Shoers Can Have Similarities

Wow, the weather was so nice through September I never wanted to really sit and write an entry. Now, we have had 3 days of rain and I figured I’d think of something to write about.
I “always” say if you get 10 shoers together you would have 11 different ways of doing things. It seems we are that independent, as well as, human even in application of similar techniques of trimming, shoeing, and horse handling. Well, I finally met a shoer that would have been fun to have met years ago. She wanted to quit shoeing and was looking for someone she felt she could recommend to her clients. She saw some of my work and even though the horse was overdue and scheduled to be shod later that day she thought the work looked similar to her standards. We met for lunch and went to shoe a few of her clients’ horses together. And I “passed” her critique. And I had a blast shoeing with someone else. And I had been praying for a little more business (“Oh that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me and that You would keep me from harm that it not pain me” I Chronicles)
Differences:
· She has a trailer/ I shoe out of a truck with a topper
· She uses electric power to grind shoes/ I hot rasp
· She finishes really clean/ I enjoyed buckling down to clean up my work
Similarities:
· We both are in our 50’s (however, I am a little younger!:) )
· We both put emphasis on hoof balance, good nail placement, horse handling, scheduling & showing up on time. Our hoof trimming and shaping the shoe to the foot was of the same caliber.
· We even had similar one-liners and comments! Very important to keep your sense of humor.
· We actually are built very similar, but she is much prettier!
In the end she found what she wanted, a shoer she was comfortable recommending and has quit except for her own horses which she said I might be getting a call from her to do them! And I got my business topped off with some great clients.