Farrier forging friendships too

Samantha Gillies, riding Junior Disco, clears the first jump in a 120cm-130cm grand prix class in...
Samantha Gillies, riding Junior Disco, clears the first jump in a 120cm-130cm grand prix class in the Otago Show Jumping Summer Championships, held at the Mosgiel A&P Showgrounds yesterday. PHOTOS: GERARD O’BRIEN
Everyone is complaining about the cold summer weather we’ve been having.

But not Jordan Dent.

Every day is a hot one for the Fairlie-based farrier.

He was at the Mosgiel A&P Showgrounds yesterday for the Otago Show Jumping Summer Championships — just one of many equestrian events he will attend over the next three months, fixing and replacing horse shoes with his mobile forge.

"If anyone loses a shoe out jumping or needs stud-holes or anything like that, it’s all part of the parcel. They can just come over and see me and I help them out."

Mr Dent said it was scorching work, no matter what time of year you did it — especially if a piece of molten metal flew into your clothing.

"I tell you, when you get a bit in your shirt, it’s amazing how quickly you can strip off."

Farrier Jordan Dent, of Fairlie, prepares to replace a shoe for a horse competing in yesterday’s...
Farrier Jordan Dent, of Fairlie, prepares to replace a shoe for a horse competing in yesterday’s show jumping.
In his youth, he used to be a show jumper on the Gold Coast, in Australia, and his farrier business grew out of it, he said.

"I came over here about 13 years ago, and just haven’t gone home yet.

"I love it over here. It’s a wicked wee spot, especially around Canterbury and Otago — just a cool environment and nice people."

He follows many equestrian events around the country, and while it is a good source of "bread and butter" for him, it was also like a summer holiday.

"A lot of my clients are friends and it’s a good way of catching up with them. It’s also a good way to see a bit of the country.

"I don’t really get holidays, so this is as close to a summer holiday as it gets for me."

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