Please convince me

Eira

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 February 2008
Messages
11,782
Location
Emmerdale
Visit site
.. that its a bad plan to train as a farrier


Its something I've wanted to do for ages and have been interested in since I've had ponies but it something more so now Sol has feet problems. I've put it to the back of my mind to follow a more 'traditional' career path (A levels/Uni etc)

After speaking to three lots of farriers and their apprentices its something I really want to pursue but please tell me i'm being ridiculous and its far too hard for me to be able to do
smirk.gif
smirk.gif


I'm not really sure where I'm going with this post , just rambling
blush.gif
grin.gif
 
Go for it. If you don't you will regret it - If you do and it's too much then you'll have had the experience!
 
[ QUOTE ]
It's a hideous idea.

But if it's a dream - go for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just what I wanted to hear
grin.gif


I'm in such a mess with Alevels etc (failing miserably because I don't want to be there!) I just want to do something that really interests me but then its a very silly idea
blush.gif
grin.gif
 
I can't convince you sorry
grin.gif
But i think if it really is something that you want to do then go for it, i've never met a female farrier, do they exist?

TBH I've done the whole A-level thing and in 4 weeks will have finihsed my degree and am seriously regretting not doing something horsey instead, so i think if you really do want to do it then definately look into it!
 
I would say finish your A-levels and then start an apprenticeship. Farriers can't work forever as they get bad backs etc and what happens if you pick up an injury? You need something to fall back on, and A levels would help you get a job quicker. Also, if you start the apprenticeship and then decide it's not for you, you can apply for uni.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It's a hideous idea.

But if it's a dream - go for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just what I wanted to hear
grin.gif


I'm in such a mess with Alevels etc (failing miserably because I don't want to be there!) I just want to do something that really interests me but then its a very silly idea
blush.gif
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

From someone who failed her A levels for the same reasons you stated - finish your alevels then go for the farrier route. I'm still in a mess 6 years later.
 
i did a week with a farrier which i loved how ever it put it into persepctive for me as i am unable to hold my head upside down for long periods of time as i get dizzy spells, if it wasn't for this i would have already done the foundation course, and a year of my apprentiship (i was already excepted in to warwickshire)

i suggest you do a week with a farrier and see what you think after that, you won't be able to do much bar assit with handing nails ect but you get an idea of the job.

good luck with what ever you decide
 
I finish one set of Alevels in 4 weeks (I've done intense one year AS/A2's)

So I need to make a choice about whether I do another set of A levels (2 more) or not
confused.gif
confused.gif


Following my farrier around is a good plan , he says I make a good cuppa
smirk.gif
 
Third the idea of going around with a farrier for a few weeks. We have female farriers down here and they are brilliant. Also my farrier is about 70, so yes, they can go on for years.

Sorry, not what you want to hear, is it
confused.gif
 
I'm back to say - graft on with the a-levels first and then go for it. Didn't realise you hadn't done them yet - you need them "in the bank" in case you decide to change paths! But still think go for it. I have heard of a few female farriers. It is do-able but you will not be able to "do" as many in a day as a man can. In saying that I once met a female removal "man" - she was as strong as an ox and the guys she worked with had utter respect for her. So you might be able to ....
 
[ QUOTE ]
Third the idea of going around with a farrier for a few weeks. We have female farriers down here and they are brilliant. Also my farrier is about 70, so yes, they can go on for years.

Sorry, not what you want to hear, is it
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

One of the farriers on the yard is in his 60's (and raving it up in Ibiza atm
mad.gif
grin.gif
)

Everyone I've spoken to about it think is hilarious the idea of a female farrier ( and this is from women aswell)


crazy.gif
crazy.gif
crazy.gif
 
There are definitely female farriers out there. Sure it's physically a tough job but if you are fit and prepared for it I don't see that that's a problem.

But, do stick out the A levels if you can. It will make life so much easier if your circumstances change in the future.

A colleague at work is in her 30's and drifting because she doesn't know what to do with her life. And one of the biggest problems - she doesn't have decent GCSE's or any A levels at all. She's a bright woman, but people want paper qualifications. (incidentally she was thinking about farriery, but can't do it as she doesn't have english or maths GCSE at grade c or above so they wouldn't even consider her).

Good luck - and get revising!
 
Yes am definately going to do my Alevels (that are over in 3 weeks - WOOOOOOOO) but am unsure what to do after that
blush.gif
grin.gif
 
i think that if you really really want to do it and its not just a whim then personally i would go for it, especially if you are going to go on and get E/U in your A Levels...you can always go back to college to take more a levels if you need to in the future...my sister did that in her mid 20s and is now a teacher so not doing them now at 17/18 won't massively affect you....so long as you do something worthwhile in the interim
smile.gif


I'm a teacher in a sixth form college BTW and just don't understand why some students stay when they are clearly uninterested...its a waste of 12 months if they aren't going to try
 
ishy might i suggest less time in the pub and more time studying and you might do better in exams....just a thought....
 
[ QUOTE ]
ishy might i suggest less time in the pub and more time studying and you might do better in exams....just a thought....

[/ QUOTE ]

Sometimes I feel HHO needs an eye rolling smiley
smirk.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]


I'm a teacher in a sixth form college BTW and just don't understand why some students stay when they are clearly uninterested...its a waste of 12 months if they aren't going to try

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that I tried with my Alevels because I thought it was just the 'thing' to do. I hadn't a clue what else I could possibly do so this seemed like the only option. I do enjoy my classes but I am just struggling as its just a means to and end and I'm worrying i'll spend the next 5 years hating it
crazy.gif
 
You're a clever girl, try to go to uni. Its not supposed to be like school (which is shite, by nearly everyone's standards
wink.gif
) you'd probably love it. God knows you'd have an easier time at uni than you would shoeing horses all day.

I'm biased 'cause I wish I'd gone to uni, but didn't literally because I was too lazy/un-focused to fill the form in.
smirk.gif
But if all you need is a kick up the backside, I'll happily oblige.
wink.gif


If uni and the career path it might lead to really aren't what you want, then best of luck with becoming a farrier. Look after your back though, back pain is rubbish.
frown.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
ishy might i suggest less time in the pub and more time studying and you might do better in exams....just a thought....

[/ QUOTE ]

B_H - I was just going to leave your completely ridiculous and out of order comment but I can't because its managed to piss me off . Why did you think that was a suitable comment ?

You have no idea how much I have been studying or not and really its not for you (even if you did know!) to pass judgement on an open forum where you are proffesing to know all about me to complete strangers
crazy.gif
crazy.gif
 
Sadly I'm not that clever
crazy.gif
grin.gif

I think I would love UNI (the social side of it atleast
wink.gif
) but I'm just not sure . I had a more interesting and indepth conversation with Rory today about horses feet than I ever have had to anyone about Law and Government and Politics
crazy.gif


I don't know , I'm 95% sure I want to do something equine related (tried being a groom and am attempting it again this summer but I don't think I'm much good!) but I don't know , I don't want to waste my life doing something I hate
frown.gif
cool.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


I'm a teacher in a sixth form college BTW and just don't understand why some students stay when they are clearly uninterested...its a waste of 12 months if they aren't going to try

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that I tried with my Alevels because I thought it was just the 'thing' to do. I hadn't a clue what else I could possibly do so this seemed like the only option. I do enjoy my classes but I am just struggling as its just a means to and end and I'm worrying i'll spend the next 5 years hating it
crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

well it seems to me that you are very unsure...perhaps an appointment with your careers advisor would be good? if you don't mind me asking what grades are you predicted? what subjects?
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]


well it seems to me that you are very unsure...perhaps an appointment with your careers advisor would be good? if you don't mind me asking what grades are you predicted? what subjects?
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think I have one of them , I'm only studying part time with a bunch of adults
blush.gif
blush.gif


Predicted grades are
Law (AS/A2 one year) - A
Government and Politics (same as above) B (but I was on the A/B borderline in January)


smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
ishy might i suggest less time in the pub and more time studying and you might do better in exams....just a thought....

[/ QUOTE ]

B_H - I was just going to leave your completely ridiculous and out of order comment but I can't because its managed to piss me off . Why did you think that was a suitable comment ?

You have no idea how much I have been studying or not and really its not for you (even if you did know!) to pass judgement on an open forum where you are proffesing to know all about me to complete strangers
crazy.gif
crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

ishy no i dont know how much you study, but i do know how much of your life seems revolve around boys/pubs. boys smell, pubs get boring after a while, just listen to your heart and what you want to be. if you want to be a farrier, be a farrier, only you know what you want. but you have to work for it. your still very young. you might think that the world is big and horrible, but uni is great compared to school.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


well it seems to me that you are very unsure...perhaps an appointment with your careers advisor would be good? if you don't mind me asking what grades are you predicted? what subjects?
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think I have one of them , I'm only studying part time with a bunch of adults
blush.gif
blush.gif


Predicted grades are
Law (AS/A2 one year) - A
Government and Politics (same as above) B (but I was on the A/B borderline in January)


smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

predicted grades like that don't sound like you are failing!!!
smile.gif

i reckon if you get good grades in those 2 this year then you can go and try farriery or whatever and you can always return to do another a level in the future if it all goes wrong...at night college or whatever..
but if you do want to talk to a careers advisors you should be able to do this through connexions
http://www.connexions-direct.com/
 
Top