Featuring some of the biggest names within the industry, many spectators got to see these amazing skills first-hand. Competitors took part in a series of competitions throughout the day with prizes generously donated by Arthur Cottam and Co, Jim Blurton, Mustad Hoofcare, Strömsholm and Steve Cooper. Team Leader for Rural Crafts, Charlotte Gibb commented, “It is great to see this much support and action from so many professionals in this industry and it is also a real chance for our students to get involved practically and put their skills to the test.” 

The Forden Farriers team travelled with High hopes. Jim took a team of 4 apprentices to this prestigious competition and hopes were high after recent success in other competitions. At a practice session in the forge there was very little to choose between Rhodri Thomas and Ryan Sutton in the shoemaking class. The shoeing class would be even tighter with nothing to choose between James Gant and Daniel Rabin. The in house money was on Rhodri and James but it was anyone’s guess who would come out on top! This was not going to be an easy day for Jim competing twice in both classes.

Fuelled by Caffeine and adrenalin Jim started off with Rhodri in the shoemaking class closely followed by the shoeing class with James. A quick snack and it was back to the shoe making with Ryan and then the final shoemaking with Daniel. 

Competition was tough but everyone gave it their all. Nerves were fraught awaiting the results but it turned out to be a very, very successful day for the team. Rhodri Thomas won the best apprentice shoe in the shoemaking and Jim won the best shoe for the Master. Needless to say as a team they won the Master and Apprentice shoemaking class with Jim and Ryan Sutton narrowly missing out on a top 3 finish. 

The shoemaking was even tighter. James Gant won the best dressed foot and Daniel won the best made shoe. Jim won the best made shoe and best shod foot in this class. But who would win and would the in house money be safe!! By the narrowest of margins, 0.1 of a point, Jim and Daniel took the Capewell shield for the shoeing making class with Jim and James finishing second.

This was a great day for all involved and just rewards for everyone’s skill commitment to being the best farriers they possibly can. Jim was immensely proud of all the boys and even managed a smile or two!! “All four boys have shown immense skill and commitment not only today but every day they come to work and this is just rewards for the hours spent honing their skills”. Don’t be fooled by the glasses they are only used so he can see everything in even more detail! Jim’s skill and dedication were praised by many of the other competitors and his reputation as one of the world’s best farriers  and teacher was further vindicated by this fantastic display.

They soon got to grips with the cold outside and extreme heat inside and took on the challenge with some Gusto. Ryan Sutton won the 1^st year apprentice shoe making with Rhodri finishing third. Dan Rabin won the 2^nd year and James Gant completed the clean sweep for the sweaty foursome. The remedial shoemaking saw Dan gain enough points to win reserve champion for the day narrowly missing out on the top spot.

The first competition of the season was a great success for the Forden Farriers “Fab Four” and just rewards for the long hours spent in the forge during the short winter days. The bench mark of success has been set for the year and we look forward to further success throughout 2012.

This shoe is manufactured to the highest standards and continues to push the boundaries for readymade specialist shoes. The shoes have individual Pitch for each nail hole as well as being safed off in the toe and seated out. Side clips are standard and they have the stud holes already punched. Jim has made sure that the farrier can easily fit these and have confidence in their stability. A deeper fullering on the outside branch of the shoe maintains a good strong nailing.

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This has paid dividends for them and we now have 3 nationally recognised apprentices. Rhodri Thomas was the first to take honours this summer finishing third at the Royal Welsh show in the 1^st and 2^nd year apprentice.

This was his first competition since signing his papers with Jim and was just reward for his head down hard work. Do not be fooled be his quiet demeanour Rhodri is our silent assassin and not to be underestimated. 

Buoyed by his stalemates success James Gant went one better and finished second in the 3^rd and 4^th  year apprentice competition at the Royal Welsh. His relaxed exterior hides a steely determination to succeed in everything he does and he has developed tremendously this year.  

Rob Turnbull also had an excellent Royal Welsh show winning 2 of the best shod classes and narrowly missing out on the best shod champion by 0.1 points.

Not to be out done Dan Rabin headed for the well attended Handmade shoes competition and came away with Reserve Champion in the 1^st and 2^nd year apprentice class. This was just reward for the many hours Dan had put in over the anvil and I am sure if anyone could understand a word he says he may well have won it!

The National Championships beckoned all 3 of red hot apprentices. With a Yorkshire man, a south Waleian and a Brummy all seeking inspiration from Jim, his linguistic skills have been tested to the limits recently!  All 3 were looking to finish in the top ten but unfortunately James Gant popped his shoulder during the first round of competition and was unable to finish the competition. The silent assassin Rhodri has no such trouble and finished 9^th overall. Dan started off superbly and finished strong in both classes and was deservedly crowned National 1^st and 2^nd year Apprentice Champion. It is a superb achievement for Dan and the whole team here congratulates his success and dedication.

This was the first team competition of this kind in the U.S. and it showed; you had competitors saying how they just wanted to be part of it and didn’t want to let their teammates down, just be lucky to get done, but when the starting bell rung it took on a life of its own. The trophies for each day would be a replica of the foot that the competitor actually shod made out of wood that Ben Hupp made. The Welsh team finished strong and i mean they finished strong, no team really pulled away with trim and fit, but the Welsh team had pulled away by 12 pts in the finish and got the first day win on the Draft Horses, team Texas was second, and sitting in third was the AFT. The first day left no one discouraged but rather motivated by what they had witnessed, the Welsh team had displayed their experience and teamwork which before this had only been witnessed by a handful in the big picture. Team Texas left no one disappointed either with an all-star team that worked with old school/new school exactness.

The second day was the roadster shoeing and it was pretty evident that all the competitors had settled in and they had a new perspective on what it was going to take to win this deal. We reversed the go rounds so if you were in the first round the first day you would be in the second round today. The shoeing in the first round had obviously tightened up from the previous day and it only got tighter in the second round. The Canadians came out to redeem themselves from the previous day and they did just that by winning the Roadster day, with team Texas coming in second, and team WCB rounding out the third spot. The day ended with all the people at the event picking up every foot hundreds of times and rehashing it out over and over again. The third day would start with all four of the top teams staggered 3 points apart, and with 120 points possible in each category it was definitely a horse race.

The final day of competition was started off with the Canadians coming out and scoring big in the first round with a horse that had been over trimmed several weeks prior and did a marvellous job. It looked like the Canadians had a score that couldn’t be beat the Welsh team drew a horse with feet that would be hard to score on. With a couple of low scores on the hoof prep the Welsh amped it up and did some pretty amazing stuff. While everyone was circle around watching the Welsh go team WCB were quietly having the go of a lifetime on the other end of the floor. It went down to the wire but the experience and team work of the Welsh shone through and they were crowned Champions

On the fourth day we had a special treat for a special reason. Richard Ellis, a true friend to the farrier community has been diagnosed with cancer and is fighting the big fight. The Welsh team generously donated their time to come give a clinic on behalf of Richard and it was a special event, these four individuals Jim Blurton, Billy Crothers, Andy Martin and Mark Evans pulled out all the stops and had everyone down on their knees inspecting and observing. The afternoon was a special day that had everyone in attendance understanding a little bit better on how to achieve excellence.

Submitted by Craig Trnka

He has dedicated a considerable amount of time and effort teaching them the skills and techniques for shoeing and shoemaking he has gleaned over the years. His knowledge of remedial shoeing and veterinary work has proved invaluable for the young men and women coming through the ranks at Forden Farriers. He has also invested a great deal of effort making the forge facilities at Forden some of the best in the country.

It is a testament to his skill and understanding of Farriery that many of his old apprentices still visit him on a regular basis to pick his brains. Jim also likes to make sure his apprentices get an all round education passing on his business knowledge along with the practical farriery skills. He also makes sure each one is an expert tea maker!!

Kate gained an overall distinction in her Diploma gaining an Honours pass in the Theoretical aspect of her exam.

Originally from Devon, Kate has spent the last four years learning under the watchful eye of Jim Blurton and other members of the Forden Farrier Team. During her time as an apprentice Kate was successful in many competitions and in 2009 won the prestigious Herefordshire Master and Apprentice competition. She narrowly missed out by 0.1 of a point to regain this title in 2010.

During her apprentice ship Kate has also found time to “forge” a TV career staring alongside Jim in an episode of Fishlock on Wales.

 Kate will now join the Forden Farriers team as a full time farrier and the skills and knowledge she has gleaned will be available for our clients.

After showing early promise Dan entered the English apprentice team trials and was selected to represent England in the forthcoming home internationals in May.

 It is a huge achievement for Dan and he will have the full support of Jim and the whole team at Forden Farriers for his debut.

After a hard day shoeing horses James happily turned out for the 5 aside tournament at Manor House Stables last night. Playing in goal, he quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. So impressed were the players and spectators alike, not only by his bold choice of attire but also his uncanny ability stop nearly every shot he was voted man of the match.

He happily received a bottle of champagne from Michael Owen but gracefully turned down a big money move to Manchester United!.