The Horse Trust hosts 2016 Stromsholm Apprentice Farrier Seminar

During the first weekend of September, The Horse Trust was delighted to host the 2016 Stromsholm Apprentice Farrier Seminar, one of the largest professional development days in the apprentice farrier calendar.

Over sixty apprentice farriers attended the day as part of the four year training period which must be undertaken by all UK farriers in order to achieve the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. Apprentices from all four year groups attended the event and eighteen 4th year apprentices had the opportunity to practice shoeing some of the charity’s horses and ponies. The Horse Trust is the perfect venue for equine professional training as it is home to over 100 horses, ponies and donkeys many of whom are retired working horses from the police and army. These horses display a range of different lower limb conditions and provide useful case studies for the apprentices who must be able to make shoes to suit all types of animal and working conditions and to devising corrective measures to help to compensate for faulty limb action.

The apprentices took mock examinations and benefitted from demonstrations in shoemaking, tool maintenance and live horses assessment. Renate Weller, a highly respected vet from the Royal Veterinary College, presented an introduction to the farriery related work of the Structure and Motion lab at the Veterinary College. Dean Bland of Well Equine and Dr Sue Kempson also covered the different areas of hoof care. Prizes were awarded to the best performing apprentices of the day. Each group of apprentices had the chance of winning a tankard, rosette and cash voucher, with prizes being awarded from 1st to 5th place.

The Horse Trust has worked closely with equine professionals to improve the welfare of horses since its founding in 1886. Farriers are highly qualified, skilled and valued members of the equestrian community. The Stromsholm Apprentice Seminar demonstrates the importance of the equine community, vets and farriers working together to train a new generation of highly skilled professionals. Not only will these apprentice farriers go on to make a huge contribution to the welfare of horses across the UK, they will one day pass their knowledge on to a new generation of apprentices.

Carl Bettison from Stromsholm said “The benefit for holding our Apprentice Seminar at the Home of Rest for Horses are the excellent facilities in such glorious surroundings of the Chiltern Hills. The Horse Trust which is at the forefront of equine research and education has the same values as Stromsholm who are committed to farriery education, especially through its annual apprentice seminar”.

The Horse Trust has a strong link with Stromsholm who hold the Royal Warrant to Her Majesty The Queen for supplying horseshoes to the Royal Mews. Jeanette Allen, the Chief Executive of The Horse Trust, is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. The Horse Trust provides a Home of Rest for retired horses not only from the Royal Mews, but also the Kings Troop, Household Cavalry, City and Metropolitan Police all of whom are customers of Stromsholm Ltd.