THE 38th BFBA International Team Horseshoeing Championships takes place this weekend (September 23rd-24th) at Stoneleigh Park in England.

Fariers from 18 countries, including Ireland, America and New Zealand, will compete for the overall team title. Last year both Ireland’s apprentice and master farrier teams had great success, finishing fifth and seventh respectively in their team categories.

Team manager Alwyn McKeown (AWCF) had both his master and apprentice teams training together last weekend at his forge in Belfast, in preparation for what is sure to be a strong competition.

Over the course of two days the master farrier team will be put through their paces in three separate classes. Two of the masters classes are shoeing classes and the other is a shoemaking class. Along with making and fitting a shoe to the horse, master farriers will have to make a surgical/remedial shoe each.

The apprentice team competes in two classes on Sunday and they will be required to make shoes such as the plain stamped bar shoe and speedy cutter bar shoe.

Master farrier team member James Woods told The Irish Field that: “We are happy with how training went last week. It’s not often that we can all come together in our teams to train and practice, but it’s hugely beneficial.

“We are really looking forward to the challenge ahead and would like to sincerely thank our sponsors, TRM Ireland, Dennison Trailers and Crossan Farrier Supplies for their support. Competing affords us the opportunity to showcase the talent that Irish farriers are renowned for, and also allows us to hone and improve our skills, learn from other farriers and most importantly use the experience to improve the service we provide to horse owners on a day-to-day basis.”

TEAM MEMBERS

Master farrier team

Apprentice farrier team