Roland's nags and nails: my Cairo Farrier experience
Farrier's apprentice Roland Thompson describes his week in Cairo as one of the most extraordinary, and harrowing, experiences of his life
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Roland's nags and nails: nursing a dead leg after 'not a novice' ride
Apprentice farrier Roland Thompson explains how to 'ride a leg' and what happens when things don't go according to plan
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Roland's nags and nails: it's tough, this apprenticeship lark
Apprentice farrier Roland Thompson admits that the ongoing training assessments are much tougher than he ever expected, but finds the rewards exceed the effort
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Roland's nags and nails: flora, fauna and packed lunches
In addition to his day job, Roland is determined to expand his knowledge of British birds and trees with assistance from his new iPhone
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Roland's nags and nails: has spring come early?
Apprentice farrier Roland is enjoying the warmer weather, but was reminded just how much more he has still to learn this week
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Roland's nags and nails: the Cairo Farrier team is raring to go
Roland is trying to keep his new iPhone in one piece as he embarks on regular tweeting during his rounds, while support for Cairo Farrier continues to build
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Roland’s nags and nails: seeking case studies in the cold
As the winter weather continues, Roland has been on the look out for case studies for his college coursework, while the Cairo Farrier campaign gains more support
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Roland's nags and nails: give me dry horses and a cuppa
Apprentice farrier Roland Thompson accepts that not everyone can present their horses in a clean and dry state, but he does appreciate those that do
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Roland's nags and nails: A grades and accidental fires
Farrier's apprentice Roland Thompson has been impressing his college tutors by getting an A grade for his shoe making, despite setting fire to the wooden template
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Roland's nags and nails: another important lesson learnt
Roland continues to struggle with improving his trimming and learnt an important lesson about how and where to tie up this week
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Roland's nags and nails: trimming traumas and ghostly apparitions
Another busy week for farrier's apprentice Roland, including a couple of unexpected 'happenings'...
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Roland's nags and nails: the importance of building trust
Farrier's apprentice Roland discusses the best way to shoe a nervous horse and what owners can do to help
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Roland's nags and nails: learning from your mistakes
Roland feels terrible after a prophesy shared with all farrier's apprentices comes true
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Roland's nags and nails: back from paternity leave on limited sleep
Roland is back at work in a sleep-deprived state as he learns how to trim the hoof and his colleague Alex sits his all-important final exams
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Roland’s nags and nails: new arrival prompts paternity leave
Our apprentice farrier is taking a few weeks off following the addition of a new baby boy to the Thompson household
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Roland's nags and nails: another milestone and crowd control
This week our apprentice farrier has reached another milestone in his training and shared his knowledge with members of the public
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Roland’s nags and nails: practising shoe-making
Roland is frustrated by his slow progress, but knows that a week at the anvil will have done him good
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Roland’s nags and nails: hard ground and welcome rain
The hard ground has been taking is toll on the hooves of Roland's equine clients and he is glad to finally see some rain
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Roland's nags and nails: mock exams and steep learning curves
Roland's fellow apprentice Alex is preparing for his final exams after four years of intensive training
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Roland's nags and nails: sheared heels and a nest of maggots
Roland is back to school once more and is shocked to find a nest of maggots in the frog of one equine client
