Farriery apprentiship

[Cneifiwr]

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking of becoming an apprentice farrier - and am having a few problems, can anyone help?

I'm 33 years old, married and a father! Does anyone think I'm too old? Or if being a father might affect anything ?

I'm also over qualified and am too old for the normal funding! Does anyone know of other sources of funding or have any other ideas on getting funding?

Please help?

Thanks Cneifiwr!

[SpottyTB]

Hello , I cant offer an info on funding (i'll speak to my OH when he gets home..) but my OH is a farrier.. well he's in his last year of his apprenticeship. I don't think your to old, the one thing i will say is look after your back, OH is 21 and goes to the chiropractor twice a month - just as maintenance, if he didn't i don't think he'd be able to do the hours he does.

As for being a father, the thing you'll have to consider is the going away (if you do your apprenticeship like my OH has) .. college is done in blocks, the first block was for 6 weeks, second was either 3 or 4 weeks.. they are usually 3 week blocks every 6 months. You will have to get a lot of forge time in, as making shoes/tools is a big part of it, if OH had the time, he'd be in the forge 3 evenings in the week and at least 2 hours at the weekend.. unfortunetly time's lacking as he has so much on, and only really manages to get in a few hours a week.

Sorry i can't help more, but that's my opinion on it all.. i'll chat to OH.. if you have any further questions about apprenticeships, pm me and i'll get OH to reply tonight?

[Cneifiwr]

Thanks for the info!

I have so many questions, I don't know were to start!

Has your OH enjoyed his apprenticeship? What have been the highs/ lows?

How long was it before he shod a horse ? Does he travel to places on his own to shoe?

Does he plan his own days ?

I've got a hundred more questions but I think that's enough for now!

Thanks

Cneifiwr

[SpottyTB]

Hi again - sorry for late reply!!

He's loved his apprenticeship, every single moment of it, the only lows there have been are going to college (leaving his family etc).. He lives to do the job he's training to do, and or though it's hard work, it is rewarding!

Last week he trimmed a donkey at a rescue center, this donkey hadn't had a trim for at least a year, it's poor toes were curled right up! He trimmed it back as much as possible - not so much that it was lame but enough to make it comfortable. He said when she put her foot down on the floor, she simply sighed and lifted the other for him before he even asked! He said he was nearly in tears, it may be just an animal but he said that donkey had so much appreciation in its eyes, it was such a reward!

I believe he shod a horse properly in his first year (i think) but he'd been taking shoes of his own horse since he was 11 (under supervision) so he had a little previous experience of taking off shoes! The new apprentice his boss has, has only just started taking shoes off, (in his 4th month) he trims up and clenches up but won't start shoeing for a few months yet! OH said there were some lads last year (2/3 years) who had only just started shoeing, depends on your boss and what he believes your capable off!

OH is in his last year now, and his boss sends him out every Tuesday with the diary and he does the whole day on his own without supervision. If his boss has double booked OH is trusted to go and do the other appointment.. so yes he's out now occasionally shoeing on his own. He has his own van to work from - so he can, but if you don't have your own van to work from, i suppose you couldn't go out on your own as you wouldn't have the equipment to shoe. - depends on your boss entirely!

OH doesn't plan his own days as he's obviously still an apprentice farrier and it's his boss's business, but he does get given the diary when he goes out on his own and he will re book people in, take money etc etc so i suppose you learn how to run your own business whilst working. I believe in college you do business studies anyway! .

The only other Low i can think that bother's OH is when people say "XXX has lost a shoe, T (OH) must have shod that one last time" or "XXX is lame, did T trim/shoe that last time?"

or they will ask OH's boss if what OH is doing is correct, "that doesn't look right to me, BOB (we'll call his boss bob) is that right?"

That's the only thing that winds OH up, it's like seriously, i don't think BOB would allow him to do it if there was any risk of him not being able to do the job! It goes right over T's head though and he doesn't let it get to him, and usually it's BOB who'd shod it before or it's the horse pratting around the field!

anymore Q's feel free to pm or comment again and i'll keep checking!