Yorkshire Farriers AWCF Course ~ Steve Hewitt AWCF

Forging Ahead - I write this firstly to offer encouragement to groups to get together and work towards achieving their higher exams. Secondly to thank all those who gave their time so generously to helping us.

We started with a group of 9, of which half have now successfully passed their AWCF and the rest are partially qualified. Working together is so much more rewarding than studying alone. You encourage one another, share ideas and keep the momentum going. There is a lot of help to be had out there to help you get started. We found that by grouping together we had enough people to attend day courses at local forges and we were particularly lucky to be given the use of Follifoot Forge, the home of Chris Pedley AWCF and a successful graduate of the scheme!

We met at Follifoot every week to attend a discussion group, a great forum for swapping ideas and discussing the revision we had hopefully done during the week. We would take along a shoe we had made, present it and discuss its use and effectiveness. This enabled us to gain practise in our presenting skills in preparation for the oral part of the exam.

It was also very useful to have the help of experienced vets and farriers such as Hugh Davies and Richard Stephenson who as Veterinary examination officers helped us in our preparation. Doug Bradbury FWCF came and spoke to us about what we were really letting ourselves in for. He obviously inspired us as we all duly enrolled and sat the exam. As we got into the course we had immeasurable help from Richard Ellis who helped us with advanced shoe making and fitting. A modern materials day with Andrew Poynton FWCF aided by Ross Mackey AWCF and John Stanley AWCF brought us up to speed in all the latest developments.

There were days with Martin Deacon FWCF, who ran through the practical aspect of the exam. A two day course with Simon Curtis FWCF HonAssoc RCSV and Stephen Gowing AWCF who gave us a mock exam. All of these exercises were held at Follifoot which enabled us to spread the cost across the group making it very good value. Mark Watson AWCF helped us with the theory part of the exam technique at Melton Mowbray. Mark is an inspiring teacher and we are indebted to him for his help and patience in putting up with us!

There was also support from the Registrar of the Worshipful Company Farriers Captain David Goodall RN and this was much appreciated. I found him to be a great source to help with numbers and contacts and a great encouragement for what we were doing.

Jonathan Nunn has now started a group in the Staffordshire area which I hope will be the start of many to follow. Ours was created under the umbrella of the Yorkshire Farriers Education and Demonstration Association. And it would be marvellous if other groups such as NAFBAE could follow suit. It’s a great way of making new friends and better farriers, apart from having fun while doing it.

Our aim now is to start a new group and help the last few to get those all important letters after their names. This is a challenging exam, takes time and commitment not to mention an understanding wife or partner. What next? New heights to scale, we hope to sit our FWCF next. I shall be there and hopefully so will the rest of our group…….Chris, better get stocked up on the tea and biscuits!

The names that have now passed are Chris Pedley A.W.C.F Dave Lynch A.W.C.F Sam Beeley A.W.C.F myself Stephen Hewitt A.W.C.F others soon to follow.