Bright sparks

But just because it is an ancient craft does not mean that it has failed to evolved over time — and younger exponents of the art, like brothers Tom and Robert Godfrey, of Godfrey Farriery Services, based at Charney Bassett, are keen to embrace new developments.

Tom, 39, explained: “There is so much scope with the different types of shoe which are on the market — many more than there were ten years ago.”

It was Tom who started up the business in 1994, after completing his four-and-a-half year apprenticeship. This was with a master farrier in Aldbourne, Wiltshire.

His younger brother, Robert, 31, joined him in 2005, having completed his own apprenticeship with a farriery in Hampshire.

The brothers had grown up accustomed to being with horses.

Tom said: “Our mother, Dianne, had a riding school which she ran with the help of our father, David and she works with the charity Riding for the Disabled. We both rode from a very early age.”

He added: “I had always wanted to do something with horses. My first job while I was still at school was helping our local farrier at weekends and I went into the industry from there. All through school I knew what I was going to do.”

As well as operating from their forge in Charney Bassett, the brothers have a mobile workshop unit.

Tom said: “We can go anywhere. We have a workbench, welding equipment, a compressor and all kinds of tools.

“We can work out of the vehicle and use it as our workshop. The beauty of it is that it is four-wheel drive so we can get right to where we need to be in the field.

“When we we're going out on site, we carry a huge range of shoes and we can also make shoes if the need arises.

“Hand-made is preferred. You know the animal, you know the shape of the feet and the shoe required.”

Calls to farms, riding establishments, livery yards and other rural locations take the brothers out as far as the Cotswolds and southwards over the Berkshire Downs. The brothers also continue the family’s association with Riding for the Disabled.

The business deals with all the aspects of farriery, including specialist work with vets for the care of horses’ feet.

This is where a farrier differs from a blacksmith who will concentrate on working in a forge. A farrier will also be able to help care for horses’ feet — an area which Robert Godfrey particularly enjoys.

He said: “I like helping owners who have been concerned about the possible severity of a foot problem but which can in fact be easily solved.”

Tom added: “You have to have a knowledge of the conformation of the horse, of the anatomy of its bone structure, its hoof-structure, and understanding of the blood supply.”

They meet with many types of horses and also donkeys. There are children’s riding ponies, eventing horses, polo ponies and some racehorses on their books.

“We used to deal with as many as 180 racehorses,” Tom said. “But we feel it is best not to put all your eggs in one basket. It is the everyday turnover of work with smaller clients which we depend upon.”

Some aspects of the equestrian industry are suffering from the effects of the current financial climate and Godfrey Farriery Services is no exception.

Tom said: “People are still definitely buying ponies for their children but in some areas demand has definitely dropped off.

“We are not taking on as many new clients as we used to.”

Farriery in the UK is also facing competition with practitioners moving in from Europe and setting up in business without the qualifications of their British counterparts.

They need supply only references, not the diploma for which the Godfreys and other farriers in this country have worked.

Tom said: “Other standards are not as high as they are in the UK. Here we follow an apprenticeship leading to the diploma before we can become registered farriers.

“Those from other countries do not work to the same international standard — our qualifications allow us to work anywhere in the world.”

As well as the craft skills required, a farrier needs to have a thorough understanding of horses and be able to establish a rapport with a particular animal.

Tom said: “Every horse is different. There are some which my brother can’t deal with that I can — and vice versa.

“Heavy horses can be difficult — they may be good at work in the fields but are more difficult to handle in the stable. Every horse is different on its feet and this affects the wear on the shoes. Another factor is whether the horse is walking on roads or on turf.”

The length of time between shoeings is around six to eight weeks before the foot starts to overgrow the shoes, becoming detrimental to the horse.

There are different types of shoes depending on what the horse is doing and, as Tom Godfrey points out, owners should follow the advice of their farrier and not compromise the welfare of their animals by thinking they can have the work done more cheaply.