Buch 145 Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 I was wondering if any one had any infomation on farriery as a hole. Im realy interested in doing it. Im already a fairly well qualified electrician (but with next to no practical expericance but thats by the by) but i dont like it as a carrier opertunity. I would like to know what the apprenticship is like, what wages i can "expect" (im guessing minimum wage). How likely i am to actualy be able to get a mentor. Ect ect ect. Im kind of hopeing there is some one here whos got some experiance on the matter as there is alot of fluff on the internet and its hard to work out what the real life versions like. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poacher3161 1,766 Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 wat shit you smoking man Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simoman 110 Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 After chatting to both a trainee arrier and my farrier the apprenticeship varies but is around 4 years, yes expect minimum wages and long hours. After you have served your apprenticeship then the money and demand is huge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jembo 0 Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 I think there is a course you have to do as well as the apprenticeship. It is well worth doing especially if you can get to do remedial/corrective shoeing. My farrier has all his clients (mainly polo) within 10 miles and then goes to Dubai every 5 weeks for 1 week to shoe the sultans horses. He is getting serious money! At one yard (dressage) I used to work on flew their farrier in from Holland, as they cannot find a good one here. You would need to base yourself in a good area where you can do big yards, like the racing and polo hotspots as this is where you earn the big money. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Buch 145 Posted April 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 Yer that pretty much what i was thinking. Itl be a big drop in wages for a while and i guess its just getting a farrier to take me on as an apprentice. Ill have to do more poking i think cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
borderboy 80 Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 I looked into it, but it seemed farriers only have a short working career, about as long as your back will hold out...! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 160 Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 I looked into it, but it seemed farriers only have a short working career, about as long as your back will hold out...! My uncle is a blacksmith and farrier. He did his apprenticeship in the fifties, and the first year was spent pumping the bellows in the forge! He's never been out of work, and still shoes a few even though he's seventy-five. Short career? Not him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
valentino 0 Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 i think its a 4 year advanced apprenticship....and if your over 25 i think you have to fund it..£11,000 http://www.farrierytraining.co.uk/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
borderboy 80 Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 I looked into it, but it seemed farriers only have a short working career, about as long as your back will hold out...! My uncle is a blacksmith and farrier. He did his apprenticeship in the fifties, and the first year was spent pumping the bellows in the forge! He's never been out of work, and still shoes a few even though he's seventy-five. Short career? Not him. I spoke to a few lads about it and the general opinion wasthat by the time you were about 40 most blokes backs couldn't put up with shoeing horses day in day out and being kicked about buy them... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hounddog 4 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 After chatting to both a trainee arrier and my farrier the apprenticeship varies but is around 4 years, yes expect minimum wages and long hours. After you have served your apprenticeship then the money and demand is huge. agreed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomandroz 0 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 Hi, I have a friend who is doing exactly what your thinking of doing, he was a HGV lorry driver, and last march he decided to become a farrier, the dip is a 4.5 year course, he is a year into it, and is yet to 'shoe' a horse, he is still 'clenching' up with a qualified farrier, and earning £120.00 p/w ! But he is still 100% sure he made the right decision, if you can take a knock on your earnings for a few years the rewards are huge, particulary around us here, and there are plenty of farriers who are looking to take on new apprentices, of all ages, the last apprentice they took on was 44 years old. I hope this helps !?! and good luck with it all ! Cheers, Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Buch 145 Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Ahhh cool thanks for the info. The only thing to put me off is the money flow but ill maybe just have to griz it you say he found it easy to get a farrier to take him on? Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
moocherboi 8 Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 hi im farrier apprentice! you 1st of all need get a forging certifcate which can be gained by taking an exam. ideally do a pre farrier course for a year . i attented warwickshire college. you then need find an apprenticeship which is not easy. that last 4.5 years all depending if you pass exams every 6 months. wages start at 120 p/w. hours are long.. hard work... and if you over 19 yrs old its even harder to get an apprenticeship as you cant get funds or grant like young lads do.. so you have pay for it all your self. tuition fees etc or boss pays it (very unlikely) bit brief but if you need any more info jus PM me.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouse 282 Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 ive a couple of mates who are farriers.they have been at it a few years and earn good money but they put in the hours.luckily they are in good area for racing and hunting yards so that helps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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