Sparks were flying at Hyde Park Barracks Forge as the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment hosted their twenty second annual farrier competition.
The competition was open to soldier and civilian farriers, as well as apprentices and often attracts international entrants.
Military, civilian and apprentice farriers competed in pairs to shoe either the left or right side of a Cavalry Black. The shoes were made to the judge’s specification and both shoes were toe clipped, with only an hour allotted, the teams of two had to work fast and in concert.
Each pair only shoed two feet, one front one rear both on the same side, and part of the competition is to ensure both sides fit the horse perfectly even though shoed by different people.
It’s physically demanding work, requiring stamina, focus and teamwork. But that’s all in a day’s work for an army farrier, with the small Household Cavalry team of farriers shoeing around fifty horses a week, working from 7am to 4pm.
They start by shoeing the horses in the King’s Life Guard, because they’re in the public eye representing the nation week in week out.
After breakfast, other horses are checked that have just come back off exercise – in welfare terms, farriers have been described as acting as “the eyes and ears of the vet.”
Household Cavalry Farrier, Lance Corporal of Horse Matthew Coney sums it up:
“You’re often working under big, heavy horses, so you have to concentrate. The trade training and exams are tough, too. To achieve the level of skill you need, you must work very hard, studying intensively at evenings and weekends for several years. We have an assessment week when we select people to train as farriers, and the first thing we look for is horse sense.
“It’s being patient and calm, able to read a situation and read a horse, and know if the horse is in a bad mood. It means you’re safe when you work around horses. They need careful managing and understanding. Trimming the feet is a skill you learn through on-the-job training. Each foot grows differently, and they’ve all got different problems. Shoemaking requires hand and eye dexterity – some people have it naturally, others don’t. It’s an art and a science.
Being a good Army Farrier is like being a foot doctor for horses – because you know the horses so well you can correct and prevent health problems by tailoring the shoes to fit their needs and help keep those horses fit and healthy. Army horses have specialist requirements. Horses in the ceremonial parades need heavy shoes to walk on hard tarmac carrying a soldier in heavy ceremonial state uniform, while horses doing competitions need lighter shoes. We can even solve tendon issues and arthritis in sick or lame horses, with specialist remedial shoes.”
To become a farrier in the army, you need to join a mounted regiment like the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, or the Household Cavalry. After two years as a soldier, you can then apply to train as a farrier.
The three-year Army Farriers’ course teaches you about horses’ anatomy and to diagnose and treat common health problems. You also learn the metalwork skills you need to make and adapt each shoe to the shape of the horse’s hooves and to fit shoes safely. All qualified Farriers are awarded the Worshipful Company of Farriers Diploma.
“In the Army from the moment you begin your training you’ll get all the support and encouragement you need to make a success of your career,” explained Matthew.
“Work hard and you’ll soon get promoted. And you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get qualifications that are recognised by civilian employers.”
The competition ran from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening. Farriers from the Household Cavalry and from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery competed under the watchful eyes of judges Paul Robinson and David Varini, both former World Champion farriers who run Varini & Robinson farriers in Hurlford.
Prizes were awarded for Best Military Pair, Best Individual, Best Dressed Foot and Overall Best Pair.
