The rough and physically demanding work of a farrier doesn’t normally conjure images of international travel and prestigious competitions.
But Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT) farrier teacher Colin Smith jetted off to Malaysia last week to be chief judge of an international farriers competition in Kuala Lumpur.
NMIT development manager Donald Warren said Mr Smith’s inclusion on the judging panel showed the esteem in which he’s held worldwide.
Mr Smith, 49, is Australia’s only full-time farrier teacher and is among just 30 people in the country to hold a diploma of farriery.
He’s also among 189 people worldwide to have completed a postgraduate qualification in the trade. Mr Smith said he was excited about heading to Malaysia for the nation’s equine expo.
He will judge several events where competitors must shoe a horse within a certain time frame.
“It’s not the first to finish, though,” he said.
“It’s about quality. It’s a bit like shearing a sheep.”
Mr Smith will be looking for symmetry, neatness and cleanliness of work.
He said farriers were simply a modern incarnation of a blacksmith.
Mr Smith, who came to Australia from North Yorkshire in 1990, said he hoped to pass on the skills of his trade to his 10 and 14-year-old sons.
