just move to houston tx an thing are not looking go for shoeing. so i had to go back to driving cause i do have a wife an son to take care of. im hopping i can start over an try agin this coming summer but its hard to cause i must stay gone over the road to make money for know..... is there any farriers in the houston area that can help me get some horses to work on or just get something started. thank you for reading
and you won't for now; economy has made it very bad; plus even the veterans like myself are finding the good horseman retiring. don't go cheap to get work; you'll only get the bad horses and non-paying owners. work at the track, or find a big barn to gallop horses; and shoe on the side, ect. get your name out. work as an assist trainer and shoe that way??? also that's how you'll meet farriers in the barn and be able to hook up with them a day or two a week.
ok thanks a lot but right know in driving over the road to make money but i do plan on starting back agin this summer
Where did you go to horseshoeing school or did you do an apprenticeship with another farrier? What is your training background and experience? Do you have a specialty?
i went to the texas horseshoeing school in scurry tx about 75 miles south of dallas tx. after school i was working with a farrier from california an i love working on the show an jumping horses..... that the kind of horses o really want to work with. he had about 4 barns did we did i was doing all the finish work an the trim jobs for him. he nailed the shoes on i did the rest
Did he whip out his magic marker and score where you were suppose to rasp the foot back too? Just askin?
Raphael, not sure of the exact reason of your post, if it is to start a business , may i suggest that you 1st decide if there is a need for your services in the area that you wish to work and if so will it pay what you want/need to make. 2nd if the area is saturated ,do you feel that you can offer product of a quality that would encourage customers to either change farriers or pay the price that you want for yourself. the reality is that just wanting to shoe horses does not always translate into a viable business . or are you hoping to be hired by someone? regards ray steele
Texas must be a rough area with good Shoeing in higher end barns because I remember a guy who was horseshoes that meet a gal down that way a left a good business behind and swore to be damned he was Comming in to Texas and others better step up there game because he was bringing it.. and I always felt he was a good farrier and done consistent solid work day after day ..I'm not gonna take that away from him..I just felt he come in a little hot and with to much arrogance..with that said I'm not sure why guys walk into a new area totally a unknown and think someone will just drop there long time farrier ..as I said the guy I'm talking about above had a great deal of respect from other farriers for his work..but as many has pointed out over the years in the U.S. horse owner have no damn clue what you can do until you crawl under that horse...the hard part is getting under that horse...in a sense its like paying your dues all over agian..and takes time to build a client list ..nothing but high hopes and being a legend in your own mind will leave you broke and hungry more often than not..
Good, you have at least some good experience. There is Lone Star racetrack with racing QH. got get your licence to shoe racing QH. Remember, they are twitchy little B's. they are extra hot; worse than any TB's; and they kick quicker and harder than any TB; most have some TB in them; make sure you have a good holder. also, go to the rodeo's to shoe. Best thing is to make your own shoes!!!!!!!!!; and put them on. it will set you apart from all others.!!!! most QH have smaller feet, and are muscle bound; so don't hold up as high as. you will also run into QH foot issues as well.
Probably good advice .... But..... If you we're a new farrier in my area .. Deep South... Making handmade shoes would set you apart but probably not in a good way .. It's fine to be able to build shoes ... But many of today's owners will think your trying to be cheap or whatever by not shoeing the horse with store bought shoes .... Sorry just the world we live in .... The best thing would be just good plain shoeing done in a timely manner with plain shoes... Then build from there . My 2 cents Sent from my phone
I hear it's even harder to get a business going when you move back to where you left everyone hanging just a few months before.
