[tzonoqua]

Thanks, guys... my horse is not a patch on the real thing though!

I nearly became a farrier, well, I went so far as to enrol in college for it back when I was in Canada- before it was due to start they informed me they were no longer going to run the course due to lack of interest... (apparently I was the only one who enrolled!!) I used to ride and show Appaloosas, and sold my last horse an Appaloosa/Quarter horse mare named Jammer and used the money to go travelling, that was over 15 years ago. (and consequently I only discovered Blacksmithing 9 years ago)

The point of this story is that Jammer was born with a slightly turned in rear right hoof, which when I took her on at the age of four, (she was gifted to me as a ''problem child'' with a penchant for rearing) I discovered that it could have been corrected if she had been properly shod, but as it had been neglected was now permanent. She wasn't a "problem child'' really, she just needed some extra attention.

Moral of this story- Farriers have my respect also.

oh yes, and if only I had a penny for the number of times people come into my shop and see all the ornamental stuff and still ask," so how do you like shoeing horses?"