Farrier query?

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jaysh

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My farrier has 2 apprentices working for him, 1 qualifies next may and the other is in his second year.
My farrier never actually comes out he sends the lads and I still pay full price. My question is..... Are the apprentices allowed to come out alone? The younger one isn't allowed to put nails in yet but the other boy has been nailing for a year. The actual farrier never comes out to check the shoeing, and if you mention there is a problem he never takes any blame or says it could be the lads. Unfortunately we don't have anyone else in our area or I would change like a shot.
Anyone know if what he's doing is legal?
 
Change farriers.

My farrier has an apprentice who has been with him quite a long time. My horse only has front shoes on, my farrier does his fronts, apprentice trims the back, farrier then checks all of his work and apprentice is left to finish off (rubbing sharp bits off nails etc) and both take their time and do a thorough job. I would not be happy without the farrier checking all of his work and I certainly wouldn't pay full price for it. Apprentice is certainly never left to do any important bits on his own and anything he does do is checked, for the rest of the time he stands and watches everything the farrier is doing, as a good apprentice should.
 
My farrier hardly comes out anymore and if he does he still leaves it to his apprentices, having said that ive only had one bad trim off them and i complained and it was rectified.
How long have they been apprentices as i know farriery has a 6 year apprenticeship tied to it, so his last apprentice basically ran the show for him- he was very good though and not to harsh on the eye ;):p we all used to post on the noticeboard when he was coming down and all the owners and mums- who werent even interested in horse, were down in a flash :p anyway i digress.... if youre not happy with the job they're doing then complain, but if they are doing as good job as the farrier himself then im not sure there is much to complain about apart from the price :)
sorry about spelling/ punct a bit too tired today :p
 
Thanks Flo-bell and wattamus, the older apprentice does a good job as far as i can tell, but i still think it would be better if they were atleast checked on occasion, i was thinking about it and wondering why im having to pay full price, if it was a haircut, you always get it at a discounted rate with an apprentice doing it.
My farrier isnt someone you could ask without probably being chucked off his books, but if it wasnt legal i think i would complain to the farriery association.
This would be a great area for other farriers, so many horses here, its a pity there isnt another one.
 
Our farrier is an apprentice and he's fab. When he first started coming he didn't shoe which didn't matter cos we didn't have any shod at the time. Now he does shoe as well.
He has won loads of comps for shoeing and my horse vet uses him always for remedial farrier work and thinks he's the best. I don't know if he is cheaper or not but he's worth his weight in gold!
 
4th year apprentices are allowed to go out 'under direction' which means that they are sent out under the direction of their ATF. It is not at all illegal. However the younger apprentice should be under the direct supervision of the ATF.
 
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