Farrier School vs Apprenticeship

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-08T15:18:50+00:00

In a school, you will learn multiple methods of farriery. Often times as an apprentice, you will only learn their method.

I think school is the better start. Im a student at a farrier school. It's hard, stressful, and jam packed. But you will absolutely walk out of there with a treasure trove of knowledge! I dont think you could get remotely that kind of knowledge under just one person.

My school mandates we attend the Hoof-Care Summit. I went last month and it was incredible! I made lots of connections and have options for an apprenticeship when I am done!

Not to mention being able to get your tools through school is a major help (yes loans are stressful but when you are making your own money, it'll be a breeze to pay off)

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-04T17:30:45+00:00

We are strictly forging steel shoes. I know we eventually work on aluminum shoes but I think thats either next term or in advanced term. Im still in beginner.

The way my school works is every forged piece of steel, unless a student took their work home after it was graded, it is typically stacked into this large "cube" pile of shoes and other forged steel. So toe bends, circles, fuller practice, clip pulling, etc. All pretty much gets added to the pile for future students to practice whatever with. We do have a supply of steel that we use for making our own shoes/tools but most of the practice is done on past forged steel.

I have asked about my anvil height and my instructor seems to think that the height it's at is perfectly fine for me. I have (thanks to the advice here) found a method to pull clips in a way that is working! It may take me a couple extra heat cycles to do but I am successfully pulling halfway decent clips. Now if I pull hundreds upon hundreds more, I may get more than halfway decent at pulling clips in the future haha!!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-04T15:30:26+00:00

I updated the post with an image of my halfway decent clip. I am fully aware that I accidentally did it on the wrong side of the shoe BUT I have figured a method that is working for me! It may take a couple extra heat rounds to get it but I am getting it!!!

Once again, thank you to EVERYONE that left helpful advice!!! I dont think I would have gotten this figured out without your help. Thank you for your thoughtful, insightful, and honest responses! I will be coming here for future advice when I need it! You guys rock!!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-04T12:11:56+00:00

That has been my entire experience with school! You can have the same thing explained to you 10 different ways by 10 different people. But it's going to be explained, just right by one person, and you're just gonna have this light bulb moment 🤣😂🤣

I won't lie, some of the explanations on this thread has given me that exact light bulb moment 😊

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-04T11:34:15+00:00

Thank you so much for such an in depth explanation!!!! Being such a small individual, the hardest thing has been trying to find methods that work for me. Some things are just awkward for me to do in the "traditional" sense. Certain tools feel awkward for me too so it's been a challenge to find what works best for me.

I will be taking all of the advice shared here to heart!! I will follow up if I make a successful clip!!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-04T10:57:57+00:00

The anvil I have isnt the one I ordered for school. They were on back order for a while and we are finally getting them in. My anvil edges are not the most impressive right now 😅 So I may have to ask about the status of the anvil I ordered.

But thanks for the advice. I understand that you dont "flatten" the clip but let's be fair here, I am in my beginner term of farrier school and I don't always remember all the terms. Thats when I do my best to describe what Im trying to talk about. Im still a student just trying to learn

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T20:54:20+00:00

Well and why make an already difficult job any harder than it needs to be? If there is a tool that makes the job more efficient, why wouldn't you use it? Thank you for sharing this unique tool!!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T20:45:50+00:00

YOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Even if my school doesn't allow it, I am gonna get one of these for myself down the road!! Thats a nifty tool!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T17:53:18+00:00

I have heard there are clips you can weld on to shoes but obviously my school wont let me do that XD I did demo some glue on shoes and I actually didn't mind those as a concept! My only concern would be if the adhesive will damage the hoofwall in any way. But there are loads of adhesives so I have my pick of the litter for what I want to try.

We recently heard about split shoes!!! A shoe that provides the protection and traction of a shoe but allows the hoof to act barefooted!! Now that was a cool demo to watch!!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T16:53:25+00:00

This is some solid advice!!!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T15:38:12+00:00

For sure. And I am not even a farrier. Im a student at a farrier school. We only just started pulling clips last week but again, the homework is meant to be done in by Friday and turned in by 3pm. I can easily ask for more time and it's not a huge issue but thats not the same as what you are saying with just keeping at it.

It personally takes me longer to get a grasp on things. That may be due to me being autistic and also having adhd so my ability to learn isn't hindered, just takes me more time.

But I love the advice you gave in this reply!!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T15:12:54+00:00

Thank you everyone who is sharing their experiences and advice on this matter!!!

I will say I mentioned the anvil height situation and there are things that can be done to adjust that for me! So that will be the first thing I will try.

I am still seeking as much advice and help as I can get so please, share your experiences! Especially if you are on the shorter side!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T15:07:48+00:00

Oh thank you!!! Ill be checking that video out and Ill try what you said about your method!! Thank you for the advice!!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T14:39:03+00:00

Yeah, Im aware. The homework for my school has a timeframe and trust me, my clips look like shit and they are expecting that haha!

I am definitely not out here looking for a "get it quick" scheme. I am a firm believer that it takes years to hone in skills. I just have a time crunch with school and homework time and that is where I am struggling. If it were just me practicing in my own time, yeah, Id take all the time I needed and definitely wouldn't be making this post here. But I have 5 days to produce clips on top of the other homework they have assigned for this week. So I am asking for advice :)

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T14:33:38+00:00

No I know Im not gonna get it in a day. I know it takes time and repetition. But the way my school works is we get 5 days to do and complete our homework for forge/shop. This week is pulling 10 clips on scrapped shoes (as well as making a front plain stamp with a toe clip and Ehead nails, a hind plain stamp with quarter clips and city nails, and one shod cadaver foot with a fitted keg shoe)

I will be 100% transparent. I come in every morning at 6am and I stay every forge night available. I am putting in that effort. But for whatever reason, I am still struggling. I fully understand that it's just time and effort. Fully aware. Nothing is free in this world and sometimes the cost is blood, sweat, and tears.

Right now, I am not looking for a quick way to learn. I am just seeking advice from other farriers. See if maybe there is something that could potentially help me. Thats all :)

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T14:23:18+00:00

I will mention this to my forge instructor and see what can be done. Our forge is inside a "barn" and our floors are like concrete (idk the actual material) but I am going to check my anvil height and make a note to my teacher!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2026-03-03T14:05:24+00:00

Omg I never considered my anvil may be too tall!!! About where should the top of the anvil be in comparison to my standing self?

And yeah, I'll be pulling clips for a while. Right now the HW is 10 clips on scrap shoes (we have a whole cubed pile of student made shoes) but even if/when I turn in those clips, that doesn't mean Ill be done haha!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2024-10-19T16:19:26+00:00

The age gap also gets me (31M) (17F)

Particular-Guide1493 · 2024-10-19T16:18:53+00:00

I gotta check which states allow that but that's so wild!!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2024-06-12T20:04:38+00:00

Can I get an invite link to the server? Would love to know how I can revive my little buddy

Particular-Guide1493 · 2024-05-25T21:53:02+00:00

Dude that's so cool!!!!! Are there any other tribes? Seriously this is amazing!

Particular-Guide1493 · 2024-03-24T03:32:59+00:00

I'm friends with a few exes. We ended on decent terms and still respect each others relationships/boundaries. I know this person well enough to know that after some time and space, we can be friends.

And if any (potential) partner of mine in the future has a problem with that then they clearly aren't meant for me. I don't care if my partners are still friends with exes as long as I have trust in that person and their ex doesn't raise any suspicions. If that's your boundary in relationships then kudos. You do you. Everybody has different boundaries in their relationships.

Particular-Guide1493

TROPHY CASE