Firstly, I don't want to criticize the role of apprenticeships in farriery. One only need to see the awesome work of Smitty's Apps that he posts here to see that truly excellent tradesmen are the result when you get good lads under the right Master. But, a (true) story: My Old Man was actually a blacksmith app in the North of England when WW2 broke out. He immediately enlisted and was eventually sent of to North Africa to fight Rommel's lot. He came back with a gaping hole in his forehead and an part of his frontal lobe missing. Two years later, he gets out of hospital, his job in blacksmithing no longer available and wondering what the hell to do with his life. So he did a six week course in upholstery for returned servicemen and got a job doing crap upholstery in Newcastle. Deciding he was pretty good as this caper, he applies for a business license to set up an upholstery shop in Newcastle, but the council knocks him back on the basis that there is already a business like that in the area. He moves to London and starts a business with a partner coach trimming Bentlys and Rollers. Does well but eventually getting naffed off with Britain, he immigrates to Canada (where your's truly appeared on the scene). Things don't work out there so off again to SoCal where he starts a business that eventually the largest manufacturer/retailer of furniture in SoCal at that time. Tragedy happens, my brother is involved in an accident... the upshot of which my family loses everything via litigation (long story boring details) We move to Perth Western Aust to start again. He starts another manufacturing business, which is a stunning success, the highlights of which are a Premier's Award for business excellence and an Australian Design Award for design innovation... exports excellent quality upholstery all over Australia, Japan and SE Asia, with some clients you would never believe if I told you. All from a six week course in upholstery, he never did an apprenticeship and never held a tradesman's ticket. Not only that, he had the brain injury as well. So my point: Apprenticeships are a great tool for teaching skills, when you have the right master and the right lad. But it is not the only path. There are examples all over the place of people who have excelled through shear desire to excel. Farriery is no different. That's all.
It depends what you mean by "An apprenticeship". Here nowadays they're fairly well defined and controlled so that only "competent" trainers can provide them. They're in effect paid jobs which have structure with relevent work experience which is all assessed and verfied by independent evaluators AND backed up with release to undertake formal accredited qualification. So basically it's got to be a win/win. The apprentice gets validated evaluated training from an accredited person whilst being paid so develops skills, gets experience and gains qualifications on the job.
I would like to see some sort of formal training in the states. However you get out of this trade what you put in. I know farriers who have been to some of the poorer schools who have excelled and vice versa. And its all about the people you surround yourself with also. To get any sort of formal training started here you would have to get a standard agreed upon, which a lot of people would through a fuss about because their work stinks. Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Well put Josh. On one hand we have British Fascism Lite, and on the other hand the American system that allows one to be a Farrier if they get a box of shoes, some nails, and have business cards printed. Both systems have produced greatness, and both have produced crap. I would think that it's easier start and to continue crap work here in the US as it's bigger and has a bit more freedom. I started this at age 35 with eight kids and have done pretty well, but probably couldn't have started like that in the UK. Apprenticeship is the best way to do this. All of my sons started helping at 8 to 10 years old, and all turned out to be great at this. Only my son Eli has taken it up as a profession and is doing well on his own with ten years experience shoeing at age 21. He was working with a top Farrier in Los Angeles for a year and a half that put him well ahead in knowledge and experience. The trick I have to do now is to stay ahead of him. Using a lot of psychological ploys currently.
If you find that you can't stay ahead of him, hire him. If you got the resources, it's time to start building your empire. "WEST COAST CUSTOM FARRIERY" David
"Desire, passion and drive". Apprenticeship gets one started, it's up to the individual's character and integrity to succeed.
In the UK a lot depends on who your training Farrier is and that can be said the same for who you with with here in the states. When i was on the exchange i was told there are some ATFs that send lads out on their own as quickly as possible, which i think is wrong. Also i don't think they are required to do ant form of CE, so there are likely a lot of people one qualified that don't compete or attend any clinics and are satisfied with what they learned in 4 years. In the end it is all up to the individual no matter what country you're in. Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
We do a four year apprenticeship in Ireland but more importantly you have to pass a final exam to be accepted into the master farriers association. Smittys apprentices could prob pass it after one year they're always so good because of the time effort and dedication he shows in training them. There are other guys whos apprentices always fail and have to go spend an extra year with somone else who brings them up to standard. But to me the most important thing is everyone has to reach this standard before qualifying. Once you qualify you realise your still only begining your education but you have a platform to move on from, your basics are there to a standard I believe people should have before going out charging clients. Clinching, fitting, levelling feet, nail driving a basic understanding of anatomy and the mechanical affects of different shoes etc. I think whatever style you shoe these basics should be there before you go out on your own.
I've seen crap from individuals from all of the top Certified Organizations, and some of the most outstanding work form those who have never taken a test. It's all about the individual's passion. Ever hear of a qualified, licensed driver driving drunk? I've come behind a guy who is a good Farrier who shod the horse under the influence. The work looked like an automobile wreck.
I agree I have seen the same myself, I know farriers who compete at international level and they're day to day work is shocking, That happens in every line of work but I still expect a doctor who treats me to be qualified or an electrician who wires my house to be qualified. I know in the real world this doesnt mean they're work will be any better than a handyman or diagnosis any better than asking one of my mates what he think's is wrong with me. There are plenty of guys in Ireland shoeing with no qualifications and doing nice work but they could easily sit and pass the exam if it was enforced by law like England, it would just weed out the "over- nite farriers" who seem to think reading a book on anatomy and buying the tools makes them a farrier. Smitty will hate me for sayin this and totally disagree Im sure but I do think there is too much emphasis on shoe making in the exams which puts alot of guys off who would otherwise sit the exam.
