Got my first solo shoeing job for a local riding school last week

Three years ago I was just cleaning stalls at the same place, and last month the head farrier, Mike, finally let me take over for their gentle giant, a draft cross named Gus. It felt good to see the school owner smile when she checked my work. Anyone else get that first real nod from a place you started at the bottom?

4 comments

4 Comments

irisowens2mo ago

Hell yeah, that's huge. Did Mike give you any grief about handing over the reins, or was he cool about it?

rowanhernandez1mo ago

Used to be one of those people who thought "started at the bottom" was just a flex people said, but this totally changed my mind for me. Seeing Mike step back and trust me with Gus after I spent years scrubbing mats and hauling hay was wild. It's not just about the shoeing, it's about earning that look from the owner who remembers when you were the newbie scooping poop. Now every time I walk through that barn I get a little rush knowing I actually put in the time, and it paid off.

hayden_craig952mo ago

My buddy Jake started as a groom, now runs their whole barn.

kevin9742mo ago

How did he handle the jump from doing the work to managing the people doing it? That's the real trick. He probably had to learn to let go of the small tasks and focus on the big picture, like scheduling and feed orders. Getting the old crew to see him as the boss, not just another groom, is the hardest part.