I am a new farrier from pa and looking for work with a farrier were can I find one?

gchotshod wrote:
are you a farrier or are you looking for an apprenticship?

I just finished school and I want to work with somebody for a couple of years befor i go on my own

Go on the AFA's website and look for Farriers in your area. If possible try to hook up to a CJF. Good luck!

www.americanfarriers.org

Ya I did that seth I called everyone, most just hung up on me. I only had two guys say if they need help they will give me a call. I might have to look out side of my area or just try this on my own.

Where in PA? Can you pm the numbers of the guys who actually hung up on you?

gchotshod wrote:


What kind of people are they to hang up on anybody:(

I'm not cordoning their hanging up , but I think I may understand some of their frustrations
In the past Ive had quite a few people ring Me for help into the industry
mainly young ladies
mainly just wanting to trim their own
four of the people Ive assisted , introduced to friends as friends , given tools apparel knowledge n skills n insite and shouted meals n a beer at end o days work repaid Me buy eventually pinching work ,
They all but one denounced Traditional Farriery and sang the praises of the guru hoofters
I admit I took it badly , shouldn't have but I did
I thought it an insult to all of us
we who to what ever level struggled the hard yards to become Farriers learning form the same types the basics right from cleaning out hooves n sweeping up setting up and packing away cleaning up the horse n removing shoes n then finishing to eventually trimming n building and fitting
this doesn't take five minutes
Is a big inconvenience to the Master and a courtesy often oven looked or unappreciated by the student
Ive seen this sort of thing happen to several of the Farriers I know
Its a fact of life simple as that but thats no call to just hang up on some one
I tell the that want to listen my reasons for saying no thank you
IF I'm ever in a position where I feel I have enough skills knowlage the work the time and patients to take on an assistant and offer them a trade seeking the help I cant give them through others , Farriers associations , schools and other Farriers I would indeed some day like to have started at least one or two good youngsters befor I retire or park it up
but there will be no hoofters gaining help from me any more
the people I chose to help will need to be a bit more fair dinkum than that yeah
I'm so very grateful to the Gents that started Me , three gone now
and Dow now retired is Dearly missed , although I can and do still call on him for his friendship and adivce
A dear fella a good n kind Man ,
He and they will never know just how great the gift they and particularly He gave Me n my family
All they ever asked in return was my loyalty , to them and Traditional Farriery
I never took any of their work unless they gave it to me and I never undercut them
even in the beginning when times were tuff
Respect
God bless them yeah

I just received a call from a former PPFA President and he says he didn't get a call and no one he knows of got a call. :confused:

I am 37 years old and gave up everything for this quit my job and went to school for this. allways wanted to do this and for a beginner I am not to bad. I just can't beleave that I cant find someone to help me. I am willing to help someone for free thats how bad it is. One farrier I asked for help said no because he doesent want competition. I live around lansdale pa so if you want to learn how to be a farrier don't live around me.

gchotshod wrote:
Sounds like you bet the farm on this. Unless you're already financially independent, at 37 you need to do more than just apprentice; you need to earn a living. That's going to be tough to accomplish in a reasonable amount of time given your experience level. It takes years to build a successful business and even then the risks of failure, as with any new business, are high. Expect to work a non-farrier job to pay the bills while you continue your farrier education and start to build a business. Speaking of building a business... do you have a business plan? Goals? Specific expectations?

Have you joined the AFA? Have you contacted the Pennsylvania Professional Farrier's Association and joined their group? They offer a hammer-in every first Saturday of the month. Seems a good place to introduce yourself and seek help.

Phil Bower, on the PPFA website, has a standing offer to assist on request (presume for members) and can be reached at 717-677-0024.

Have you contacted any of the PPFA members? Chris Diehl? Dave Deppen?

Have you taken time to review the PPFA website? Contacted your AFA regional representative? Asked for a referral from the school you graduated from?

Networking is important if you want to learn! Attend every clinic you possibly can. Join any local association or farrier groups you can find in your area. Attend the International Hoof Care Summit, the AFA Convention and the WCB events if you can.

That's not "bad" in this country. It's the "norm". Taking on an apprentice can, in some cases, be more of a liability for a working farrier than an asset. You aren't going to increase the teaching farrier's income so anything he would pay you comes right out of his salary. That farrier only has so many horses on his book. Unless you're bringing a lot of new client horses to the table, the income is basically fixed with or without you. The best you can offer is to potentially shorten his work day a bit while learning in the process.

It used to be a lot worse. Many farriers are now far more willing to share their knowledge and assist but much of the "old world" attitude still exists. Some still fear the competition. It's a legitimate concern for any business. Many non-farrier franchise businesses include non-competition guarantees within a specified radius as part of the franchise contract. It's just the way things are in some places. Get used to it, get good, get tough and move on.

The challenges you are encountering are by no means unique to Lansdale, PA. Becoming a farrier is generally an uphill battle and it's up to you to seek out and develop the skills and experience you'll need to be successful. No one is going to come knocking on your door offering to help. You have to go to them!

This forum is a good start to meeting those who are willing to help. So is your local AFA chapter. Get out there; meet and greet; be honest about your skills and your goals and things will start to happen. Just don't expect it to happen overnight.

How about providing a bit more information than "I just finished school"? What program did you attend and how long were you there? What horsemanship skills/experience do you have? Had you tried to do any farrier work prior to school or work with someone who has? Perhaps you worked on horses of your own. Have you had any experience since school? Are you able to relocate? What is your availability?

Think of it like a resume. Give people a reason to want to help you.

Okay.. pep talk over. Now pick up the phone and start making some calls. Get out your calendar and start scheduling attendance at clinics, seminars and conventions.

Cheers, best luck and welcome to the trade.
Mark

Call Steve Teichman at Chester County Farrier Services.

Thanks mark, will do all that and yes I did bet the farm. The school I went to was not that great he told me some things like how much money you can make your first year and how the students there in 8 weeks were already making money. I did not get into this for the money I have horses and i dont pay people to do my work. My plan was to work with a farrier for 3 to 5 years then start somrthing on my own. the last thing I want to do is hurt a horse thats not my goal I just want to be the best at what I do.just alittle frustrated going to loose the farm soon.

I already try to contact chester country farrier he was one of the first ones I tryed number is out of services and I emailed him 2 times?

Welcome. What's your name? It's sort of a rule here.
Additionally you should be welcomed to the club of "it's hard starting out".
I started at 35 with eight kids and bet my farm on it. It was hell for a few years, but now, 18 years later, I'm rich and famous.
Got night jobs, ate tortillas, rice and beans. Chili power, no salsa. I couldn't afford to go to clinics. Things were bad but I made it. If I can, you can, if you want to.
I'm in California, but would have you help if you were local.
Hang in, there are good Farriers in your area and the list above should help.