Kia Ora! Writing to you all from Saturday morning in Auckland while it's late afternoon Friday on the east coast in the States. We hope all is well with you all.
The Year 8 students had their end-of-year field trip yesterday to a farm way out in the mountains about an hour from here. It's a remote place run by a Swiss couple and university student volunteers from Switzerland and Germany. One of the day's activities was horseback riding and because there were too few horses for all of us adults to take part, and I already get to hang out at a stable one day a week at home, I stayed behind and took photos. Don't tell anyone, but that's what I would rather do anyway in nearly any circumstances.
Just as they all set off and things quieted down, the farmer and I found ourselves chatting while he put some new shoes on a particularly tender-footed horse. One of my favorite things to shoot is an environment with a person that works with their hands, so I felt pretty lucky to get some shots that I like a lot in that half hour.
It took some doing, but he finally got those shoes on the poor horse. Looked like he'd been doing it for many, many years. Best to all, K.
Trivia time! What is a person called who shoes horses? and which of my brothers is certified in this trade?
ReplyDeleteOK, a blacksmith, but which brother??? I have no idea. Billy?
ReplyDeleteActually, he's called a Farrier...and it's Jamie. When they lived in Gainesville in the early 90s he decided to get certified just because he thought it was cool and he always wanted to learn it! He did it on the side while he earned his Masters. Anyhow, a cool trade, I thought. Great pictures, btw
ReplyDeleteFun! ok, more trivia! So, what is that tender part of the horse's hoof called? Give up? It's the frog!!! Do you suppose the bottom part of the frog's foot is called a horse? Well, it should be...
ReplyDeleteyou guys are too much! i love all the trivia! so is a blacksmith the person who makes the shoes then?
ReplyDeleteSome people do use the terms interchangably, but the blacksmith is really the one working with the metal and the fire - making the shoes and lots of other items, the farrier handles horses (and shoes).
ReplyDeleteSome people that aren't that bright, right? :O) I knew the farrier term! I should've had that one correct. Darn it. :O) Do I still get a star on my chart??
ReplyDeleteGreat pics and the farmer/farrier didn't seem to be bothered by the photos either! How did the kids do on the ride? like it? Maybe it's on the next blog?
ReplyDelete