Farrier Training
Farriery is an amazing trade/craft with over 3000 years of history and use of the horse .The aim then was to keep the horse sound and in work just as it is now, although the use of the horse has changed some what. In England further improvement of shoeing standards started in 1356 the farriers of the city of London were called together by the Lord Mayor to improve horseshoeing standards thus forming the Worshipful Company of Farriers.In 1674 the first Charter was granted by King Charles II "For preserving the horse by skilled persons in Horseshoeing" .A court in 1887 appointed a commitee to establish a register of farriers and a setting of examinations to gain access as a "Registerd Shoeing Smith".Voluntary Higher examinations were introduced in 1907 the AFCL (AWCF today)& in 1923 the FWCF the highest accolade in Farriery .Our improvement of standards continues today through apprenticeships,Graduate & post graduate higher examinations,courses,seminars & farriery competition.For some time Qualified members of professional bodies are increasingly being required to undertake a" Continue Professional Development"course ,C.P.D (UK only) in order that the high standards they had to achieve to become qualified are maintained whilst they continue to practice in their chosen professions.This CPD system is now moving forward to include the Farriery profession, which increases practical ability & knowledge of the trade to ultimately benefits the very Horse itself.Click on the new website link below which will give comprehensive information on CPD Training ,Venues and clinics all around the UK.
Further Farrier Education & Training
Nigel now offers practical clinics to Farriers who wish to improve their skills on a one to one or a small group basis incorporating many disciplines in shoemaking & forging skills from "preparing for examinations" to "further assessments" in farriery.All these clinics are recognised and approved by the Worshipful Company of Farriers gaining a minimum of 4 CPD points.These clinics are very kindly sponsored by Billy Crothers at Handmade Shoes UK LTD providing the very best in Farriery products & Horse shoeing technology.
CLINICS
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For any areas in Farriery & Forging skills , including;
- Concave shoemaking
- Making barshoes from concave & flat sections
- Plain stamp shoemaking
- Fullered / Roadster shoemaking
- Remedial & theraputc shoemaking & fabrication
- Hunter shoemaking
- Tool & Fullering / Making of Tooling Blocks
- Fire welding/Jump welding/Gas welding
- Aluminium shoemaking/welding
- Tong making
- Making Farriers pincers/Pull offs
- Tool making & maintenance /Hammer shaft applications
- "ATF assessment" preparation clinics
- "DWCF Examination" practical preparation clinics
- "AWCF Examination practical preparation Clinics
- Heavy horse shoemaking/Bevels & Working shoes
- Farriery Competition preparation/Structure/Practice plan
- Complicated hoof Crack repair
All the Clinics held are on a demonstration & hands on basis,giving a chance for farriers to observe then carry out the tasks through practice with further tutoring & guidence.
These clinics are a good practical way to attain further skills on a small group basis from 1 to 4 people. For price information on any of these clinics please contact Nigel through this website at the booking/Enquiry link.
A MENU OF CLINICS !!
Some of the Clinics listed below do have dates with them listed for 2011 . However there are others listed and they do not , these are possible clinics that can be held at any time . If you see a clinic that would be of interest that does not have a current date then feel free to contact Nigel . If enough interest is forthcoming then Nigel will be able to issue dates for these clinics. Alternatively you can form and book your own group of Farriers for a clinic
OVERSEAS CLINIC ENQUIREYS
Nigels clinics have attracted many Farriers from outside the UK including the USA and Europe . If you are enquiring from abroad then your Airport Taxi pickup and Hotel close to the Forge can be arranged for you alternatively Nigel can host clinics abroad upon enquiry .
SPONSORS
Some of these clinics are very kindly supported in interest by Handmade Shoes UK Ltd. Handmade Shoes UK are one of the world leaders in some of the finest and latest products in Farriery today with a first class service . Please click on the Handmade Shoes UK logo to check out there comprehensive website.
Upcoming Clinics...
Feb 26th 2011 Concave Shoemaking Day.
- Attaining shape/Balance/clean finish
- Helpful forging techniques Looking after concave sections when forging
- Covering foot shapes
- Various clipping methods
- Concave tool precision/stamps/Pritchels
- Hunter heel applications
A chance to gain some helpful information on a small group tutored basis.4 CPD points.This clinic is kindly sponsored by Billy Crothers at Handmade shoes UK LTD Cost per person £150+VAT@20% Limited to 4 places.Lunch & refreshments provided.
Feb 19th 2011 Tool & Fullering Clinic Day
- Making Tool & Fullered Bar Shoes & Hunter Calkin & wedges
- Principles to preparing section through block
- Practical guidence to the use of Guide/Splitters/Fullers
- Forging & turning a tooled section successfully
- Clipping methods
- Guidence for Block set up & Tool precision
This is a real hands on day with demonstrations throughout ! A chance to gain some very helpful hints in this true traditional shoemaking art ! Small group basis limited to 4 and will form teams of 2 for striking purposes. This clinic is kindly sponsored by Billy Crothers at Handmade shoes UK LTD . 4 CPD points . Cost per Person £150+VAT@20% Lunch & refreshments provided.
April 15th 2011.....ATF Shoemaking preperation Clinic
- Concave & Bar shoe forging criteria
- Fullering demonstrations/Guidance
- Structuring/Format/forging heats for assessment time,effective fire use
- Tool precision and use
A helpful insite for preperation for an ATF practical assessment on a small group basis.This clinic is kindly sponsored by Billy Crothers at Handmade Shoes UK LTD.Cost per person £150+VAT@20% Limited to 4 places.Lunch & refreshments provided.
TBC 2011...... Roadster Shoemaking Day
- Making Front/Hind fullered Roadster Shoes
- The Roadster Calk & Wedge
- Incorperating Bumping criteria/heel forging
- Forging a crisp section with effective fullering
- Forging lighter flat sections with success
- Clipping methods
Purely a flat section fullering day ! Brush up your roadster shoe making with helpful hints for that crisper roadster! Small group basis LTD to 4 hands on with demonstrations in all areas.This clinic kindly sponsored by Billy Crothers at Handmade shoe UK LTD .Cost per person £150+VAT@20%. 4 CPD points.Lunch & refreshments provided.
TBC .....Tongs & Barshoe Clinic with Andrew Casserly & Nigel Fennell.
Dont miss this one!!! Andrew & Nigel have competed many times together over the years in pairs classes,including the World Championships 2 man & 4 Man classes. Andrew has competed for 25 years been National Champion , Reserve World Champion and represented the England Horseshoeing team on many occasions.
- Tong Making (forging criteria,design & fitting)
- Tong Forging set up for Sections
- Forging tong head designs with use of billets
- Barshoe making from flat section
- Attaining shape & balance
- Bar & scarf set up
- Firewelding tips & Forging
This is a chance to gain some very helpful information in Two quite different areas of forging disciplines . At the end of the clinic Andrew & Nigel will (for a bit of fun!!) demonstrate a Tong & shoe class on a time limit similar to the world Championships. This clinic is has only 4 places and it will be hands on after demonstrations .It will be a busy day !! .This cinic is kindly sponsored by Handmade Shoes UK LTD .Cost per person £175+VAT@20%. 4 CPD points.Lunch & refreshments provided.
TBC. 2011....... The Italian Job !
Want to explore new shoemaking skills?Fancy something different ? A days clinic on Italian shoemaking ? If so then Nigel will demonstrate some of these unique shoe patterns that earned him 2 European show championships in Italy along with 3 England team Italian show titles .Some of the shoes demonstrated will include,
- Italian showjumping hind
- Pony Carriage shoe (folded Calks)
- Fullered Italian front shoe
- Italian Bar shoe
- Demonstration on Clipping "Italian Style"
This will involve various demonstrations on the making of this truly unique shoes,incorporating the many forging elements required in Italian shoemaking .This clinic is limited to 4 places and is kindly sponsored by Handmade Shoes UK LTD. Cost per person £150+VAT@20% .4 CPD points. Lunch & refreshments provided.
March 26th 2011 .Barshoe making Clinic.
- Barshoe making from concave & Flat
- Attaining shape &Balance
- Bar & scarf set up
- Firewelding tips & set up
- Heart bar formation and forging
This is again a demonstration and hands on day .Limited to 4 places and is kindly sponsored by Handmade shoes UK LTD.Cost per person £150+VAT@20%. 4 CPD points,lunch and refreshments provided.
TBC......Tooling Block Making Day
This day is purely a block making day for the art of Tool & Fullering. Nigel will demonstrate how he produces these blocks from scratch,prepares the sections ,and the case hardening procedures to get the best life from your blocks once they are made and the important procedures to their function.This day is limited to 4 places and 4 blocks will be made ,all the blocks will be tooled for testing upon their completion .
This is limited to 4 places and is kindly sponsored by Handmade shoes LTD . Cost per person £200+VAT@20%. 4 CPD Points, lunch and refreshments provided.
Tongmaking Clinic
For those interest in some thing a bit different ! Nigel will demonstrate the art of Tong making from billets.Nigels success in this field of forging has included top five placing at the World Champion Blacksmiths Competition in Calgary & Tong making Champion at the Royal Show.The day will be hands on after the demonstrations .This is limited to 4 places . Cost per person £150+VAT@20 . 4 CPD Points , lunch & refreshments provided.
- Step by step forging of both Heel disciplines
- Hunter Calkin & Wedge
- Roadster Calkin & Wedge
A day devoted to the forging of these heels & shoes.Including a break down in the important forging moves . The morning will start with the hunter Calkin & Wedge moving onto the Roadster in the afternoon. Cost per person, £150+VAT@20%
March 11th ...........Hunter Shoemaking Clinic
This day is purley for the making of Concave Hunter shoemaking incorperating,
- Turning , Shape & Balance
- Correct Forging set up and Hot Rasping Techniques of the Hunter Heel
- Demonstration of the Hunter Calkin & Wedge
- Hunter heel formation forging tips on wider concave sections
You can book any of these Clinics now on this website
You can book an up coming clinic,or organise your own ,pick any area of Farriery you would like to have a days clinic and for how many 1 to 4 farriers then contact Nigel above.Any enquirys for clinics abroad are also catered for and welcome.
A Career in Farriery ??
Considering Training to become a Qualified proffesional Farrier,then simply click on the Farriers Training Agency link below and this will give you all the information you need to Apprenticeship Training and guidelines.
New Training Website!!
Three Times World Champion Farrier Darren Bazin & International Farrier competitor Brian Saunders are the creators of a fantastic new Farriery training website.
This website "Know Foot Know Horse" is the first of its kind,offering an amazing aray of information in movie download form on many areas of demonstration at your fingertips.Darren and Brian will also be incorporating many leading Farriers from around the world as clinitions to the site to share and demonstrate various farriery & forging skills.
The site also offers a comprehensive collection of information DVDs of Darrens demonstrations of many forging tasks aswell as superb membership opportunitys,Merchandise & lots more!!
Check it out today !!
Overseas Training Farrier.
Currently visiting England, Australian qualified Farrier Michael Saunders (Cert III) from Tasmania has come over to gain further experience in the trade and is visiting many well respected Farriers in the UK.
Michael who arrived in early February, has just successfully completed a 4 year apprenticeship and passed the Final Farriery Australian qualification the (Cert III). Michaels first visit was to 7 times UK National Champion Gary Darlow and he has been with Gary and his Apprentices for the last 3 weeks. During this time he has gained both practical and theorectical experience working with them on a day to day basis.
Michael describes his time with Gary as "getting back to basics. Simple concepts performed well". This incorporated Hunter & Cob shoeing which was new to Michael,concave shoemaking & forming hunter heels.
Gary contacted Nigel to secure Michael visiting him for the next two weeks.During this time Michael has accompanied Nigel on his his shoeing round.
Nigel went through how he deals with attaining correct hoof balance/hoof dressing in both normal and abnormal feet,which Michael got to perform practically on a range of horses.Nigel also exsplained Static & Dynamic hoof balance and its importance.
Nigel also demonstrated the finer points to"Finishing off" the shod foot,Forging a roadster 3/4 fullered shoe and the making of a buffer from rasp showing the tempering/harding process in oil.It was a pleasure to have a really keen Farrier from overseas wanting to improve his skills,Michael continues his journey around England and will be for the next year or so he would like to sit the DWCF examination before he returns home.Nigel and his Family would like to wish him good luck for the future.
Michael has now been in England for nearly a year now and has been all over England visiting and working for some of the finest Farriers in the land to hone and improve his skills. After leaving Nigel he went back to see Gary again then onto work for Hugh Dyer and has been with World Champion Jim Blurton . Michael will be sitting the Diplomacy Examination in Farriery in January 2010 . We wish him the very best .
In January 2010 Michael sat the Diplomacy of the Worshipful company of Farriers examination and passed . He now has accomplished and passed two qualifications in two different countrys Australia and now England,well done Michael ! To achieve anything like this takes alot of time and comittment as well as some sacrifices and truly sets an example to other Farriery students .