Before you lock into OSHS, do yourself a favor and talk to Dusty Franklin at Fivestar Horseshoeing School. He offers 12 weeks of the most intense training you will find. This morning starts our second week of school and we have 5 drafts to shoe. Last week we did 92 horses I believe. It's not just the horses you get under but the expertise he offers.

canadian wrote:As others have probably said Butler's "Principles of Horseshoeing" should be #1. Army manual is good as well. Another thing I'd highly recommend is "Care and Training of the Trotter and Pacer" by USTA. Any and all clinics you can get to most definitely go as well as joining a state (or in your case provincial) association. Try to keep away from any stuff written after 1990.

I think it's a legitimate concern. I started when I was 18 and had that problem. Is nothing you can really do about it but maybe try growing a mustache or something:) In the meantime just wait it out and time will cure it.Might present a challenge for you but never slowed Danny Ward down. You'll find out first day at school if you can do it or not physically. In the meantime practice getting under horses and working with their feet in all the various positions.Does my heart good to see a young guy getting into this. I was starting to think nobody under 40 had any interest in it anymore:(
George

i myself am 6' 4" and have been shoeing since i graduated high school in 95'
i do think that my hieght is a disadvantage at times, but once you get in shape and figure out how many horses you can consistantly (day in day out) work on in a day, you will be fine.
for me, i will shoe five head a day or trim 10 head a day and not one more,

i have done 7 or 8 shoe jobs in a day but it takes me 2 days to heal up from it and am better off stopping at 5 and coming back the next day to finish.

good luck,

Gary-Ive started stretching my back and lifting weights focusing on my back to strengthen it.

Bradley-I will definately strive to get my CJF and study lots. Do farriers usually charge more after getting their CJF certification?

Jim- five star looks like an awesome school, unfortunately its quite a bit out of my price range . But it sounds like the schools going great for you and all the best there. By the sounds of most farriers replys, as long as i find a good apprenticeship after school ill be fine. I think Aaron and Bradley are right, no matter how long you goto school you'll never learn everything until your out shoeing and apprenticing.

George- I'm trying my hardest to grow a beard but it isnt going so well lol and ya i wish more young people would take an interest in horseshoeing as well. Cuz by the time im 40 ill have 20 years experience under my belt. And as long as theres horses were always going to need experienced farriers right

Justin- I'm really glad to hear from a farrier around my height that is doing well. And just like you I'm sure ill learn my limits real quick and not push myself too much.

O and just one more question . What are your guys thoughts about wearing back braces. I see some farriers wear them and some dont. I was thinking about wearing one right from the time I start shoeing. Or should I not wear one and let my back strengthen it self? Justin maybe you have some input, being that your about the same height as me

Again thanks so much to everyone for their time and advise, all you guys are an unbelievable help,

Dustin

George Geist wrote:Why nothing before 1990, and wouldn't this leave the Army manual out?

Canadian
I started out with a back brace and have got away from wearing one. It seemed like it worked great the first couple of weeks but as it became stretched it seemed it lost its effectiveness. In the summer it was very hot and uncomfortable. I don't use one now and by keeping regular chioropractor appointments I don't have much lower back pain. I hit the double nickle this year and my upper back causes me more problems than my lower back. Proper lifting, conditioning and exercise helps. Good luck!
Wayne White

Dustin, a few questions if you don't mind.
when are you starting school? do you have tools? and are you doing any shoeing ,trimming now?
where is Bowmanville? is it close to toronto?
are you interested in shoeing racehorses?
sorry for all the questions but i have something in mind you may be interested in.

Gary_Miller wrote:Twas a typo. I'm not infallible. Has been corrected;)
George

Wayne, what your doing seems like a great plan, ill be sure to take your advise on that thanks a lot

Dave- I start school Sept 7 and finish Oct 16th. Unfortunately i dont have any tools and i havent started shoeing or trimming yet. Bowmanville is only 40 minutes from Toronto. And Ya I would definately be interested in shoeing racehorses. Im open to anything, and id appreciate any ideas

Thanks Dustin

George Geist wrote:Why stay away from stuff written after 1990?

i have never tried out a back brace before and really don't see myself ever wearing one as i think that they would inevitabley get to dang hot.

i think the horses that are the hardest for me to get by are probably the same horses that are hard for everybody to work on (toed out with the deviation originating at or above the knee) me and you are just to dang big to fit under that kind of horse and the horse usually pays for it by having his legs twisted out when they are not made to and i end up stuggleing with the animal alot more than someone of a smaller stature. maybe you will figure out how to get by them in school and then teach me the secret

Getting past the hot and uncomfortable,
They do make a difference and at the end of the work day,
When I wear it, I feel great,

Good enough to leave it on (sucks in the belly)
just in case I make it to the disco.

Seriously, they do help, a LOT.

canadian wrote:
Dustin,is the school selling you tools or are they included in the price of the course? i really suggest you try to gather up some tools and get under some horses before you start school. is there anybody around you that would let you ride with them and maybe put you under a coulpe broodmares.? contact the ontario farriers association they could probally hook you up with someone. are you working with horses now?

George Geist wrote:
I probably agree with the first part, but not that books after 1990 you should keep away from. That's ****. I read pretty much constantly. Use to hate reading but horseshoeing books, I found an interest in. I believe "Shoeing in Your Right Mind" by Butler which I think is a pretty good book to read is a '97 model. I believe "Six-Figure Shoeing" by Butler is good for a starting person to read and the only date I can find says 2001. "Hoof Problems" by Rob Van Nassau is a good book to read for a starting person, to show you some of the hooves you will see as your business progresses. Believe it is a 2007 issue. They might have been written earlier, but if your looking at dates only, they are after 1990 and decent books to read.





From Dustin:
Who teaches this school now?


I agree with others on here that you will not learn everything in that amount of time. Obviously the longer you can go, the better. Just don't apprentice with someone and think you have it all figured out and get out on your own too quickly. The saying may be true that, "It takes years to form a good reputation, and seconds to destroy it." Don't be embarrased to pass on more specailized work that you are not ready for.


I would try to find a local association/chapter that you can be part of. I think clinics are important, and a good time to fellowship with others in your area. I would have some business cards printed up but I would not put them out until I got back from school. As far as books to read, my only advice is to read as much as you can. I would definately start with Principles of Horseshoeing III or II, just don't stop there.



You will find this out after you start the school, but horseshoeing is not for everyone.

Your probably going to get people that watch you work, very closely, until they get comfortable with what you are doing. Again, I would stress not going into the field until you are comfortable, and passing on work that is above your skill level. With that being said, I think you should never be scared and aproach every client like you are a professional and with confidence that you can do the work needed for their horses.

I think you will need to take care of your body regardless. Try to watch what you eat and try to exercise and stretch. Your body is the machine that does the work. Take care of it.

canadian wrote:That's a darned good question.

Passing the AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier Exams requires a substantial investment of time and money. Time for study and practice. Money for travel, clinics, exam fees, study material, and association memberships.

Your investment in the certification process will make you a better farrier, PERIOD. It builds your value. Higher value makes for higher potential return on investment.

Horse owners do not value certification. Heck, most of them don't give it any thought at all. What matters to horse owners is . . . . . . . . .

. . . . RELIABLE SERVICE!!!

You can become the most highly skilled, educated, slick-as-frog-snot horseshoer in your sandpile. But if you are late or no-show for appointments, don't return telephone calls promptly, don't replace lost shoes promptly, don't keep horses on schedule, then you aren't worth any more than a hack.