21/02/2024
My apprenticeship in farriery was quite unique, as not many farriers are trained by their brothers, and even fewer by their younger siblings. For me, the experience was especially challenging due to the role reversal it entailed. As the older brother, I've always been the protector, the one called upon during tough times, and even embraced being the black sheep when it meant standing up for my family. However, this dynamic shifted dramatically when I became the apprentice to my younger brother.
My pride was deeply tested as I learned to take direction from someone I had always cared for and protected. It was a tough pill to swallow, redefining my lifelong role as the elder sibling now looking to my younger brother for guidance and support.
One memorable day, following an argument while working in Marshfield, I walked a great distance back to Abergavenny. But that journey wasn't enough to teach me the lesson I needed. I continued walking further, all the way to the last car park before the ascent to Sugar Loaf Mountain which is where I called home (27 miles). That exhaustive trek was a lesson I—as well as my weary legs—would not soon forget.
However, everything changed when my pride finally took a backseat and I began to truly listen and learn. My brother, having recently qualified himself, was eager to ensure my success. His teachings were fresh and relayed with a genuine concern for my welfare. Moreover, as every farrier knows, real learning begins post-qualification through trial and error. Observing my brother navigate his own failures and successes granted me a rich, deep understanding of our craft, an advantage I might not have had if I had been trained in a more conventional apprenticeship.
Upon earning my qualification, I realized that the journey had only just begun. There were still plenty of trials and errors ahead, each one shaping me into the farrier I am today. This process of navigating unforeseen challenges is what I believe truly honed my skills.
Apprentices typically train under veterans who have ironed out most of their creases, with mistakes being far less frequent. Consequently, the depth of experiential learning for these apprentices might not reach its full potential. Yes, they will eventually encounter their own mistakes when they step out on their own, but the curve to master the craft may be steeper, and for some, the prime opportunity to learn from those critical early lessons may pass by.
For me, it was different. The willingness to experiment and push beyond conventional practices was ingrained in me by my brother. His mentorship instilled in me a mentality to test the limits and break new ground. It's through seeing him challenge the status quo and doing so myself that I've developed profound confidence in my abilities. All of which has culminated in what I consider to be the making of not just an adequate farrier, but an exceptional one.
There is no Praise, like self Praise😉
Thank you Ray!
Stable forge farriers
A stride in the right direction
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