HOW TO FIND A FARRIER

by David Farmilo
Accredited Master Farrier, Oakbank SA
PH 0418 835 186
www.horsefarrier.com.au

Because I flaunt my mobile phone number and my email address so freely, I receive a lot of phone calls and a lot of emails. Invariably I am either under a horse, running a course, or out of range in the Outback, but I make a point of ringing every caller back as soon as I can and I check my emails daily.

Leaving a mobile phone on for 24 hours a day has its disadvantages - I am often woken around 5am by my mobile phone, when unwittingly someone from the eastern states has rung me not realising that I am in WA which is 2 hours behind their time.

I had an email last week from a woman who hoped I would be able to tell her the quietest stock horse stallion in Australia suitable for her mare. I am flattered that people think I know every horse in Australia, but I really don’t.

I receive a huge number of calls and emails from people asking me to recommend a “good farrier” in their area. In actual fact, I don’t meet a lot of farriers. I run year round courses for horse owners, particularly in the Outback where there are no farriers. Farriers are now starting to realise the importance of these courses and are attending to broaden their knowledge. But I really can’t help when I am asked to recommend a farrier. I suggest to callers that they contact their State Master Farriers Association or the Australian Farriers & Blacksmiths Association for a list of farriers. Or their local farrier supply outlet.

Then I get another call – they can’t find a number for the MFA or the AFBA. Finding a number for an association is not as straightforward as you may think. I can’t find anything under Associations either. So I suggest they should look in the yellow pages under Blacksmiths & Farriers. Not there either, although there is quite a listing of farriers which may be of help to those searching for a farrier.

So I tried looking on the internet – I found a website for the AFBA at www.afba.org.au which even has a Members Code of Conduct.
The National MFA has an email address nmfa@techno.net.au
The NSW MFA has its own website – www.mfansw.com.au
Various websites have listings of farriers, blacksmiths, farrier supplies and associations. The best site I found was www.horsedirectory.com.au

That raised the question of what is the difference between a blacksmith and a farrier? I get a lot of calls from people wanting gates made, crowbars sharpened, fancy ironwork made and so forth. So back to the Blacksmiths and Farriers listing in the yellow pages to find them a blacksmith.

I find it very sad that people in other states contact me knowing that I answer my phone, when the people they should be contacting in their own state are unavailable or just unable to be found. If you have any relevant association contact details, just send an email to me at david@horsefarrier.com.au and I will add it to my own ‘Finding a Farrier’ page on my website.

While trolling around the internet, I found this wonderful drawing on www.kulmbach.net/ ~MGF-Gymnasium/bilderdaten – so even Napoleon had to “wait for the Farrier”.