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.
Despite long, hard days and the dirty work of shoeing horses, farrier apprenticeships are in high demand in the U.K., according to The Guardian. There are nearly half a million horse-owning households there, instilling a passion for horseshoeing in the youth who are now seeking careers.
This week's facts and figures... Most Full-Time Farriers Attended Horseshoeing School. How Farriers Handle Emails. This edition of Farrier Facts & Figures is brought to you by Markel Insurance Co.
The first shoe I ever pulled off a horse took 45 minutes. My arms, hands, back and legs were screaming at me why are you doing this??? Beads of perspiration dripped into my eyes as my fingers gave their best death grip on tools that felt awkward and heavier with each passing second. Still, the shoe would not budge.
Even if you have graduated from shoeing school, this is just a start, in terms of practical knowledge. Learning from someone who has been shoeing horses for many years is invaluable.
Admittedly, I was harsh and not thorough enough in the detail in my critique of the institutional evaluation of farriers contributing to veterinary continuing education. Due to the brevity of the editorial, I didn't touch on the farrier's responsibility in this.
Greg Martin, CJF, of Boerne, Texas, takes the unique approach of marketing his hoof-care practice with a Christmas parade float in Boerne and Comfort, Texas. The award-winning float boasts a variety of surprising features.
Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.
From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.