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A day at the stables
- Thread starter diamondlil
- Start date
luckycharm318
New member
I don't want to butt in, but... While I cannot speak knowingly about the requirements for being a farrier across the pond, I would guess that the "requirements" are similar to those here in the US. While there are no real requirements that I've ever heard of, individuals could attend school to learn the trade, or they could be an apprentice to a working farrier to gain knowledge and experience. There are many farrier schools popping up across the US and they are now teaching business skills along with the technical skills of shoeing. Some offer classes as short as two weeks, while others offer year-long programs. Although a formal education is not required, if you have little to no experience at all, no one will allow you to work on their horses hooves. Reputation is key. 
VickyChaiTea
Snake enthusiast
It's a little known secret that my dream job is to become a ferrier.
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
From what Mike has told me, I believe there's formal training requirements to become an approved farrier and have a licence to work in the UK. Here's a link to the professional body, the Worshipful Company of Farriers about training;
http://www.wcf.org.uk/diploma_examination_manual_2007/1_introduction
I know that Mike is a Master Farrier with responsability to arrange continuing education for farriers in the area, such as the horse nutrition study day Kim and I went to as his guests.
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
I did ask Kim if Merlin's due his dentist, because that's twice hes bolted now and this tim it was actually harder to regain control. I don't want to lose my nerve or get injured by him being a toad, this bolt was an @ 1/4 mile gallop before I could pull him up. Luckily it's flat, open land and the footing was good this weekend so he didn't slip and I was able to plant myself firmly into the saddle but I can't say I enjoyed the experience.
RowanRR
Delighted long enough.
Yeah, it's not a fun feeling when you realize you've lost control. When Chica bolted the other night, I knew I was just along for the ride... so I got mad and started kicking her to go faster so that she would see that if she was going to be stupid, she was going to have to work even harder. It was still rather nerve-wracking. The reason I think her teeth are bothering her is because she flung her head up anytime I picked up her reins or asked her to back- and she is never saucy like that. Good for you being able to ride-out Merlin's silliness!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
I'm just so glad I didn't fall off! As you can imagine, I've now read about a couple of hundred 'how to' internet responses to bolting. The problems I have are that Merlin's balance isn't great, so getting him to a gradual circle and downward transitions was really the best I could do, he's not mine so while I personally feel he could do with a check over for physical problems such as his teeth and back and if they are clear a real return to basics groundwork and schooling program Kim doesn't agree and I can't make her do so, and I'm not sure I could get the timing right on a 1-rein stop without making Merlin fall over.
Nanci
Alien Lover
You could do it! It's a hard job, doesn't pay well, it's hard in the winter, and you probably shouldn't plan on doing it for your whole life, but it's fun. It's a nice skill to have for your own horses and friends' horses after you "retire" from doing it for a living.
VickyChaiTea
Snake enthusiast
I'm not strong enough to be one, not right now at least. Not many lady ferriers because of that, I'd assume. But still, I'd love to get some training and do it on the side.
RowanRR
Delighted long enough.
I know what you're saying... I used to ride a horse that had awful balance- he'd trip just walking in a small circle. I would never have yanked him into a circle had he run away with me, since we both probably would have ate it! It does suck when the horse isn't yours and you can see things that need to be done for it that the owner doesn't see... does she ever ride him? If he pulls that with her maybe she'll decide to do something about it...
wade
Save The Humans
When I was in college I used to help a guy exercise quarter horses that were used in the Cutter Races. They were high strung and pumped full of grain. It was like sitting on a box of dynamite playing with matches. You knew it was going to go off, you just didn’t know when. I had a 2 year old mare about a mile from the barn one afternoon and she decided it was time to go home. She turned around and went at a full run back to the barn. All I could do is hold on and hope for the best. I hate horses.
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Kim is quite a bit taller and heavier than me and her riding style is quite a bit more heavy-handed than me. Merlin did start trying to bolt with her a couple of years ago and she went for a stronger bit, changing from a snaffle to a Myler eggbutt. I'm not really happy having to use stronger aids again, just as Merlin was getting lighter in my hands and more responsive to ride. I'm wondering if he's not happy being used for lunge lessons at the weekends instead of getting out for a proper ride? He's been getting much fitter again with all the hillwork we've been doing too, so whereas he'd be puffing after a 2 hour hack he's just warmed up now!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
That sounds like the stories from when my sister worked with point to point thoroughbreds and hunters! The difference is, Merlin is a 10 year old cob, he should in theory be a bomb-proof steady hack by now. I still love him to pieces.
RowanRR
Delighted long enough.
Haha, you're only helping him out by getting him into shape! It sounds like he's just trying to take advantage of you- I agree that ground work would be a good thing for him, if you could do it. However, I know that when you are only able to ride a couple of times a week, you want to actually RIDE- I have a Friesian mare that I'm working with that needs a lot of ground work, but I only get to see her every so often, and then I'm like, "I could work with you on this for one day, or I could just get on and ride and have fun... hmm...!".
I once rode a National Show Horse (1/2 Saddlebred and 1/2 Arabian) that felt like a stick of dynamite... and that was just at home. I couldn't even imagine taking him to a show or anywhere away from the farm.
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Honestly, if getting Merlin right again meant stopping riding and 6 months of groundwork, I'd be happy to do it. I really enjoy the Parelli games, especially with Merlin because he can do them at the Liberty level, without any halter on, and he can also do all the ridden work with just a carrot stick. But he's not mine and I can't dictate what happens when I visit so until Kim decides he'd benefit from more groundwork it's not going to happen.
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Just back from spending the weekend at Cathy's. The ponies are shedding their coats in handfuls, so most of our time with them was spent in going over them with the american groomers (like a sweat scraper, but toothed, great for getting mud off or loose hair) resulting in huge piles of hair that will no doubt line the nests of the local song birds. No riding, but plenty of playing, including Luna's first official Parelli session.
She came forwards to very little pressure but needed very firm cueing to back up, and did some very nice turns around her forehand. She's if anything, a little too bold and will walk all over you if given the chance. Sending her away needs quite a firm approach, but the results were lovely, with a much more respectful attitude from her.
In contrast, her half-sister Lola isn't quite ready to start, she's more flighty and spooky and it's a triumph to get her to approach and be groomed all over.
She came forwards to very little pressure but needed very firm cueing to back up, and did some very nice turns around her forehand. She's if anything, a little too bold and will walk all over you if given the chance. Sending her away needs quite a firm approach, but the results were lovely, with a much more respectful attitude from her.
In contrast, her half-sister Lola isn't quite ready to start, she's more flighty and spooky and it's a triumph to get her to approach and be groomed all over.
Attachments
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Haha! They live out, year 'round, no clipping, no rugs. As they are native ponies they grow more than enough coat to get that fuzzy look! As soon as you've brushed them they get the urge to roll in the mud anyway. We can't wait to see what colour the fillies will be this year, they should both end up grey eventually but their base coat is completely different, with Luna's being strawberry and Lola's being black/bay.