Roland's nags and nails: off to Cairo on a mercy mission
Roland, Kris and Alex are going to be heading off to Cairo next month to shoe and trim neglected horses and ponies in the region
Farriers
Go straight to the latest news about farriers
Farriers have to undertake a four-year apprenticeship to learn how to trim, balance and apply shoes to the horse’s hooves. If they pass their exams, they are then qualified to shoe horses without supervision. Farriers learn blacksmithing skills in order to prepare horseshoes, but a blackmith is NOT allowed to shoe horses under UK law.
The farriery industry is regulated by the Farriers Registration Council in the United Kingdom. The National Farriers Training Agency used to oversee the farriery apprenticeship, but was shut down following a poor OFSTED report in July 2013. The apprenticeships are now run by a handful of colleges around the country.
Horse & Hound followed the ups and downs of apprentice Roland Thompson as he retrained to become a qualified farrier in a regular blog, Roland’s Nags and Nails from 2011 to 2013.
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Farrier suspended for allowing his untrained brother to shoe a horse
A farrier has been suspended from work for two weeks by the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) for allowing his brother, who was untrained, to shoe a horse
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Roland's nags and nails: early spring and missing shoes
Farrier's apprentice Roland is finding it easier to identify conformational faults in hooves, while the early spring is keeping everyone on their toes
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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: 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
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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
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Man convicted of shoeing horses illegally
The bogus farrier was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs
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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: nearly all present and correct at college
Apprentice farrier Roland Thompson is back at college for his second block of academic training
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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...
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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
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Hoof research earns Essex farrier a PhD
A farrier and blacksmith from Essex is celebrating after joining an elite band of farriers to be awarded a PhD
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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
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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
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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
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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'
