Farrier Winner
Matt Randles, 26, from Biddulph, Staffordshire has won a farriery competition sponsored by The Horse Trust.The Horse Trust Open Farriery competition took place over the weekend of 14 November at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Matt won The Horse Trust Rose Bowl trophy and a cheque for £250, which were presented to him by Paul Jepson (1) the Chief Executive and Veterinary Director of The Horse Trust.
Matt, who qualified as a farrier five years ago, was delighted to win the award.
"It's a great award to win - particularly at my age," said Matt. "I enjoy competitions as I learn a lot - having someone looking over my work really helps."
Matt works as a farrier in the Cheshire and Staffordshire area. He is the third generation in his family to become a farrier - both his father and grandfather also worked as a farrier.
"Being around my dad and granddad has given me some good experience - I've been making shoes since I was 11 years old," said Matt.
Competitors in The Horse Trust Open Farriery competition took part in two classes - hunter shoeing and therapeutic shoeing. A hunter shoe is designed to last and give the horse a good grip, while a therapeutic shoe is used to alleviate any problems a horse has, such as lameness.
Matt won the hunter shoeing class and came third in the therapeutic shoeing class. He achieved more points than the other competitors, making him the overall winner.
(1) Paul Jepson, the Chief Executive and Veterinary Director of The Horse Trust, a past master of the Worshipful Company of Farriers which has been responsible for standards of horseshoeing since 1356.
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