01/12/2023
Fellow Farriers,
I know today might have been one of those days. It certainly has for me! The kind where every hoof seems heavier, every nail bent, and every muscle a reminder of our very human limitations. But let me take a moment to remind us all of what it means to be not just a tradesman, but a FARRIER!
Think back to the day you traveled to London, with the weight of your apprenticeship behind you and the anticipation of that sacred right of passage ahead. Remember the pride swelling in your chest as you recited the Farrier's Prayer, marking your transformation from student to master, from apprentice to artisan. You've earned the title of a fully qualified farrier, an honor that was neither given nor found—it was forged, just as we forge shoes, in fire and sweat.
Passing that final exam was not the end, but the beginning—the start of a journey where true learning unfolds with every hoof and every challenge. Yes, our vocation is demanding, a ceaseless dance of metal, fire, and flesh that tests both body and spirit. But isn't it precisely that intensity, that relentless pursuit of excellence, which captures our souls? We have become addicted not to the pain or the struggle, but to the profound satisfaction of a job well done.
The toil we endure is the tutelage of our craft, shaping us as surely as we shape the shoes we fit. The early mornings, the late nights, the aches and the achievements—are all part of the essence that it is to be a FARRIER! When asked about our profession, notice how our spines straighten, our eyes gleam with a mix of mischief and pride. We are FARRIERS. We don't simply shoe horses—we uphold a tradition as ancient as civilization, coupled with the science and skill of modernity.
As FARRIERS, we are custodians of an animal's well-being, a support to the equestrian's passion, and the architects of equine motion. To be a farrier is to know that with every strike of the hammer upon the anvil, we're contributing to something bigger than ourselves.
And yes, my brother often says, "You're not a real man unless you're either a farrier or a Marine." He jests, but in his humor is a kernel of truth: It takes grit, dedication, and a certain indomitable spirit to rise each day and greet a profession as challenging and rewarding as ours.
So today, fellow farriers, if you find doubt clouding your thoughts, remember this—you are part of a lineage that stretches back through the centuries. Each drop of sweat, every moment of frustration, is a brick laid on the path you've chosen, a path walked by countless before you and many to follow. Stand tall, stand together, and wear your title with the dignity it deserves.
Remember, we aren't just working a job. We are FARRIERS! And when the day ends and we lay down our tools, rest assured, it will all work out—because it always has, one hoof at a time.
Here's to us, the tenacious hearts and the calloused hands—the proud custodians of an age-old art.
Keep the forge burning and your spirits high.
Stable forge farriers: A Stide In the right direction……
