Becoming a Successful Farrier

Horseshoeing may look easy when you are watching a skilled farrier in action, but what appears to look simple is quite physically demanding and complex, and has probably taken many years to master. There are various ways to start your career as a farrier. Attending a short course at a farrier school, working and learning with a master of the trade in your spare time, or starting an apprenticeship are just the beginning of a life long rewarding career. The farrier’s craft takes years to master and good farriers recognize the importance of continuing to learn more and improve their skills therefore raising the standards of their own craftsmanship and the profession in general. Only you can decide if becoming a skilled, educated farrier is worth the effort.

The demand for skilled farriers has never been greater; the number of people who can afford and own their own horses is increasing yearly. The amount of money spent on horses as a business or a hobby is considerable. Each of these horses feet need professional care every six weeks, the old saying “No Hoof, No Horse” is as important today as it was 100 years ago, or maybe even more so. Farriers who perform quality craftsmanship, possess good communication skills and have sound business knowledge can earn a substantial income comparable to other professionals.

There are no formal registration or licensing requirements for farriers in Australia. Frequently horse owners do not recognize quality craftsmanship (until there is a hoof related problem), and price and service become more important. Horse owners should feel as confident with their chosen farrier as they do with their veterinarian or other professional. They should feel comfortable asking questions related to the care of their horses hoof and receive accurate understandable answers. Horse owners need to do their own research in their local area to find the right professional for their horses hoof care requirements.

In the past, the only way to become a qualified farrier was to serve an apprenticeship, usually lasting four years. In our modern world, this is becoming more difficult as;

Very few students want to start from the ground up, most want to start work immediately.

Very few expert craftsmen are also expert teachers. Complementary skills and business knowledge are crucial to success in today’s society.

A career in farriery requires a range of skills including physical fitness, mental reasoning, emotional confidence and spiritual awareness. The successful farrier must be skilled in horsemanship, conformation, anatomy and physiology, forging and shoemaking, as well as business and people skills. The love of horses is also necessary.

If you desire to become a farrier, you need certain qualities;

• Average intelligence
• Have good communication skills.
• High level of desire
• Be comfortable around horses
• Above average mechanical ability
• A strong healthy body
• Good health habits and a strong mind
• An eye for detail
• Be Self motivated
• Be courteous and service orientated

Attitude to learning is also very important, you need to take responsibility for your learning. The foundations of the art of horseshoeing are skill, knowledge and attitude. If you start out with the right attitude, a will to succeed and an open mind, you will meet and work with mentors who will give you a leg up and help you with your skills and knowledge.

In America there are about 50 public and private farrier schools offering training in the art of horseshoeing. In Australia, there are weekend workshops, trade schools for apprentices and just one farrier school offering intensive courses. The Sunshine Coast Farrier Blacksmith Academy (Sunshine Coast, Queensland). The curriculum at the academy is based on a thorough research of many of the best farrier schools in America, adapting learning to the Australian industry, emphasizing mastery of the basics.

 If becoming a farrier interests you, a farrier school might be the place to start, as a novice farrier can learn the basic principals of becoming a farrier. With motivation and desire, the novice farrier can excel through hours of practice and application on sound horses. With time and patience, the accuracy and speed of completing the task will improve and the skill level will rise.

Some areas to look into before choosing a farrier school are:

• Instructors need to be respected by other professionals in the field, be Experienced, have credentials and a good reputation.
• The curriculum should provide planned experiences that allow the time necessary to improve your skills.
• There should be a wide variety of safe horses to practice on.
• A low teacher to student ratio, for one on one attention.
• Equipment should be available to practice with after hours.
• Reasonable accommodation is desirable.
• Ongoing assistance after the course is finished.
• Apprenticeship, mentor or job placement assistance.
• Teachers that posses good attitudes.
• An enjoyable learning environment.
• A strong Business component

On completion of an intensive farrier course the student should have a sound knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the leg, equine conformation and horse handling. The student will be competent in the use and maintenance of the tools of the trade. The student should be confident and competent in the practical applications of trimming, forging shoes and shoeing sound horses. The student will also have a high level of information on running a successful business.

Its not just students that want to become professional farriers that come to farrier schools. Students that would like to care for the feet of the horses in their own stables, students that wish to further their knowledge of the horse industry, and students who wish to possess additional skills to enhance employment opportunities attend farrier training. 

If you have a passion for horses, high commitment levels, and a belief in life long learning, then becoming a successful farrier is an extremely rewarding career.

By Mark Hogno

www.smartfarrier.com

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