Considering becoming a farrier, any advice?

[OnAhead]

I'm entertaining the idea of becoming a farrier. In researching how to become a farrier, it seems like there's the apprenticeship route and the farrier school route. Can anyone tell me about the pro's and con's of both? Any opionions on any farrier schools and if they're actually worth it?

[Bluey]

I would find a good farrier that lets you go along and start showing you how to do the very basics, pull shoes and such.

Most farriers will do that for you for a few days or so.
There are some top farriers that, if you really seem good and a good worker, with a good work ethic, that may offer, for a fee, a few months of apprenticeship, paying you some after you do start to carry your weight, not take more time to teach you than just do it himself.

After getting some experience in the field, you will get much more from a farrier school, as you will already know the very basics and can understand what they teach from your own experience.

You also will learn by following a farrier for a few days if you really want to do that for a steady job.

I learned for nine months, every afternoon, five days a week for a few hours, with our master farrier, that came to our riding school blacksmith shop to shoe our many horses.
We didn't have keg shoes in those days, so we made ours out of bar steel and spent almost as much time at the forge, as we did tending to the horse's feet.

I would still try to go to a farrier school for the certification, as some day it may be required, but I would first be sure that is what I wanted to do by working with a farrier first, before spending that time and money.

[goodhors]

Bluey gives good advice for starting. You will see real life with the farrier, learn more at the Farrier School by doing QUANTITY type shoeing, getting exposure to all the animals that arrive there. Good or bad, they leave trimmed or shod.

To be a success, you have to be self-motivated. You have to ask a lot of yourself, and keep on doing that day after day, like any other "REAL" job. You get up on schedule, go out, just like any paying job. You are courteous, respond to calls promptly, SHOW UP as scheduled. You live with the appointment book.

You have to consider shoeing as a true business. Pay your taxes, charge rates that will allow you to stay in business. No cut rates for doing a barn. It takes you the same time, wear and tear on body and tools, to get each horse done, but you make less profit with "special rates". Cuts your profit margins dangerously low. Rates need to be figured to cover your traveling time, not just the hour or so you work on the horse. Actually, hiring a person or business to manage your accounts can SAVE you money by pointing out problems in your rates, unprofitable customers, poor inventory control. They can point out cost saving measures like clothing expenses, business expenses that are deductable.

You need to be constantly learning, which is where school and clinics expose you to new ideas or methods of helping solve problems. Following a single farrier may limit your learning curve, some are just not "open" to new ideas, don't practice good business methods.

You come home from a day of work and eat, go out to the shop and make shoes of all kinds. You NEED to know many kinds of shoe types, to be a farrier who can help with various problems on horses. Making these shoes has to be easier for you from practicing, so you can done in a reasonable time for the customers. Fire and anvil skills in working metal develop with MUCH practice, LOTS of hammer work. Fire in the forge is your friend, makes moving the steel easier, so your body will last longer. Lots of jokes in blacksmithing and farrier work about hammering cold steel, and they are all about sterotyping the poor working, hammer holder.

If you are female, you will need to prove yourself. Sorry, but there have been a LOT of lesser female farriers ahead of you and they often leave a bad impression for for those still coming along to overcome. Much talk and poor performance. The few very good female farriers are much respected, but they have paid their dues, proven they have staying power along with excellent skills. A good farrier is a good farrier, male or female, but you have to demonstrate those skills, not just talk people to death.

There is a high attrition rate in graduating farriers. Usually less than 50% in business after a year, with maybe 20% in five years. With more time, the rates go up sharply. I think my husband is the only farrier still working from his class, with over 30years in the business. That school put out about 4 classes a year, with good numbers in each class, 20 or so. So MAYBE 4 farriers left from that year still working from 80+ graduates. Likely he is the only one still going. Farriers all know each other and he never mentions any of his classmates being around anymore. We hear of the local "new" farriers and how they disappear in 1-2 years.

The ones who have ridden with husband come back after while and say how he tricked them! All the women holding horses were pretty, horses stood like they were trained to! And the worst part, husband made the work look "So EASY" because he is so very skillful!! Shoeing was usually an hour, trims are 15mins or less. Even shoeing 6-8 in a barn didn't look difficult and they watched him collect "all that MONEY!" None of those ride-alongs stayed as working farriers for very long, not self-starters. Happier working in shops or other jobs.

Work is VERY HARD but rewarding to yourself. Again you have to be a self-starter to keep getting up every day and driving off to work.

[matryoshka]

Ask this question on www.horseshoes.com.

Personally, I think schooling, then apprenticing. I've seen a few come right out of school, think they learned enough not to need an apprenticeship, mess up the feet of a few horses, and leave the area. Presumably they get to start over with a clean slate having learned from their mistakes in one particular area. It seems much better to begin real work under the watchful eye of an experienced farrier who can prevent such mistakes. May not make much money starting out, but the education will be much more thorough. That benefits the horse community.

[equineartworks]

I love my farrier. I will never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever do anything that makes him not like me or my horses. He is worth every cent he charges and more. My horses like him too

He is a graduate of the farrier school at Cornell and covers for Mike Wildenstein often...love him, love him, love him.

I say shadow and research...that way you can get a feel of the profession and educational programs!

[CosMonster]

I think Bluey and Goodhors gave excellent advice, but I wouldn't worry about seriously apprenticing before school. For one thing, a lot of farriers I have worked with won't take someone on if they haven't been to school. Try to find someone you can ride with for a week or so to see if the job is something you really want to do, then go to school. Afterward that come back and find an good apprenticeship if you can.

[nappingonthejob]

Choose a school very carefully. The internet is a great tool in figuring out who's a big deal and actually RESPECTED in the industry, and who isn't. After graduating and looking for someone to apprentice with, it can make a difference when cold calling people to say you went to X's school rather than Y's. Plus, a reputable instructor will probably be able to help you find someone to work with after leaving their program.

Also look at program length, class size, and how many horses you'll be getting under. Do you want to spend a month with 50 people (new ones every week) fighting over a dozen dead feet, or do you want to spend 4 months with 15 of the same people getting under as many real live horses a day as you can handle?

Once you do the most basic of research, it isn't hard to figure out which program I'm recommending

[OnAhead]

Thank you for all the advice! I'm starting to talk to local farriesr to see about shadowing them, as well as researching schools.
I am a women, so I recognize that it's going to be more of a challenge to make my start in the industry. I like challenges and I like hard work. I've given a lot of thought considering motivations for wanting to be involved in the field. I've always wanted horse related career, but knew I wasn't cut out to be an instructor, trainer, or BO. I loved the science behind veterinary medicine, but didn't want 8 years of traditional school. I love working outside and putting in a good days work. I've also struggled with finding a farrier who was both reliable and that I trusted with my horses feet. Now I guess I just have to do some shadowing and figure out if it's really what I want!

[foundationmare]

Take care of your back!!!!!!

[Bluey]

If you are short and squatty, you will do fine.
If you are tall and skinny, learn to bend your knees to protect your back and shoulders.

Start an easy, short exercise routine today and keep it up, with changes so you exercise different parts, some aerobic, some strenght and flexibility exercises.
Think about it as one chore, like brushing your teeth, or feeding your horses, something you would not think to forget.

That will keep your body working best thru your life.

[ThirdCharm]

I'm a woman and am a certified farrier; I'm married to a Master farrier, so I'd go to some of his stops with him so I had an idea what it would be like, if not for that I would have shadowed, gone to a good school, and then apprenticed. Hubby has had several helpers over the years.... usually they would work with him 2-3 days/week, they were paid about 30% of the overall receipts for the days they worked (out of his truck, they just needed their own hand tools, in 2-3 days they made more than the average American worker makes in a week), and usually after a year or two they would split off and take part of the 'route' with them, with his blessing.

Treat it like a business and charge enough, once you learn enough to justify it, so you don't have to kill yourself annd wreck your body. Have health insurance, a retirement plan, etc. Do the best work you are capable of and don't cut corners. If you don't know how to fix something, admit it. Don't be a snake-oil salesman and above all DON'T START BELIEVING YOUR OWN PRESS. That wrecks a lot of young farriers who are trying to start out and build a rep... they have a little success, start thinking they are "all that", and once you start thinking you know it all, you stop learning.....

Jennifer

[equineartworks]

Jennifer...such good advice!

The "snake-oil" thing...I know that well. When I was interviewing farriers for Dumplin' there were at least three that irritating the living daylights out of me with their "everyone else is wrong but me" and my favorite "I can cure his crooked leg" attitude. One in particular really had me in hysterics with his attitude...he said, and I kid you not, that the Cornell farrier department was old school and that they are crippling horses. NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!

[Melelio]

Check out the forums on www.horseshoes.com . I'm sure they will all have much input there on your questions

[merrygoround]

Go to school, picking it carefully, then do an apprenticeship.

Going to school will give you an eye and an ear for good people to do your apprenticeship with. As previously stated, all farriers are not created equal.

I'm very happy with mine.

[equinelaw]

Buy a thesaurus and learn to use the quote functions on BB and forums really well

[Bluey]

Just remember, horseshoeing is not all about the horses, the owners are to be taken into consideration also, since they pay the bills.
Some will drive you nuts.
Can you handle that day in, day out and stay polite and professional?
Being a good farrier is really not enough.
You need to be a good businessman and have some basic social skills to sell yourself to enough customers.

I will reiterate, go shadow a horseshoer before you put your money and time and energy on going to school, because once in real farrier life, you may not like it as well as you thought you may.

[matryoshka]

Buy a thesaurus and learn to use the quote functions on BB and forums really well

[matryoshka]

I will reiterate, go shadow a horseshoer before you put your money and time and energy on going to school, because once in real farrier life, you may not like it as well as you thought you may.

Sound advice.

In addition to dealing with people, you have to be able to take criticism. I'm often the first person called, before the vet, if a horse has a problem. Thin skin is a liability, and one needs to be polite and open minded when talking with owners.

[equineartworks]

Buy a thesaurus and learn to use the quote functions on BB and forums really well

LOL!

[ThirdCharm]

Very good point about dealing with people. OH and #1 about dealing with people..... DON'T try to fix a misbehaving horse. EVER. Unless the owner says straight up "Now, Chief here can be a jerk on his back feet, you let me know how you want to handle it, I've got a twitch etc....".... these are the enlightened owners and you can probably work with them. If a horse is trying to kick the snot out of you while the owner stands there going "now, now, snoogie woogums, let her pick up your poor widdle footsie", and react to the suggestion of restraint (such as a twitch) with dismay or, worse, an expression of puzzlement, put on your best professional manner and tell them "I'd really like to shoe your horse but this is too dangerous, sorry, I can come back when you can get a shot or when you've had a chance to work with him..." (or better yet recommend someone you really dislike to do the dang horse).... Or something along those lines. The types of people who own psycho horses and think you should be perfectly fine with risking life and limb for the privilege of shoeing them, are the types of people who will be mad at you for YEARS if you so much as raise your voice to their Little Darling. They get over being mad about you NOT shoeing their horse much, much faster and are much, much less vocal about it. (people will believe "my farrier hit my horse for no reason" but are less likely to believe that snoogie woogums was standing there all innocent and the farrier wanted him drugged!)

Jennifer