Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
World's Greatest Farrier, that is. I've written about Mr. Jaime Osbrink many times, and I am sure you're sick of hearing about him, but reliable, friendly, and competent farriers can be hard to find. I only get to see Jaime face to face twice a year if I am lucky. My boys both love him so much that they stand rock solid the entire time he works. They don't need me there to hold them. This means that he comes to do his wok while I'm at work so I never get to actually talk to him about how my boys' feet look. He always sends photos or texts letting me know that all went well, but a face to face is a lot more fun.
I get to watch Jaime work during summer break and Christmas break if the timing is right. He last did my boys just before school let out, and he's due back on the first day of school, so Tuesday was my one chance to visit with him and watch him work. Jaime is an excellent farrier. He's one small step away from achieving Journeyman status with the American Farriers Association, the highest level of certification that the AFA offers. He now has his sights set on the European Federation of Farriers Association. Our visit consisted of how his girls (actual children) are doing on the rodeo circuit, how my boys (equine) are doing in dressage, and how his golf game is progressing (it's coming along he says modestly). We also talked a lot about the barefoot movement. No, I am not going that route, but I enjoy hearing what he thinks about it. He's quite knowledgeable and strives to stay current with the latest research and techniques. He also competes in shoeing competitions as he's quite confident in his work. He stresses that everything he does is always for the good of the horse. I sure hope that my boys are due again in late December, or this will be my only real visit with my farrier. I may not see him again until next summer. Two hours and some watermelon slices just wasn't enough face to face to last an entire year. I might have to "lose" some shoes to get him back here when I have a day off.
Karen
7/10/2013 07:20:45 am
He is and they ARE! 7/10/2013 05:36:12 am
I agree with Lauren completely! A farrier with good bedside manners is not easy to come by!
Karen
7/10/2013 07:24:24 am
I do everything I can to make him happy ... Before he got there, my horses were worked and mellow, I swept/raked his work area, and hosed it down to eliminate dust. I also held tails to keep them out of Jaime's eyes, fly sprayed, picked up the fresh poop that Sydney deposited, and brought big watermelon slices in an ice chest. He's a GREAT farrier, and I want to keep him around for a long time. :0) 7/10/2013 10:47:34 am
I ♡ mine too! He was here last week.
Karen
7/10/2013 11:21:32 am
ANYTHING to keep him happy, huh?!
Angela
7/10/2013 11:57:35 am
He is the greatest! And, he does tolerate a lot from me and my crew!
Karen
7/11/2013 05:22:45 am
He says the same thing about my boys; he calls himself their hired help. His priority is always making the horses happy and comfortable; I I love that! :0)
Karen
7/11/2013 05:23:17 am
I am glad to hear there are other great ones out there, too!
Val
7/11/2013 12:31:32 am
Great farriers ARE hard to find, which was part of my motivation for becoming my own. Care to share about the barefoot discussion?
Karen
7/11/2013 05:29:27 am
It was a lengthy conversation, Val, but in a nut shell: Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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