Farrier Work Force

15/01/2024

It's 15 below Zero this morning. I think we will stay home. Seems like a good idea. Stay warm.

01/01/2024

Happy New Year. Many things that are needing to be done. We are currently looking for full time or day work helpers. Please apply at www.bequickhorseshoeing.com or call 970-568-3113 Thanks, Pat.

Be Quick Horseshoeing provides farrier service to Colorado horse owners from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs.

23/11/2023

Happy Thanksgiving! We have much to be thankful for. Sometimes in the midst of this crazy world we live in, it's difficult to see. We live in a land of opportunity and have known prosperity most of our lives. Let us not forget the gifts we enjoy. There are those less fortunate in this world. These are the people who will emerge strong in the face of those who claim oppression in good times. I am thankful today for all the gifts in this life and this country. Free to worship in the God and morals I hold as true. Thanks Pat.

15/11/2023

We are currently looking for another farrier to join our team. This is a paid position located in Northern Colorado near Fort Collins. Pay is based on experience. Must be willing to continue education and work toward certification. Applicants can apply on our website.

12/11/2023

We made it back from Reno. A long drive to the Farriers National Convention, but we had a chance to connect with friends. They say "you can't teach an old dog a new trick". That doesn't explain why I learn new things. I think it just helps you to re-focus.
I came away this year elected as one of the regional directors for region 2. It's easy to sit back and complain about how things are. Many complain with little thought to solutions. You rarely come up with an answer to a problem without searching for a solution. On the rare occasion this happens, it's because someone else looked for it the answer in your absence.
A common theme within organizations is the lack of participation. You would think with the popularity of participation awards, many would at least show up. Participation seems to be too much to ask but many are quick to judge on the results.
I have always found that the amount of success is directly relative to the amount of effort and process applied in preparation. There will always be those who skim the top and succeed on the surface. They have created an image or persona that has little depth. They protect the image at all costs with little regard to the content of the task.
At the end of our journey will we be remembered for the image of perfection or the content of our character? Will we be remembered for the character we possessed to overcome adversity or the ability to avoid the issue?
Wars are won by many people with a common goal and unrelenting perseverance. On this Veterans Day Weekend I remember those with the character and perseverance.
It's nice to be home. Guess it's time to go to work. Thanks., Pat.

16/10/2023

What is the most important quality in a farrier?

14/10/2023

03/10/2023

Fall is on us. Do many of you slow down in work or does it stay steady? If it slows down what do you do to increase work load?

31/08/2023

25/06/2023

I'll start this off as to why I believe this is appropriate on this page. I opened the page trying to get mentors and mentees to meet. This is also a place we can discuss Ideas about being in the farrier industry work force. I am currently in the process if running for a region 2 director for the American Farriers Association. I am just an everyday farrier who is working to make a living. I see some things that could be improved in the AFA and would also know what the opinions of members and non members are. If your a member then why? If not then why? What can we do to make this industry better for those who have been in the business and those who are just entering? Thanks, Pat

15/06/2023

It's been a while since I posted here. This was meant to bring farriers who were looking for help and people wanting to work with someone together. I am going to try something a bit different. This can also be used for speaking of employment issues and challenges we have in the work force. I don't want this to be a clone of other sights. You should be focusing on your career rather than another FB page. This is to help focus on work related matters. I.E. working relationships and where you would like to see the industry go. What associations do for you or don't do for you and also what you bring to them. Keep it civil. Thanks, Pat.

22/01/2023

I went to the local clinic with the RMFA yesterday. It was good to see some old friends and new faces. If you are a young farrier to improve your skills, these are good venues. It's a good place to make introductions to ride with someone and gain skill. Your chances of failure in this business are substantially increased when you isolate yourself. Just a thought. Thanks Pat.

13/01/2023

🤣🤣🤣

27/11/2022

What should be expected of a helper? It seems to be a cloudy subject these days in the farrier industry. When I started I was expected to load and unload tools. Set up the truck while my mentor was tending to the client. I set up his box and put his apron on it. When the horse was led up, I started cleaning feet and pulling shoes. I was expected to pay attention. Much of the teaching was through observation. I wasn't asked for my opinion at first and when it was asked for was only about the subjects that I had experience in. Questions from the client were directed to the mentor.
I would sweep as I went and speak when spoken to. A clean work area and a response was required. I was chewed on when I made a mistake and remembered because of it. The pay wasn't much and I had another job to support myself. I worked with several farriers so that I could be more than part time.
If you want a paid position, be worth the money. Just a few suggestions for those who want a mentor.

16/11/2022

It's been a while since I posted here. I haven't been tending it like I should. Those looking for help or needing mentors. Please post. I plan to put a series of articles related to this subject. This might help to educate those coming into this industry about what they can expect and what they should do. Thanks, Pat.

07/09/2022

A little funny to start your “short week”.

07/08/2022

Awards vs Rewards

In my life I have won a number of Awards. Belt buckles, ribbons and various other items. To be blunt, winning doesn’t suck. Hard work and preparation generally pay’s off on competition day. It’s important to challenge one’s abilities, learned skills and continue education to feed your passion.
As a young man I was focused on the Awards. Competition would drive me to reach farther than I thought was possible. Information wasn’t at our fingertips as it is today. Trial and error combined with an occasional clinic, associations and interaction with other farriers was the way we learned our trade. The thrill of having my name called and receiving something on the prize table became a major focus. Boxes full of ribbons and trophies gathered dust over time and eventually ended up in the landfill. I still have some around, but the dates are long past. They were important at the time but have tarnished with age.
I didn’t realize the importance then, but time and experience made me realize the rewards would become more important to me. The rewards came more subtle than the Awards. Rewards were the people I met, the ideas we exchanged made me evaluate how I looked at my craft and my life. If we agreed or disagreed with each other mattered only in content. The debate would reward me with a perspective I hadn’t thought of prior to the encounter. Debates are lost today to warriors of the internet who have taken many of our rewards away. To sit down with a colleague for coffee or breakfast seems to be gone the way of the dinosaur yet a few of us still remember those days. Today, communication between humans is done on social formats, texts and the written word. The expression, tone and overall body language is lost in this format. It takes a talented wordsmith to build an image and concept that is clear and concise to the recipient reader. The reward is building a trust between the two people. The reward can last a lifetime and grow instead of gathering dust and tarnishing.
Animals seem to be my teachers today. They don’t have the human intentions and deceptions. My dog teaches me what unconditional love should be. My horse teaches me honesty and my mule will ensure my resume’ is in order. I’m told that these are simple creatures that pale in comparison to human intellect. I would argue in the words of Forrest Gump “stupid is as stupid does”. Animals want basic needs and to feel okay. The human wants the same but can’t identify those needs. The human will put the “wants” over the “needs” in many cases. Rewards should be peace with who we are and the comfort that we are okay. The accomplishments above those fundamentals should be additions to those values. Our success should be on its own merits and not at the expense of others. We should compete with ourselves to be better than we were yesterday, not better than others. If on competition day we have prepared, we may be both awarded and rewarded. Just something to ponder. Thanks, Pat.

11/07/2022

I haven't tended to this site for a while. This week is farrier appreciation week. We can appreciate that summer is here and it's hot. Those who live in cold climates are now enjoying the three weeks of non winter. Be safe out there. Thanks, Pat.

07/05/2022

If you're in the Fort Collins Colorado area, we are looking for an office administrator and a farrier Helper position. Both are paid positions. Apply at www.bequickhorseshoeing.com

28/04/2022

Thanks to all those who have joined the group. Feel free to invite schools and farriers who are getting into the business to post on this page. Thanks. Pat.

20/04/2022

This page is here for all of our use. Please invite schools, students and those looking for work.

13/04/2022

Ethics in Farriery

Early in my career I was taught the ethics according to farriers. It’s not a written code that will be found in your local library or a class that can be taken. It was an understanding those in the business expected. I wasn’t there when the AFA was started, but I knew many of those who were there. Why start an association many would ask. We are independent farriers who make our own rules. I heard stories of curtain closed areas and information wasn’t readily shared. So why create an association when everyone wants to work alone? For the same reason we got into the business. We wanted to be challenged and we wanted to improve. We need to interact with professionals that have the same challenges or issues we face in our trade. The candidness and sometimes brutal honesty created trust. That trust went both ways.
It wasn’t ethical to steal property or clients from a mentor. If in need, the right tool, pair of shoes, advice or help always seemed to show up. If they fed you a client, it wasn’t their best client, but it helped pay the bills. In return, I loaded their box, packed the truck, kept my mouth shut around the clients and did what I was told. One mentor defined the difference between a dollar and a dime. He was the dollar and I was the dime. A dollar didn’t wait on a dime. If I was running late, driving down their driveway at light speed was not impressive.
Amongst, seasoned farriers how will we treat each other? I would hope that it is with respect and professionalism. Eutopia would be that we stand on our merit. We would be good with our word. Our actions would define our value. We should teach ethics and value to prospective farriers. Associations create a dialogue, show us our differences and similarities. The debate will encourage researching answers. The answers will increase our knowledge and improve our industry. We must protect this industry and leave it better than we found it.

Being ethical is one of the secrets to a successful career and life. Those in it for quick cash come and go as fast as the money. Your word should mean something, your actions should support your word. Both should be trustworthy. The animal that feeds us and gives us purpose, has no ego, doesn’t lie, has no agenda, or need for money and could care less about ribbons or trophies, the horse just wants to be okay. In contrast, when you see a troubled horse look at the other end of the lead rope and you will see a human that is also troubled. A human who doesn’t understand the horse. I believe the horse to be ethical. We would do well to learn from those who have learned from the horse. We should respect the craft, the horse and ourselves. We should be ethical. Thanks for reading, Pat Hall CJF
[email protected]

10/04/2022

We are looking for a full time farrier to add to our team. Must have been to school or have a some experience. Pay is dependent on experience and certification level. We are located in Fort Collins Colorado. Which is the northern part of the state. Must be motivated and work toward certification. Please apply on our website. www.bequickhorseshoeing.com

Be Quick Horseshoeing provides farrier service to Colorado horse owners from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs.

10/04/2022

Thanks fellow farriers for viewing our new page. We hope that you can find the help you need. As, always, play nice. We are being non biased all levels and experience are welcome. Those who don't play nice will not be allowed on this page. 👌

10/04/2022

10/04/2022