Latest Interview

'Greg Murray'

1. The first obvious question is how did you first become interested in being a farrier? 

I was brought up on a property in central Qld and  my interest grew from watching my father and his men shoeing the horses that were  used to predominantly to muster sheep and cattle.

Shoeing the station horses (NT) was with out doubt the catalyst for me to change career paths,  whilst I was aware that my knowledge of farriery was extremely limited, it was also something that gave me a lot of satisfaction.

There was a stock inspector in the NT, by the name of Peter Flannegan, who has since passed away, completed the “Professional farriers” course at Montana State University in the late ‘70s. It was only on 2 occasions that I met Peter, but he can take credit for helping me to become aware of what was out there.

2. Where did you learn to shoe? 

 I was 16 when I began working on the cattle stations in the NT, the normal practice was for the head stockman to gather round the new  recruits and demonstrate the shoeing of  a “foot” before we were let loose on the horses that had been assigned to us, generally 4 – 5 each. This group (“plant”as they were called) had just been mustered up after approx 5months of getting fat over the wet season, combined with the flies and our lack of skill/speed and inexperience made for some very long days. It was not uncommon for at least one horse to pulled down and tied up so it could be shod. Sidelines, hobbles, collar ropes were all standard issue. The aboriginals would often work in teams to get the job done, black soil country produced flares that were big, hard and dry, these guys would get a block of wood and an axe. Whilst one held the horse, one would hold up the opposite foot to the one that was on the block  that was being brought back with each blow of the axe to closer resemble that of an equine digit once again.

 It would be fair to say that whilst I had developed some skills in the "bush", it was also realised that I was flying blind and that there were a lot of inconsistencies in what I was being told from people whom I had alot of respect for, and what I was experiencing myself.

In 1984 I went to Montana State University in Bozeman, a man called Tom Wolfe was conducting the 3 month courses’.  Tom was a very good teacher and had some wonderful philosophies on life, through him I competed in my first farrier competition at Missoula state fair, sit for the AFA trade test, and spent 2 months with a farrier called Claire Thompson in Albuquerque NM. Claire worked mainly on Arab stud and show horses, as well as some gaited horses.

It could be said that after returning from America, that this could be seen as the start of my career in farriery, but it is some years  and  many horses later that  I am still learning the profession.

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3. I believe you have been both a competitor and judge at competitions, could you give me
some of the highlights.

There were 10 years that I was actively competing, from 1989 until we moved to Lindsay Park in SA in 1999.

I was quite fortunate in that Mondays was traditionally the “forge” day in which shoes, tools etc was made. This meant that I rarely had to come back at night and practice for a competition, as we had already incorporated it as part of normal routine.

Most years would consist of competing in at least 4 competitions,  the Qld championships at the EKKA, National Championships, Gatton heavy horse, and Margaret River heavy horse competition. The former 2 competitions were primarily made up of individual events as well as a 3 man draught horse shoeing event, and the latter were exclusively “3 man” teams conducted over 4 heats.

To have won at a national level was extremely satisfying, but to compete as part of a team was quite often far more satisfying and stimulating.

The first team event that I was apart of  won,what was then the Laidley Heavy Horse field day(1989) before it moved to Gatton. Colin Smith AFWCF, who as many of you are probably aware is the Farrier supervisor at NMIT in Victoria, officiated as judge and demonstrated making several of the shoes prior to the start of the 1st event, that were required to be made that day, as many of us had little idea of what was required.

In the earlier days Terry Drennan, Shane Turner & myself were quite successful and had a lot of fun in the mean time and later Keith Swan, myself and often the apprentice of the time had a very successful partnership in many competitions . Terry and Shane were always up to something, swapping hammers for inflatable ones, hiding tools. One of their favorites was to put a piece of steel in the fire and make out amongst a lot of noise and sparks their shoe was a molten puddle in the bottom of the fire.

To be on the other side of the fence from being a competitor to judging a competition was where the learning curve took on a sudden upward trend. Whilst the task is very demanding, it is also rewarding when the points are added, and the results are read out to see them go to the people that have put in the time and effort to hone their skills and put something back into the industry.

4. What prompted you to take up the position at Lindsay Park.  New challenge?, change of scenery?

A mentor and  very good friend of mine, Keith Swan, was asked to go with Dr Chris Pollitt to Lindsay Park and assess the current foot/lameness situation at that time. Through conversing with  Keith, I became very interested in Lindsay Park. Whilst my wife and I operated a very successful freelance farrier service in Brisbane, that did not include any more than 10 racehorses,(which I felt was too many) the appeal of the challenges that were on offer, was all too alluring. Breeding, foals through to racehorses, working with a team of guys that were passionate about what they did, and working with an establishment that was as professional.

5. How does working on one big property differ from running the traditional shoeing business of
having clients spread around?

The two are, “Chalk & Cheese” so to speak.

Originating from a freelance operation that consisted of approx 35000 km’s /year meant that to minimize overheads and running costs the operation required constant fine tuning. Dealing with the personalities of many clients needs had it’s own skill requirements.

Shoeing a variety of horses had its advantages, especially from the shoemaking/blacksmithing aspect. There was not only the shoes that were regularly made for the likes of the Dreamworld horses, but also the variety of unique demands that would come through one of the vet clinics.

There was much time spent on the phone and road, and both of these I worked at keeping to a minimum.

What could be considered as one of the most invaluable tools, which I took out a loan for, and purchased in 1986 was a mobile phone. I believe that I was the first farrier in Australia to have one.

Working at a place such as LPS where we had a “Forge” was the ultimate working environment. All equipment was there, forges anvils, welders , etc. Horses were brought in and shod in cross ties on rubber flooring. We worked as a team, and as the boss there were very few horses that I was not familiar with. It comforting that anyone of us could bounce thoughts and ideas and to critique each others work.

LPS took me took another level of the farrier industry, it required a greater need for the further development of management and business skills. My wife and I at the time introduced for the first time at LPS that all farrier work was computer generated. At any given time, who did what work on which horse, what type of shoe used at one of the many locations around the property could be retrieved. All horses were entered with their respective breeding, brands, colour etc, this turned out to be invaluable when it was not uncommon for the same sire/dam lineage could be in its 6th generation.Over the years this generated into a large data base that included approx 4000 individual horses. This system is still in place to this day.

I have fond memories of both businesses, the clients and the different skills required of the former, the professional thoroughbred world situated in such a beautiful place as the Barossa Valley, but I would say that having worked with the guys that were so loyal and dedicated, who were a part of the farrier team at LPS over the years, whom I am indebted to and have the utmost respect for, would differentiate the two.     

6. After working there do you find your approach to shoeing differs now, if so how?

In ways it was fortunate that I went to LPS from a non – racing background,  I took with me my ideas and philosophies that were not considered mainstream.

On arrival there were 75% of horses at LPS interfering, brushing, speedy cutting etc, within 12 months this was reduced to 5%. Lameness was at 25% horses in work this was reduced to 2%. This was achieved through my understanding and approach which I had developed in the previous business.

In answering your question Steve, whilst some of the shoes and products that I use may have changed, and I also may have developed a better understanding of farriery, my philosophies would be similar.

7. Being head farrier to the HKJC is obviously the plumb job in the racing world.  Do have any
ambitions you haven't fulfilled yet, if yes what would they be.

There are some things that I do wish to fulfill, one is to sit for the examinations in the UK and earn a Dip AWCF,

and secondly to continue training and developing farrier's in this part of the world.  

8. Do Australian farrier's have a good reputation overseas and are our farrier's up to standard on the world stage.

Australians are on the whole respected not only as farrier's but also as straight forward no nonsense people.

Most farrier's whom I have dealt with in Australia have put an enormous of time and effort into developing themselves, and those people are equal with the best elsewhere in the world.

What I have noticed in my travels is that there is but a few in any given part of the world that will maintain a high professional standard. It is not the training that will make the person, but the person.

9. How does this position differ from Lindsay Park's role.  eg are you more hands on or less?

The role at LPS was fully hands on, systems had been implemented over the years that made managing the operation much smoother.

The role at the HKJC is much less hands on, there are 23 qualified farrier's, 6 apprentices(all are Chinese), that do the work for 24 trainers. My role overseas the day to day operations, trainers, apprentice training, lameness problems, vets,  the farrier side of the 2008 Olympics (equestrian), which we are holding here in HK ,as well as the farrier's and horses in the riding schools.

 
10. In the last 10 years the number of Australian trained farrier's that have ventured overseas has increased.  Do you
feel this trend will continue or is there a saturation point?

Steve, I am not qualified to answer the first part of your question, but it could be said that as the world is becoming increasingly smaller and as opportunities arise there will always be farrier's willing to travel.

This highlights that we are working in a wonderful industry that can takes us all around the world, developing our skills and knowledge and meeting many wonderful people.

For those of you that follow the international racing scene, there are currently  23 international race horses here to take part in 4 International Group 1 races on Sunday, on long with them come trainers, riders, jockeys etc,  Miss Andretti and Dylan Thomas, Benbaum, just to name a few. It is a wonderful time of the year both racing and climatically, if you are ever intending to come over this way please get in touch.

 

Steve,  I would like to thank you  for asking me, it has been an honour.

I would like to wish you all a Safe and Happy Xmas,

 

Regards`Greg

HKJC Sha Tin Racecourse