appointments as we go.
If owners utilize this method and I see that it is having an significant negative impact on their horse's hooves, I will always put the horse's first and require owners to switch to Long-Term Scheduling if they wish to continue with Finger Lakes Forge.
MOVING FORWARD
If you've made it this far I appreciate your tenacity
Feel free to reach out and make an appointment with me directly or send me any questions you may have regarding these policies.
Thank you again for your time and consideration
Best,
Matthew Rice, CJF
Feel free to reach out and make an appointment with me directly or send me any questions you may have regarding these policies.
Thank you again for your time and consideration
Best,
Matthew Rice, CJF