Farrier Student Travels From Israel To Take Olds College Program

The 25 year-old student from Israel always planned on becoming a farrier and intended to take his schooling somewhere in North America. What he wasn’t intending when he visited the Calgary Stampede one day in July 2004 was to apply to Olds College that very day.

“I was watching the blacksmithing competitions at the Calgary Stampede and all I wanted to do was join them,” said Omri, a certified western riding and therapeutic riding coach from the Golan Heights. “The competitors said if I wanted to join them I needed to go to Olds College first. It was a very fortunate meeting. I applied to Olds College that day.

“Since I was a very little boy, I wanted to be a farrier. I watched a lot of western movies with my father and I loved the look of that life, but we lived in a city at the time. I bought my first horse when I was 16 and had to board it out of town. I knew I wanted to live on a ranch one day and always dreamt of doing my own blacksmithing. When I got a good job with a good salary managing a large ranch, I was set to go to school. It has been a good choice for me.”

Israel has highly developed agriculture and horticulture sectors, with advanced land and water systems. Although some equine associations have been developed, its fledgling horse industry is booming and needs professionals.

“The horses in Israel are very strong and used for heavy work, but there are also racing and performance horses. Many horses are used for pleasure riding, but they need proper care, too. There are extremely few farriers in Israel – most blacksmiths simply learn as best they can from their fathers. I look forward to providing good service to these animals back home and I plan on being the best farrier in all of Israel!”

Omri will be the youngest farrier, as there are only a handful of certified farriers in the entire country. He is already giving advice over the phone to people back home who want proper care for their horses. He is preparing for a major competition in Chilliwack this weekend, trying to figure out how to ship a heavy anvil back to Israel, gearing up for the end of his Olds College program in early December, and planning to return home by Hanukah.

“It will be the start of a very big career for me,” said Omri. “I will have fond memories of my time at Olds College and will always remember the great quality of the people. I have really enjoyed the farriers I am learning with and I’m trying to convince some of them to visit my country before they begin their busy careers. Israel is also a very friendly and very beautiful country.”

Source: www.oldscollege.com