>>> Jason is a self-taught farrier (he went to Iceland for a few months to see what they do over there), with no prior blacksmithing or horse experience before he met and started riding Marci Staci's horses here in Michigan shortly before the clinic I went to took place. So, he's been riding horses (not just Icelandics, but HORSES) for 6 or 7 years -- tops. And I don't think he's ever met an Icelandic whose gaits he didn't think he couldn't "fix" with shoeing.
I'm trying to remember exactly when I joined the lists - it was about a week before Wanda's Solon was born (I had three pregnant mares at the time, so it made an impression on me - he was the first "list foal" born after I joined) so I think that will be five years in August - Wanda can confirm when he was born. Anyway, not too long after I joined, someone in the Northeast was hosting a Sigrun clinic, and Jason was on the agenda to appear with her...listing him as a "Master Icelandic Farrier." At the time, I think he'd only been riding less than two years, and had been a "farrier" for even less time, maybe less than one year. I'm pretty sure that the USIHC even listed him as a "master farrier" on clinic calendar on their website. (I seem to remember they took the "master" off when his inexperience was revealed.) In contrast, in the USA, it takes a farrier at least something like TEN years of apprenticeships, increasing experience and testing to get the title of master farrier. The wording on the handbills for the clinic, as well as attendee reports, phrased it something like he would be there to shoe horses under Sigrun's direction. Huh? I was stunned at the audacity of calling someone who should still be in the "apprentice farrier" phase by the title of "master." In the USA, farriery is a serious profession (not that there aren't quacks in every profession) that is a full-time career and pursuit. A good farrier stays busy learning how to maintain a horse's foot and joint health. I don't know of any GOOD farriers and trainers where it's the TRAINER who dictates how the feet will be trimmed. Sometimes, the farrier will consult with a vet, to go over x-rays for a particular horse with medical problems, but mostly, farriery is a serious independent career that stands on its own merits. Trainers and farriers are basically two separate careers, independent, and both worthy of careful consideration when selecting. I've worked mainly with one trainer (taking clinics from others) for 18 years, and the same farrier for 15 or so. I typically had about 6-8 horses the first ten years, but the number has crept up to over 20 in the last five years. Even with that number of horses, I cannot remember even once where my trainer has told my farrier what to do to my horses feet - and it would take some peculiar circumstances for that to happen. They are both professionals, and both are respectful of each other's expertise. Never, EVER would I let some riding clinician dictate how my horse's feet are trimmed and/or shod. I'm sure anyone who's interested can find details about this incident in the archives. We don't make this stuff up...although some days I wish it were all make-believe. Karen Thomas, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1324 - Release Date: 3/10/2008 7:27 PM
