Archived News 2008
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April 2008
March has been a busy month with regards to news items, updates and developments. Each month since the launch of the site our statistics have gone from strength to strength and once more we have exceeded our 'traffic' compared with the previous month. March has received in excess of 1800 unique hits and we would like to thank you for your continued support!
Article Library
Regular visitors to the website may have noticed the addition of the 'Article Library' button in the left hand navigation. This popular area of the site has grown rapidly and the addition of this button helps to improve navigability.
This month our feature article is 'ATF Shoemaking and L11 Course'- there has been much speculation regarding these two compulsory elements for ATFs and this article is aimed at resolving some of the queries that have arisen.
Calendar and Event Information
Visit the Calendar to view details regarding the Equine Practitioner's Seminar held in September and, in April, the Handmade Shoes Clinic and Demonstration weekend and WCF Business Improvement Day in Horsham.
Stafford County, Devon, Romiley Young Farmers and Suffolk Show have added entry forms to the Event Information page and for all competitors at next weekends Ayrshire Branch Competition times are now available for download here too.
Results and Awards
Congratulations to England for their superb win at the Home International and to Steven Beane (Open), Tom Farmer (3rd/4th Yr) and Robert Bedford (1st/2nd Yr) for sucess in their classes at the Shire Horse Show at Peterborough.
Congratulations must also go to John Williams Hughes RSS Hons, the winner of the ATF of the Year 2007 and to all those who received their Diploma Certificate at the Ceremony in London.
Notice Board
Visit the Notice Board for information on the NPTC Level 2 Certificate in Forgework available at Kingston Maurward College in Dorset, details of the new Blacksmiths website and how you could win a cash prize for your business with the Balvenie Artisan Awards.
Your constructive feedback is essential to the progression of the craft and this month we ask that you take the time to respond to both the NEWC Code of Practise for Hoofcare out for consultation and the LANTRA Job Skills survey.
Product Information and Special Offers
Gibbins of Suffolk have a beautifully crafted, limited edition 'Clydesdale Table' for sale and lucky competitors and spectators at next weekends Ayrshire Branch competition will have the opportunity to obtain a discount at J & A Ferrie Farrier Supplies.
The Month Ahead....two new developments will be announced which will assist with the development and promotion of your business in addition to further articles, news items and competition results. We will be attending both the Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd Clinic and the BEVA/NAFBAE Joint Seminar - hopefully see you there!
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March 2008
As the weather begins to get a bit warmer we are already looking forward to a busy competition season ahead. Please do come up and say 'hello' if you see us at events and competitions over the coming months - would be a good opportunity to provide us with important feedback on the website.
The National Master & Apprentice Farriery Competition will be held this year at Myerscough College on Easter weekend. Best of luck to all competitors taking part. In connection with this competition also to be held at Myerscough on Saturday 22nd March is a 'Hands-On Modern Materials Clinic'. This clinic details the use of Jameg, Imprint and Vettec products and will not only provide information on their application but attendees will also be given the chance to use the products on dead limbs. Organised by Carl Bettison (01908 233909), this clinic is strictly limited to 30 places so be sure to book your place now!
This year's Royal Bath & West Shoeing and Shoemaking Competition is to be held on 28th - 31st May. Entry forms and schedule are available for download from the Event Information section of the website.
Those of you venturing further afield may be considering the World Championship Blacksmithing Competition held in Calgary. We are very pleased to be assisting Stampede Agriculture with the UK promotion of this event. Entries are now being taken via their website - www.stampedeagriculture.com and are strictly limited to 80 places. If anyone would like to receive a copy of the shoes for the classes please do email us here at Forge & Farrier.
New to the 'Articles Library' section is an new article - 'A Horseshoer's Approach to Heart Bars' kindly provided courtesy of the American Farriers Journal. And, to ensure we all keep up to date with industry news and developments from around the world we have added the 'Hoofcare Widget' - an up-to-the minute news-feed from Fran Jurga's "Hoofblog" to the 'Article Library' section.
Details of an apprentice wanted in the Reading area is detailed in the Classifieds section and we have also been asked if farriers could keep their eyes peeled for a horse lorry stolen in the Yorkshire area, details and picture on the Notice Board.
Wishing you all a very Happy Easter and hopefully meeting you in the coming months!
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February 2008
We were thinking that the winter months would be the quieter time of year for Forge & Farrier and this last month has proven that it is definitely not be the case!
As ever, there are more exciting developments going on behind the scenes but for now we can tell you -
The date for this years Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd Competition is July 26th. More information will follow shortly but do put the date in your diary, this competition is exceptionally well organised by a great team at 'Handmade' in addition to including a very generous prize fund and a superb evening of socialising at the presentation dinner!
The Ayrshire Branch Competition organised and hosted by J & A Ferrie Farrier Supplies will take place on 4th and 5th April - the entry form is now downloadable from the website and details of specimen shoes and competition times will appear shortly too. This will be the first event in which F&F will be sponsoring a class and we are extremely happy to be supporting such a well-recognised competition.
At the beginning of January we invited all farriery competition organisers to provide entry forms for download. These will be placed on the Event Information page of the website as soon as we receive them, along with details of specimen shoes and competition times if provided.
The website will be kept up to date with details of the new EuroSkills 2008 Competition. This is an amazing opportunity for a farrier - team members and a reserve will be selected at the Home International in March with the final announcement being at The Royal in July. We will keep you posted with their progress!
This month we are delighted to have been able to publish three new articles. Our thanks to Gary Darlow for his superbly illustrated article on a 'Hunter Hind' and to the American Farriers Journal for their informative articles on 'Cruisin' With The Patch Man' and 'Heel Concussion Can Pound A Hoof'.
We also welcome Anvil Jewellery to the website as an Industry Supplier. Anvil Jewellery is a very special collection of jewellery designed and hand crafted by a master farrier and sold by Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd. Definitely no excuses now for forgetting a special birthday and with Valentine's Day on the horizon make sure you get your order in soon!
Last but not least! Please do take part in LANTRA's Annual Business Survey - not only will you get the chance to win a £100 Red Letter Days voucher but without your response the need for training in specific topics and the further development of certain skills may go unhighlighted!
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January 2008
December is always a busy time of year and it has been no different for Forge & Farrier. Despite there being no competitions, new ideas and suggestions are becoming part of the norm and with the New Year beginning the wheels are being put into motion for further developments which bodes well for an exciting year.
We closed 2007 with yet more additions to the website; our thanks go to Jim Ferrie FWCF with his latest article on Shoeing Around the Coffin Joint and to David Hankin DipWCF for his insightful article, complete with stunning pictures, on Farriery in New Zealand. David has also provided details of an exciting employment opportunity for a farrier in New Zealand – visit the Classified area of the website for further details.
Also on the Classifieds page are details of an opportunity to purchase second hand anvils and the position of a Farriery Lecturer at Oatridge College.
“The Balanced Horse – Farriery for Horse Owners” is a DVD created by J & A Ferrie Farrier Supplies which we can not recommend highly enough. Perfect for horse owners, apprentices and equine students the content is clear and uncomplicated yet provides excellent scientific information – a small investment for a valuable resource.
Whilst we continue to ‘work behind the scenes’ to develop new ideas, we cannot stress enough the importance of feedback from all of the visitors to the website, it is only with this feedback that we can produce a product that works for you. We will continue to keep you up to date with progress but in the meantime do get in touch - this is your website.
All that is left for us to say is we wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year and we look forward to working together in 2008.
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