This blog is sponsored by the PRO FEET range of hoof care products from NAF
Training to become a farrier is just the beginning of a lifetime of learning. There’s a huge amount of knowledge sharing among farriers, as well as between farriers and vets.
There are courses, seminars and clinics, many of which are formally recognised as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and the more CPD points attained during the year, the better.
As well as the formally recognised training programmes, there is a strong research and development (R&D) capability, driving new techniques and shaping and forming solutions for general and remedial farriery. And who better to develop these new ideas and techniques than farriers themselves?
One such farrier, Alf Hall from Lambourn, was recently introduced to my training farrier Kris Parsons. Alf has designed, developed and tested the EFC Pad (pictured above) — a system that helps horses with weak, collapsing heels to grow stronger and more upright heels. Kris now has two of his horses in these pads and we are very excited about their potential. They will be yet another option for Kris when assessing problem feet.
On to less high brow topics, albeit still on the learning theme, I lost almost all of the front of my hair the other day. The forge in our van has an exhaust flame that is hard to see in daylight (well that’s my excuse) and occasionally, when reaching for shoes or other stock items out of the back of the van, I get a bit too close. Normally, it’s just a singed eye-brow or melted jacket sleeve, but never before the full bonce!
Anyway, I won’t be requiring a haircut any time soon, so that’s one blessing. Another blessing is that wasps aren’t too clever at spotting the exhaust flame either, so a frazzled hairline is, in my view, a small price to pay!!
Until next week
Roland
www.twitter.com/nagsandnails
Sponsor’s message
The market-leading PRO FEET range of hoof care products offers formulas designed to nourish and protect your horse’s feet.
Nourish with PRO FEET 
Developed by veterinary scientists, with the help of farriers, PRO FEET offers the most concentrated, fast acting, nutritional support for quality horn growth and strong healthy hooves. Available in a powder and a liquid, giving you the choice of how to feed this highly specified formula to your horse. PRO FEET Liquid is available from £26.95, while PRO FEET Powder costs from £27.50.
The PRO FEET range is available from NAF stockists nationwide. For more details call the NAF Freephone Advice line: 0800 373106 or email info@naf-uk.com
