Farrier enjoys benefits of being mobile

Jimmy is pigeon-toed but, at 19, Ben van der Sande says it's too late to try to correct the inward turning of his feet.
"The best I can do is fit shoes which give him a bit more support on the outside of his foot. In a younger horse, it's possible to do more to help correct the problem," said Ben who often makes special shoes for horses with foot or leg problems.
The Tauranga-based farrier began his apprenticeship at 17 with two of the country's top farriers, Greg Hocking and Kim Hughes of Cambridge, completing three years of formal training under an NZQA certified programme.
Now he's a mobile farrier, visiting clients in the Bay of Plenty and once a week shoeing horses at some large stables around Cambridge.
Jimmy and his stablemate Ben, the Anglo-Arab, are regular clients and their owners Levonne Kelly and Don Jackson of Waihi are happy to have Ben work on their horses.
"Having your horses shod properly is not cheap but it's worth it. Ben shod both the horses just before we did the eight- day Great New Zealand Trek in the King Country and they never lost a shoe or got foot-sore," said Levonne.
Levonne and Don also appreciate Ben's easy way with the horses. Jimmy almost went to sleep while his "pedicure" was going on. However, not all horses are so relaxed.
"I've had a few nips in the back and the occasional kick. Some of the thoroughbreds I'm asked to shoe for the first time are a bit hard to handle," said Ben.
Horse shoeing is on a par with shearing sheep but "sheep don't kick as hard".
Ben grew up around horses. His parents, Nick and Jill van der Sande, were managers and trainers of the DB Clydesdales and today own and operate the tourist venture Pirongia Clydesdales where Ben has a farrier shop.
When he decided to learn the ancient trade of shoeing horses it was back to the book work.
"We spent quite a bit of time in the classroom learning about horse anatomy and physiology. You have to understand how the horse's body works and the problems which can arise.
"Apprentices do a lot of work on the feet of dead horses. Much better to put a nail in wrong in a dead foot than a live one. It's important to make sure you do a good job of shoeing. Getting it wrong can cause pain and long-term problems for the horse, and we also work closely with vets on horses with a range of conditions," he said.
That may require creating the horse equivalent of corrective shoes designed to ease the weight on a healing leg or change the way a horse walks or stands.
Most days, however, it's about removing shoes and cutting back and dressing the growing hoof before refitting old or new shoes.
However, even with horses he knows well, Ben inspects each to observe how they stand and move, looking for any indication of problems.
He works from the back of his vehicle, using a gas-powered mini-forge to turn shoes red-hot. In that state the metal is pliable and Ben is able to forge the shoe in true blacksmith tradition, to create the shape he wants. The hoof is always left with some extra for burning to create a perfect fit between the foot and the shoe.
It was that smoky, smelly part of the process Jimmy didn't particularly enjoy but with Levonne holding his head and talking to him, he remained still.
Would Ben recommend becoming a farrier as a career for young people?
"It's a great occupation for anyone who is prepared to work hard and likes horses. I work on my own but it's very social because you are meeting people at every job and it's satisfying to be able to help a horse that may need attention" he said.
To find about becoming a farrier visit www.nzfarriers.co.nz.