G'day to all...

I have been following these threads with great interest. I am an ex-Sydney, and Queensland farrier.

I have not shod a horse for 5 years, but due to encouragement from my fiance(and generally just missing being with horses) I plan to start up the business again.However to make things more of a challenge I am actually moving from Australia to Portugal to start the business.(my soon to be wife will not move away from her family)

Having been away from shoeing for 5 years and also the fact that I was never 100% happy with my work I am going to Heartland to brush up on my skills and correct the faults in shoeing that I have.

I am 42 years old and fitness is not a factor as in the last year I have got myself into better shape and fitter than I was at 18 and doing basic training(I hear a lot of laughs out there but I swear it is true!)

Anyway would love feedback from you guys,or just any advice that you have about the farrier world in Spain and Portugal......or any advice at all! I am hearing so many different stories....they need good farriers, they dont need them....shoeing standards are low...etc etc.

I guess once I am over there I will be throwing questions your way all the time...and just keeping y'all updated on my progress!.

I plan to be starting the businesss over there in September next year.

Anyway once again "Hi "from downunder, looking forward to getting some input from more knowledgable heads than mine!

Cheers
Mark

G'day mate,i know nothing of portugal .will you be our translator for our friend Red Amor?

Good on ya maet . . . (yEA - Is that it Red, do I 'ave it oye)

Eh Mark, welcome
to the FRHC it sounds like you're going about it the right way . . .

. . . nothin like getting real Good then with the backing/support of your new family,
You'll likely get a lot of work.
You might want to land with a big splash . . .
. . . you know be a legend in your own time.

I remember when in '74 I landed in a small native/fishing village,
I was a long hair bearded white guy,
and as I disembarked walked from the wharf at one end of town
to my new digs at the other end of the Island.
Everyone bar none looked at me, some said hi, Brad, others just grunted.
What "Hi Brad" how'd they know me ???
The whole town had heard I was coming to stay a while.
Then one night at the rec-hall I was offered a chance at the pool table which wasn't done.
I think they wanted to see if I was Cool or Dork.
I cleared the table between my first my second turn,
and the other guy had half his b.a.l.l.s down.
Now this might not seem like much but
I had only played pool a half dozen times in my life, and looked at it as a physics study.
After the 8 ball went down I throw the cue on the table
and admists cries of "I'm playing him next I said "Sorry guys I'm done"
and for evermore remained undefeated and a legendary hero.
Well so the story goes.

Many things good came out of that night for the rest of my stay in that fishing village.

Whoa, take me back man.

I guess I am saying market your newness and skill and you will likely be busier than you want.

Hi Mark..
I maybe wrong;but you plan next year to land in Portugal...
I have a few contacts ...sadly one ha just died ,but his wife is still living there ,they did not have horse .I know that Germans look for farriers and one German farrier is working the south coast..

Gambino would be a good contact for spain gambinoherrador is his handle..

I found you looking on other sites for info ..you have as I have found the right place..Welcome!

If you want to see other places and just ride WELCOME here,middle germany.

I have a Guy coming to work with me in October from spain ,he lived in portugal for 3 years ,he wants to become a farrier .he will cover the time my apprentice is doing his exam next years for 6 months.

Regards Ray

Hi and welcome. I don't know much about farriers in Portugal, but I do have a a retired farrier friend not too far from Lousä (east of) in centeral Portugal. I know there aren't many horses around where he lives, but will try to find the scoop for you. I will be headed there in November for my vacation. Can give you some feed back after that.

Thanks guys,

What a great response! I appreciate it! Ray I just might take you up on the offer and visit you in Germany, and Mikel would appreciate whatever feedback you can get after your November visit.

I think whatever contacts I can get before I land in Portugal next September will be invaluable.(I hope I can repay the favour one day)

Bradley appreciate the positive feedback, we have a saying in Australia...and I guess you guys have heard it.....(more likely from your neck of the woods) Go hard or go home.....And this will be my philosophy.

As for translating what Red says.....from what I have heard the guy is a legend...so I wont be presumptuous enough to translate for him!

Once again thanks again....I hope this makes for a long working relationship with you guys!

mark

i have been shoeing in portugal for over 7 years and believe me it has been an experience i could never have envisaged. iam based in the south of the country but also work central alentejo.please ask any questions iam more than happy help

Hey, Mark and Chris, Welcome.
Mark, when will you be at Hartland?

chris bunting wrote:
Chris,
Welcome to the forums. I see you are south of Lisbon. My friend I will visit(retired farrier) lives west of Coimbra at a little village called Cabanoes. Great country there, never been south. Take care and glad to have you here.

Hey Bill, I will be going to heartland in July '10 for 8 weeks. Then straight through to Lisbon.

Thanks very much Chris, definately will ask many questions of you! Would also like to pay a visit once I arrive if thats ok with you?

Honestly never thought I would miss shoeing so much, a farrier mate once told me it was in my blood. And I must admit everytime I check out a horses hoof I get nostalgic. Looking forward to getting under them again.Then again I suppose you quickly forget the dust,heat mud, blood and tears!

cheers everyone
mark

just been stopped today 7.30am by the gnr fiscal for carrying 8 sets of shoes wihout the proper licence or proof of ownership expecting a big fine. my van has been taken off the road with all its documents and cannot be driven until these problems are resolved . the fiscal police value the shoes at over 250 euros .just remember when you arrive to do everything by the book the concequences can be extraordinary
sorry i forgot to mention there is no book.
to the best i know prices around lisbon vary from 30 euros to a lot and from what clients say the average seems to be around 45 euros
running out of time now catch you later

chris bunting wrote:
Man someone local does have something against you....Please explain what the shoes ownership have to do with anything???what if you made your own would that make a difference??
Also I had heard they are a bit jumpy about hot shoeing ,because of the fires a while back??
hope you get it cleared up quick!!!

hi ray
the problem is directed at all businesses not me as an individual.just been to the lawyers they say i have to wait. i also forgot to say i am not allowed to practise my profession legally until the fiscal say so . i understand today there is a 10 day backlog of individuals in the same predicament as me
i will keep you posted

chris bunting wrote:
Chris,
Do they recognize the EU Farriers's Certificate? From what you say it is a business thing, not farrier. Has this to do with paying taxes, being registered for this?

ray
there is absolutely no recognition of any form of farrier certification or registration. the only respect shown by the majority of owners and vets comes in the form of a short hello .i am lucky that the majority of clients believe in my work and appreciate the fact that i am qualified and registered both in the uk and europe something local vets and trainers will not accept.