About 20 years ago, Jessica McGrane wanted to begin a career as a farrier. She asked West Chester, Pa., farrier Dave Werkiser if she could learn the trade from him. Werkiser admits that he was at first hesitant, having had some previous helpers join his practice, but leave just when they became useful.

Eventually Werkiser agreed and McGrane began working for him. Over time, she proved Werkiser made the right decision, and McGrane has established a solid practice in Chester County, Pa. Over the years, the two have shared helpers who have gone on to also build practices or are still working with them.

Werkiser and McGrane shared their thoughts on the most important traits to uncover before taking on help. Along with fellow West Chester farriers Jason Hillman and Tanner Ernst, they identified four traits that junior farriers should bring before joining a practice.

1. You Must Have Horsemanship

McGrane says an apprentice should be someone who is comfortable around the horse. The group felt that because it is largely a combination of instinct and experience, it would likely prevent them from taking on someone lacking in horse experience. 

“It is hard enough to learn the trade to then have someone who is uncomfortable around the horse who lacks horsemanship,” she says. “Jason grew up on a farm, Tanner worked with pack mules in California and I was raised with horses. Without instincts around a horse, they can get themselves, the horse or other people hurt.”

Werkiser agrees, adding that someone lacking horsemanship is a legal liability to a farrier practice, if the assistant is unfamiliar with being around horses. He stresses awareness among his associates so that they always have a plan B.

“Don’t put yourself or the horse in a bad spot, but be aware of what could go wrong,” he says.

2. You Must be Reliable

Your mentor should establish expectations for reliability and explain the consequences before you join a practice. Of course there are limits, but you must be willing to work through soreness or not feeling well. Most successful farrier businesses rely on schedules. Especially with the high-end eventing horses in Werkiser’s  region. If the helper fails to show up, it not only places a burden on the lead farrier, but also is disruptive to other clients.

“If a farrier planned a day in which to do 15 horses, but the help doesn’t show up, the horses still need to be shod,” Werkiser says. “Because the lead farrier won’t be able to get those 15 done today, then it throws off tomorrow’s schedule.”

Hillman says it is crucial to demonstrate your skill set and reliability early so that you can take on greater responsibilities and contribute to the practice more so.

3. You Must Remain Cool

The crew agrees that maintaining composure is another necessary trait. This is important because clients typically give less leeway to the junior farrier. This patience can be difficult to maintain, especially after a long day of multiple stops.

Some clients like to talk, so everyone in the truck must remain pleasant with them,” says Werkiser, adding that it is a misconception to think that farriers don’t need to be “people persons.”

With a previous career in the culinary industry, Ernst compares farriers with bartenders.Customers tend to want to share their personal stories. Ernst often rides with McGrane and says he can benefit her as the lead farrier by interacting with those chatty clients so she can focus on the actual work. The group agrees that if the client asks the helper a question about the horse that can’t be answered with fact and certainty, the junior farrier should refer the client to the boss.

4. You Must Want to Improve

Ultimately, a successful apprentice must want it. If you are interviewed, focus on the attributes and talents you have, not on how much money you’ll earn. Discuss that your commitment to the trade doesn’t end when you leave your truck each day. To succeed as a helper, then as a farrier operating a practice, requires fortitude and sacrifice.

“The time frame to become useful in a farrier practice will differ person to person, but is tied to your self-
motivation,” says Hillman. “After a day of work, will you find time in the shop or time reading about horseshoeing? If not, you may become stagnant as a farrier.”