Welcome to Forge & Farrier, the online resource created by Farriers...for Farriers

July 2008
June has been a brilliant month for Forge & Farrier, not only have we had our best ever number of unique visitors at just over 2,500, we have made further links within the equine industry and media which will in turn benefit farriers within the UK.

Farriers Pages
This month we welcome Ed Simcock to Farriers Pages!
We are aware of farriers who have already been contacted for work through Farriers Pages and we in turn have received a number of emails from horse owners still looking for farriers in particular areas.
Forge & Farriers is consistently ranked within the top few search engine results, maximising exposure for our advertisers and ensuring constant traffic from the horse-owning public.
In order to create a web page a certain amount of time does have to be engaged by the farrier themselves and we understand that 'form-filling' is not always on the top of the agenda! Therefore, for those that would like to appear within the directory but not have their own web page we can offer your name and telephone number listed under a county for the unbeatable price of £10 (+ VAT) per county per year. Terms & Conditions do apply - please get in touch for more information.

F&F dEsign
We have undertaken a few projects for farriers in the past few weeks and the feedback so far has been extremely positive.
To go one step further we can now provide a complete package which can include vehicle livery design should this be of interest. Full details in a tailor-made package are available on request.

Product Information & Special Offers
Download details of Stromsholms 'e-newsletter' from the Product Information & Special Offers area of the website - this newsletter includes details of special offers and new products that are available. The new Stromsholm catalogue will also be published shortly and you can reserve yours now by calling the office.

Article Library
This month features two new articles. Dodson & Horrell Nutritionist Dr Teresa Hollands discusses the complexities of feeding to improve hoof quality and Tony Nevin embraces the benefits of equine professionals working more closely together.

Competitions
Congratulations to all prize winners at the Three Counties, this year's competition was more popular than ever with entries having surpassed all previous years. The East of England Championship was won by Stephen Hill and Stephen's apprentice, Tom Farmer was crowned Champion Apprentice.

July is packed full with exciting competitions - good luck to everyone competing and a special good luck message goes out to all those travelling to Calgary for the World Championship Blacksmiths Competition in the next couple of days...

Any queries, questions or suggestions please do get in touch!

June 2008
In May we have been out and about at some of the shows with plenty more trips planned in the coming month including development meetings with members of the media, governing bodies and industry suppliers.

Article Library
This month we are very lucky to have access to three articles courtesy of the American Farriers Journal. Diagnostic imaging, hoof balance and hoof moisture levels are subjects covered in these thought-provoking articles.

Calendar and Event Information
Hailed as 'the Shoemaking Event of the Year', full details of the Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd Competition are now available for download. With over £10,000 worth of prizes and places restricted to 70 vans this competition will full up quickly so be sure to get your entry returned early.
Details of the Equine Practitioner's Seminar at Warwickshire College in September, the World Horse Welfare North of Scotland Competition and Peover Competition schedule are available for download.

Results, Awards and Event Reports
The competition season has really got off to a tremendous start - is really pleasing to hear so many good comments circulating regarding the level of work being produced, particularly amongst the apprentice sections; they are after all the future of the craft!
Congratulations to Jay Tovey and David Smith, winners of the Open sections at Leicester County and to Jack Casserly and Ricky Hilton in their respective Apprentice sections. At Devon County Nigel Brown was crowned Show Champion with Elgan Harries Reserve. A flurry of competitions in the last week has seen Jim Blurton become Show Champion at the Royal Bath & West and S Taylor Champion at the Suffolk Show. Congratulations too to Paul Gordon winner of the best shod horse at Badminton Horse Trials earlier in the month.

Notice Board
Details of a missing sledge hammer and how Devon and Cornwall farriers may be able to find out how to increase profitability are amongst this month's press releases on the Notice Board.

Horse Owners Section
Whilst further work is underway in this section, Nigel Brown AWCF, has completed an informative article on the types of horseshoe seen today. This article is aimed at horse owners and those wishing to gain an insight into the areas a farrier considers when shoeing a horse.

Has been really good to see quite a few of you over the recent weeks - feedback has been great and without hearing both positive and negative comments we cannot ensure that we are delivering the product you want. We cannot stress enough that this is your website, if you have any ideas TELL US!
As ever, keep visiting and checking for regular updates in the coming month - there promises to be many!

May 2008

It hardly seems possible that May is already upon us this year. April 'showers' have been fairly persistent - let's hope we have some summer sunshine ahead.

Farriers Pages
Released just four weeks ago, this area of the website has already become the 4th most popular page! This month we welcome Stephen Hill AWCF and Ben Benson DipWCF, with further applications on their way.
This is a real chance for farriers to show off their individual skills and specialisms - we have a few places left for the special introductory offer, so make sure you don't miss your opportunity!
We have received a few emails from horse owners already requesting details for farriers in the Yorkshire, Ayrshire and Gloucestershire areas - could this be you?

Article Library
Mike Wildenstein, CJF FWCF (Hons) is the focus of our latest article written by Fran Jurga. Mike is the first in his profession since the 1930s to hold a faculty position at a US veterinary school.

Calendar and Event Information
Downloadable from the Event Information area of the website are the schedule and entry form for the East of England Show and the form for the NAFBAE Eastern Counties Ball.
Sarah Hayter is this year organising the competition at the South of England Show. Entry forms will be available very shortly, those of you that are interested in competing please call Sarah on 07801 474347 or email haytersharpe@aol.com.

Results, Awards and Event Reports
The Ayrshire Branch Competition was a huge success with Steven Beane taking the Master's Championship and Ricky Hilton Champion of the Apprentice section. Congratulations to all who took part and the organisers, J & A Ferrie, for what I am told was a 'seamless' competition!
Following his success in Ayrshire, Steven Beane became the winner of the European Championship in Hamburg and the UK were on top taking away the team prize.
We had the pleasure of attending the Handmade Shoes (UK) Clinic on Saturday with Mitch Taylor and Rob Renirie, a truly worthwhile event, full report of which will appear on the website shortly.

Notice Board
In the Classifieds section Karn Herbert is looking for a farrier to join his team and James Hayter has the 'farrier's dream vehicle' for sale!

Product Information and Special Offers
This month I am delighted to report that Vettec have joined the website! Vettec have a new product on the market, Sole-Guard, an easy to apply product aimed at protecting and supporting unshod feet.
Excellent offers are available throughout May with Swan Products in their 2008 Spring Sale.If you are thinking of refurbishing your old forge now is a good time as you will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a great product!

The Month Ahead....packed with competitions, further website updates and thoughts for the year ahead - watch this space!

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Archived News 2008 (News items greater then 3 months old).

Archived News 2007