Recognising the farrier who, through his or her knowledge and effort, has made a difference to a horse or horses’ performance, wellbeing or both this year
Farrier of the Year shortlist
Tom Farmer
The farrier who had his heart set on his vocation from day one
Being from a line of east London coal and coke merchants, Tom Farmer has horses in his blood. “Our family loves driving horses,” says Tom, from Warboys, Cambridgeshire. Tom describes being “mesmerised” by farriery and snapped up a work experience place at 14, before starting his pre-farrier course then apprenticeship. After qualifying in 2009, Tom travelled to the US as part of the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association Edward Martin American Cultural Exchange, where he worked with America’s best farriers. “I received my Master Farrier status in 2014 and am working on achieving my Worshipful Company of Farriers judges’ badge.”
A satisfied client says: “Tom is the most patient, respectful farrier. His meticulous approach to remedial farriery has been outstanding for my horse with unbalanced feet. He goes the extra mile.”
Charlie Lawson
The once-cheeky schoolboy who found his calling
From an early age, Charlie Lawson – from Cliffs End, Kent – was hooked on shoeing. “I was quite a naughty kid at school,” he says, “so they contacted a local farrier. If I was good, I could go out with him on a Friday. I absolutely loved it.” Charlie, who’s three years qualified, wants to inspire the next generation of farriers. “It’s a dying trade and I want it to be fun for kids and to get their interest in the job. I’ve got a TikTok page and post quite a lot – I like to have a laugh.” Some of Charlie’s favourite jobs are trimming donkeys. “They have so much character and their feet need just as much attention as a horse’s.”
A satisfied client says: “My horse had suffered from a recurring foot abscess, but Charlie never gave up. He worked alongside the vet and we have been abscess free for almost five months.”
Josh Marsden
How shoeing in the family inspired this keen son
Josh is a second-generation farrier, having apprenticed with his dad. “When I qualified last year, I did a degree to become an Approved Training Farrier, so I can take on apprentices,” says Josh, from Denbighshire, North Wales. “My son’s 10 and I’d love to get a third generation! We need to get more young people into the industry.” Josh runs his business alongside his dad and helps local farriers with their caseloads, meaning mammoth days. But, as he says, there’s never a dull moment. “I find studying shoeing innovations fascinating and I’m putting them into practice all the time.” Making a difference to people is Josh’s bread and butter. “Getting horses on the right track, or helping owners with affordability – I love to help in a crisis.”
A satisfied customer says: “Josh cares so much about the horses. He will come last minute and any time to help, which just shows how dedicated he is. He’s jolly and kind, my horse loves his visits.”
Dale Greenwood
A lucky break paved the way for a keen teenager
“My stepmum owned a livery yard, so riding horses was all we wanted to do,” says three-time nominee Dale, from Walsall, West Midlands, who’s been qualified for 16 years. “At 16, it was a toss-up between an apprenticeship, which was hard to come by, and sixth form. I managed to get an apprenticeship with a farrier 50 miles away. He was a world-class farrier who travelled the world to compete! I was very lucky to get that training and I got my start shoeing competition and racehorses. I shoe a mix of horses, including grand prix showjumpers and carriage horses and a lot of much-loved pets. I really enjoy remedial shoeing and I attract a lot of that work now. Many horses come to me with poor feet and I work hard to improve them. I also enjoy the wide variety of people I meet.”
A satisfied client says: “Dale has worked wonders with my very sensitive mare. Once, when she went in for X-rays of her feet and legs, the vets praised and complimented Dale on how well her feet were balanced. Their words were, ‘We haven’t seen X-rays of a horse shod this perfectly in a long while!’”
Previous winners
Previous winners of this prestigious award include:
- Matt Strawson
- the late Brendan Murray
- Chris Bailey
- Jim Balfour
- Paul Woodall
- Daniel Bennett
About the Horse & Hound Awards 2024
The Horse & Hound Awards are back for a ninth year in a row, in partnership with NAF and Agria.
As ever, the H&H Awards winners will be nominated and voted for by you, with the exception of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award, which will be decided by a Horse & Hound panel. We will recognise both the big names who have made 2024 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at whatever level.
This year we will be returning to Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire, where some 300 people, including Olympic and Paralympic superstars, can look forward to a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, Oscar-style speeches and dancing on Wednesday 27 November. If you’d like to join us, you can book an individual ticket or a platinum table for 10 people at www.hhawardsuk.com
