The Horse Trust hosts 2013 Stromsholm Apprentice Farrier Seminar

Thursday, 12 September 2013

This week Buckinghamshire-based charity The Horse Trust was delighted to host the 2013 Stromsholm Apprentice Seminar, one of the largest professional development days in the apprentice farrier calendar.

Seventy apprentice farriers attended the day as part of the four year training period which must be undertaken by all UK farriers in order to achieve the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. Apprentices from all four year groups attended the event and thirty 4th year apprentices had the opportunity to practice shoeing some of the charity’s horses and ponies. The Horse Trust is the perfect venue for equine professional training as it is home to over 100 horses, ponies and donkeys many of whom are retired working horses from the police and army. These horses display a range of different lower limb conditions and provide useful case studies for the apprentices who must be able to make shoes to suit all types of animal and working conditions and to devising corrective measures to help to compensate for faulty limb action.

The apprentices took mock examinations and benefitted from demonstrations in shoemaking, tool maintenance and live horses assessment. Renate Weller, a highly respected vet from the Royal Veterinary College, presented an introduction to the farriery related work of the Structure and Motion lab at the Veterinary College. Prizes were awarded to the best performing apprentices of the day. Each group of apprentices had the chance of winning a tankard, rosette and cash voucher, with prizes being awarded from 1st to 5th place.

The Horse Trust has worked closely with equine professionals to improve the welfare of horses since its founding in 1886. Farriers are highly qualified, skilled and valued members of the equestrian community. The Stromsholm Apprentice Seminar demonstrates the importance of the equine community, vets and farriers working together to train a new generation of highly skilled professionals. Not only will these apprentice farriers go on to make a huge contribution to the welfare of horses across the UK, they will one day pass their knowledge on to a new generation of apprentices.

Carl Bettison from Stromsholm said “The benefit for holding our Apprentice Seminar at the Home of Rest for Horses are the excellent facilities in such glorious surroundings of the Chiltern Hills. The Horse Trust which is at the forefront of equine research and education has the same values as Stromsholm who are committed to farriery education, especially through its annual apprentice seminar”.

The Horse Trust has a strong link with Stromsholm who hold the Royal Warrant to Her Majesty The Queen for supplying horseshoes to the Royal Mews. Jeanette Allen, the Chief Executive of The Horse Trust, is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. The Horse Trust provides a Home of Rest for retired horses not only from the Royal Mews, but also the Kings Troop, Household Cavalry, City and Metropolitan Police all of whom are customers of Stromsholm Ltd.

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PHOTOGRAPHY:
Commando
Farrier CPD Day
Poppy
Prizes Were Awarded


For further information please contact:

The Horse Trust
Catherine Napper
T 01494 540024
M: 07900 905199
E: catherine@horsetrust.org.uk
W www.horsetrust.org.uk

PR Agency
Insight Group Marketing
Mark Robson
T: 0845 643 6181
M: 07785 395 499
E: tht@insightgroup.co.uk
W: www.insightgroup.co.uk



Notes for Editors:

1. The Horse Trust, founded in 1886, is the oldest horse charity in the UK. Based at Speen, Buckinghamshire, it provides a place of retirement for working horses. These hard-working equine public servants have served their country or community in the police, military or charities such as the Riding for the Disabled Association. The charity also gives sanctuary to horses, ponies and donkeys that have suffered and need special treatment. The Horse Trust funds non-invasive research that advances knowledge of equine diseases, improving diagnosis and treatment and reducing suffering among equines worldwide. The charity also offers training for professionals and owners, with a focus on equine welfare and quality of life assessment.

2. The Horse Trust depends on the support of the public to look after retired working horses. It costs the charity an average of £12 per day to look after each horse at the sanctuary, which includes the costs of grooms, forage, farriery and veterinary care. To donate to The Horse Trust, please visit www.horsetrust.org.uk, or contact the charity on 01494 488 464 or info@horsetrust.org.uk.

3. The charity has recently undergone extensive repair and renovation work to build new and updated facilities to provide the best possible care for their retired or rescued horses, ponies and donkeys. The Horse Trust is open to the public Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 2 – 4pm. Entry is £5 per car or £3 per care for OAPs, disabled visitors and police or military personnel.