Confessions of a Horseshoer

Going It Alone

45 Going It Alone That experience on the mountain taught me a lesson that comes in handy as a horseshoer. Up there, hanging off the cliff, I was alone. No one was going to save me or get me out of that spot. Just me. Horseshoeing is a lot like that. I don’t mean that shoeing horses is facing death every day, but it’s an occupation that you do mostly by yourself.There is no one to bail you out when you get in trouble. If you run into a seemingly impossible task with no obvious way out,you need to find the way on your own. No one is going to rescue you. Horseshoers choose to wear no one’s uniform but their own, and those who survive the first year of horseshoeing (70 percent of first-year shoers drop out), prefer it that way. We’re often called independent cusses. In most occupations there is a continuous system of education , training, and what you might call “mentoring.” A plumber or an electrician will undergo a period of training or education and then will usually go to work in a job where there is ongoing supervision. Once in the field, most workers will learn from their contacts with the boss and from other workers. 46 • Confessions of a Horseshoer • A teacher will graduate from a teachers’ school and then go to work under the constant supervision/mentorship of a principal or a department chair. Even doctors and lawyers will initially work under supervision and some sort of education and training. In some of these jobs the person may eventually reach a level of competence where they can go into business or practice on their own, but they will probably maintain contact with others in their profession. They may also continue to grow and learn and gain support from societies, groups, and publications relevant to their occupation. Horseshoers have it different. Most shoers will attend a horseshoeing school, and occasionally, but not often, go into a period of apprenticeship with an experienced shoer. There are a few horseshoeing publications to learn from, like the American Farrier’s Journal, infrequent clinics to attend, and the occasional but rare contact with other shoers. In 37 years in the occupation, I’ve attended two horseshoer meetings and about four clinics. I’ve read a few horseshoer publications and a book or two. But that’s about it. Like other shoers , I learned the business the hard way: under a horse.There was seldom anyone around to tell me how to do the difficult things, or how to deal with a troublesome horse. Over the years, of course, I have been around other shoers, and I talk about some of those experiences in this book, but as I write this it’s been three years since I’ve even talked to another horseshoer besides the guy at the farrier’s supply store. I’ve learned from experience,from my own mistakes.I can’t think of too many other occupations that are so isolated. I’m not claiming to be special.This is the story of most horseshoers. • Going It Alone • 47 If you have horses,try to cut your horseshoer some slack. He or she is out there on their own, but if they survive the first year,they’ll probably turn out OK.And,by the way,I say some discouraging words about horse owners in this book, but for every “unusual”owner, there are a couple dozen really fine people whom I can even call friends.They’re just not as interesting to write about. ...