So as to not derail the demagnitising thread, Do you clean up after yourself in the shoeing area,isle,wash rack , drive . If so why ? I do not, and will post why if folks are interested. ray
I always try to leave it at least a bit nicer. I heard Danny Ward say once; "The most important tool on your truck is a broom". First time at a big barn, I was sweeping up after packing to leave. The owner, a high end rider, trainer and Olympic Judge, walked up and said not to worry about that. I replied that it's part of my job. She thanked me and said that she didn't think that it was a Farrier's responsibility to sweep up, but that she sure hated coming around the corner and seeing a big mess after they left.
yrs ago a friend, doing demolition on an industrial site, gave me 60 8' cold start fluorescent fixtures w/bulbs. After I used as many as I could ,on my place, I proceeded to install them, 2 at a time, for no charge in those dark barns I had to work in. Most owners did realize how dark it was in the "shoeing spot" with 1 dirty 100 watt bulb, till the fluorescent lights went up. Surprise! Surprise! Some purchased additional lights for the rest of the barn, most didn't. A lot of those work areas became "Brian's", often I've been asked for permission by other shoers to use it and I graciously obliged. I did repossess a couple of lights after I was fired; that was sweet.
I always clean up after my self guess I just think it's respectful to do so. If I can't find a trash can I at least sweep it on a nice pile.
I am the same as Zach. But would like to hear why you dont. I have gotten accounts because others wouldnt sweep up.
Bill, I saw a similar quote attributed to Bud Beaston, in the farriers journal, I also heard Bud Beaston say that it s not the farriers job to clean up, that we are there to shoe horses. I don t for the same reasons that I don t go out to pastures or paddocks or stalls to bring horses up to the shoeing area, liability, or the increase of it. I have always said that my job is to shoe the horse, the other stuff is on the horseowner, in so doing and having had it a policy for so long I believe that my liability for whatever is significantly reduced. I also will not shoe alone, not just because if I get clunked at 8 am ,that I don t want to lie around till someone shows up, if they show up, but I also don t want to be on someones property without them being there. oh yeah, I don t do windows either Ray
I figure I'm hired to shoe, But not to leave a mess. A roofer dosent leave the old nails and roof on the ground. It's all ways the way they left it. If the barn is unswept I do clean the area I will shoe in. It is mostly just dirt and loose hay. Even if it just in a pile and not picked up.
I do sweep up, often before I start so the area is better to work on. I would not be impressed if a tradesman turned up at my house and I had to clean up his mess. But mainly so I can shoe better and avoid clenching. Dont even get me on picking out the feet or lack of it.!
the grooms at the track sweep up afterwards; and the trainer will get mad if you do clean up. private barns is different; depends on the owners; but just about all of mine say I'll do that~~~ a couple I do sweep up I only have a few that even pick out the feet at all; but only when they tack up to go on a ride.
David, I see it that different folk get"impressed " by different things, for me ,I would wish to impress only with my main work, the farrier side. I. Know folk who get impressed by a $90,000 rig, and owners of the rig having trouble making ends meet. Ron, Roofers do clean up by contract, usually, and figure in that hourly cost into the estimate,contract, hell, pay me at the farrier rate and I ll sweep up the barn, wash the windows, and pick up the nails that the roofer leaves behind! Michael, Have you given any thought to mowing the lawns, painting the house, doing the laundry etc. as away to pick up more of those accts. . my bet is that it was your farrier work that got you the accts.. ray
Ray its possible that my skill got me the work. But with as bad as my back feels today I will consider the other jobs you listed.
I clean up because I never thought not to really..I thought cleaning up after ones self was standard.. we got axx busted growing up if a mess was left...daddy was the only one allowed to make a mess and leave it...im guessing seeing how he kept the power on he got a pass..but I also clean up the manure and all hoof shavings in a 10 gal garbage can abd then bring it home each night and dump it in my big composting pile...I then use it on my yard ..flowers..garden..and give it to others for there flower beds...
Ray you don't dirty their cloths, weather their house, dirty their windows or make their grass grow. You do create a work place hazard that someone could theoretically slip or fall on in leaving a mess behind. I can only speak for Irish workplace regulations but by not cleaning or ensuring that a hazard is being cleaned up by another you are liable.
When I get my hair trimmed at the hair salon I do not sweep it up afterwards-the person who cut the hair sweeps the mess. When I make a mess creating hoof trimmings at someone's barn I sweep it up. If I can't find a broom at the barn, not a problem, I just use the one I rode in on.
I carry a broom in my rig to always cleanup after I shoe..I may just leave it in a pile or if a shovel is handy and trash can close I pick it up..I also sweep between horses and sometimes after each hoof..I like my box to be able to roll and sometimes trimmed hoof gets caught under my wheels..it is also a Professional approach in my opinion..but seeing as how I started behind animals in the first place , I still haven't forgotten the basic's of husbandry.
i hate when horse owners tack up in the wash racks or tacking rack and the horse does its business and they ride off never given a thought to should they pick it up..kids are the worst about it..teaching the riders to pick up is just all parts of being a rider..
Some barns I clean up in, some I don't. If the owner takes pride enough to keep a clean barn, I clean up after. If the barn is bad enough, I may clean up before work, but not after. I don't feel that cleaning up after is a responsibility, I feel that is a courtesy to be extended where it will be appreciated. Regards