Apprentices

Roland's nags and nails: the fear factor of nailing on a shoe

As Roland starts his second year of his apprenticeship, he achieves another milestone as he nails a shoe on to a hoof for the first time

Roland's nags and nails: reflecting on the year gone by

In his final blog of 2011, Roland looks back at the highs and lows of the past 12 months

Roland's nags and nails: enjoying the Christmas cheer

Apprentice farrier Roland Thompson passes his end of year exams and looks forward to 10 days off over Christmas with a non-supermarket turkey

Roland's nags and nails: 'enough is enough' said the horse

Some horses are more patient than others when it comes to being shod, as apprentice farrier Roland Thompson has been finding out to his cost

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

French apprentice jockey Benjamin Boutin dies after fall

Twenty-one-year-old French jockey Benjamin Boutin has died after being injured in fall

Roland's nags and nails: scrap metal and Christmas presents

As Roland settles back into the day job after his second college block, he is surprised to receive an early Christmas present from a client

Roland's nags and nails: back-to-work disco legs beckon

Having completed his second block of college-based training, Roland has homework to do, as well as needing to get back up to speed with the day job

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

Roland's nags and nails: nearly all present and correct at college

Apprentice farrier Roland Thompson is back at college for his second block of academic training

Roland's nags and nails: I've picked up an injury — in the pub

Roland heads off to college with an injured shoulder — going out to dinner is more hazardous than shoeing horses...

Roland's nags and nails: my first fee-paying work!

A stint back at college is looming for Roland and he hopes that there'll be more fee earning work on his return

Roland's nags and nails: time flies when you're having fun

The first nine months of Roland's apprenticeship has flown by, while his trainer's regular customers regard him as a long-standing member of the team

Roland's nags and nails: feeling hot, hot, hot

Farrier's apprentice Roland Thompson is not enjoy the Indian summer and can't wait for winter to arrive

Roland's nags and nails: new developments and a frazzled hairline

Learning and development is an ongoing process for all farriers, whether that is forming new solutions to age old problems or fitting the latest equipment

Roland's nags and nails: coming a cropper when caught short

Apprentice farrier Roland Thompson is working hard to complete his 'home work' before heading back to college, but came a cropper when nipping off to 'water a hedge'

Roland's nags and nails: poo and homemade chocolate cake

Roland is gearing up for winter after experiencing some pleasant, and not so pleasant, 'firsts' this week

Roland's nags and nails: positive progress with tidy trims

After struggling with self-doubt, Roland's confidence is boosted by the news that he is making some progress with his hoof trimming skills

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

Roland's nags and nails: trimming traumas and ghostly apparitions

Another busy week for farrier's apprentice Roland, including a couple of unexpected 'happenings'...