Farriery Apprenticeship Advice

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Magiemix92

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So, I appear to be trying to find a unicorn and wondered if anyone has any advice!

32 and looking to change career. I have a degree in Equine studies & Business management and have worked within the horse industry but nothing comparable. I’ve been doing my research and I keep seeing people say there’s a lack of Farriers and it’s a dying trade, I see only 30 new farriers registered in 2023! However, there doesn’t seem to be anyone out there actually looking for an Apprentice, of any age let alone in their thirties with a solid work ethic behind them.

I’m more than willing to work shadow and take one of the preparatory course out there such as at Myerscough, but I want to believe I can find an apprenticeship after all that…

Any direction gratefully received

(Apologies for double post, originally in the wrong forum)
 
Unfortunately because there’s few carriers there’s also few taking apprentices. Best bet is to check the Approved Training Farrier (ATF) list that the FRC has and contact ATFs either without apprentices or with apprentices near the end of their apprenticeship. There is around 170 ATFs on the list.
 
There’s a few farriers around me but only one I know of who takes on apprentices. Although he seems to have a few at a time, think he’s made it work for his business. It might be worth looking abit further afield?
 
I have had many discussions about this and they are unwilling to take on apprentices for several reasons:
1) wages/taxation the apprentice won’t earn what they will cost.
2) modern work ethics are lousy and let’s be honest it’s a hard job.
3) it’s more hassle than it’s worth so nobody is taking the qualification to have apprentices.

We will have a serious issue with farriers shortly but the equine podiatrist training is a lot easier and not grounded in the apprenticeship scheme so probably the way it will go with shoeing becoming very expensive.
 
There is ONE apprentice in Scotland, and I gather it's down to changes in funding etc a few years ago, but not sure WCF is covering itself in glory on this.

I would suggest looking at trimmer training as I think it's growing more than traditional farriery and can be slightly less hard on the body. I can't remember if you need farrier training for glue-ons but I'd bet that if you do that may change as we go forwards and its something you could add. Do you follow Mark Johnson Farrier - Another Way? on FB? He's a fully qualified farrier who barely nails a shoe on these days.
 
sbloom said:
I can't remember if you need farrier training for glue-ons but I'd bet that if you do that may change as we go forwards and its something you could add.
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Yes they do, it’s regarded as something fixed to the foot, unlike hoof boots.

sbloom said:
Do you follow Mark Johnson Farrier - Another Way? on FB? He's a fully qualified farrier who barely nails a shoe on these days.
Click to expand...
Mark Johnson definitely worth following.
 
LEC said:
I have had many discussions about this and they are unwilling to take on apprentices for several reasons:
1) wages/taxation the apprentice won’t earn what they will cost.
2) modern work ethics are lousy and let’s be honest it’s a hard job.
3) it’s more hassle than it’s worth so nobody is taking the qualification to have apprentices.

We will have a serious issue with farriers shortly but the equine podiatrist training is a lot easier and not grounded in the apprenticeship scheme so probably the way it will go with shoeing becoming very expensive.
Click to expand...
This unfortunately does appear to be the case :( it seems the apprenticeship system is very out dated but no one’s looking to fix it! Thanks for your reply
 
sbloom said:
There is ONE apprentice in Scotland, and I gather it's down to changes in funding etc a few years ago, but not sure WCF is covering itself in glory on this.

I would suggest looking at trimmer training as I think it's growing more than traditional farriery and can be slightly less hard on the body. I can't remember if you need farrier training for glue-ons but I'd bet that if you do that may change as we go forwards and its something you could add. Do you follow Mark Johnson Farrier - Another Way? on FB? He's a fully qualified farrier who barely nails a shoe on these days.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I’ll take a look at your suggestions! One in all of Scotland, that is pretty dire :(
 
It is definitely a good career. However the number of Registered farriers has gone down over the past few years from about 3,000 to 2,600. One reason is that it is very expensive to take on an apprentice farrier, and there is the risk that they may drop out, or go and work for another farrier. I would be tempted to contact the Approved Training farriers in your area and then if you fail to find someone to take you on go further afield in the hope of finding one that is prepared to take you on. Good luck!
 
nettle said:
Yes they do, it’s regarded as something fixed to the foot, unlike hoof boots
Click to expand...

sbloom said:
Let's hope that changes and soon.
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It is definitely NOT something that should be changed....

When a shoe is glued on, it effectively immobilises the hoof wall and thus prevents the frog working as it should (even more so than a nailed on bar shoe)....if you add that to an unbalanced foot that has been trimmed poorly...plus the fact that glued on shoes are frequently left on for longer, leading to further imbalance.

They are beneficial in some cases where the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, but they are in no way a risk free option to be applied by the inexperienced or untrained. I am not saying farriers only, but regulating others is a minefield.

A hoof boot is a very different kettle of fish.
 
Ideally trimmers and owners
quizzie said:
It is definitely NOT something that should be changed....

When a shoe is glued on, it effectively immobilises the hoof wall and thus prevents the frog working as it should (even more so than a nailed on bar shoe)....if you add that to an unbalanced foot that has been trimmed poorly...plus the fact that glued on shoes are frequently left on for longer, leading to further imbalance.

They are beneficial in some cases where the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, but they are in no way a risk free option to be applied by the inexperienced or untrained. I am not saying farriers only, but regulating others is a minefield.

A hoof boot is a very different kettle of fish.
Click to expand...
You clearly have not kept current with glue on shoe technology. Have a look at some of Garrett Ford - Easy Care's glue on composite shoe options.

Durable, and flexible, attached with side tabs and definitely not immobilising the hoof wall. Horses have completed Tevis Cup using these!
 
PeterNatt said:
It is definitely a good career. However the number of Registered farriers has gone down over the past few years from about 3,000 to 2,600. One reason is that it is very expensive to take on an apprentice farrier, and there is the risk that they may drop out, or go and work for another farrier. I would be tempted to contact the Approved Training farriers in your area and then if you fail to find someone to take you on go further afield in the hope of finding one that is prepared to take you on. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thank you, I’ve sent out some emails but nothing at all as of yet. Ideally I’d like some basic work shadowing to prove I’m interested before approaching an ATF and pitching for the apprenticeship with nothing meaningful to show them. Fingers crossed!
 
My farrier used to have apprentices, at least two if not more. One left when fully trained and took a lot of customers with him, starting up in the same area in direct competition. Although against the "rules" there was nothing to be done which wouldn't cost a lot of money. After the youngest ones finished their apprenticeship he didn't take on any more.

He said the same thing, that it had got to the point where it was costing him too much to take on any more and instead as they leave he is cutting down on clients.

He was very good to them, they used to go to several farrier competitions at the local shows, over to the Royal Welsh and sometimes even abroad.
 
Magiemix92 said:
Thank you, I’ve sent out some emails but nothing at all as of yet. Ideally I’d like some basic work shadowing to prove I’m interested before approaching an ATF and pitching for the apprenticeship with nothing meaningful to show them. Fingers crossed!
Click to expand...
Where abouts are you based?
 

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