My farrier is my horsey hero :D

Beatrice5

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I know we are not allowed to name and shame but can we post about those who have transformed our animals and therefore indeed our lives ?

I have the most amazing farrier. He has taught my filly from birth how to stand nicely and have her feet trimmed in a very quiet and talking horse manners. She is a delight.

He has won the trust and confidence with his depth of knowledge of how a horses mind works and how they communicate of my Forest bred unhanded scaredy cat Pony and my previously beaten jelly of a mare . He has also dealt and continues to manage her misshapen feet so she is never lame of uncomfortable.

And he has transitioned an elderly arthritic pure TB from shoes to barefoot with his depth of knowledge on diet, conditioning and management to the extent she is pinging down the road like a horse half her age with no signs of her arthritis without anything on her feet - who says tb's can't do barefoot!

He is not an in your face know it all - but I do believe he knows more than most of us will in a lifetime. He loves his job and is passionate about putting the horses welfare first. He see's beyond the feet to the diet, management, environment and the owners life style.

When he is not trimming feet he is reading, studying and researching and has even dissected horse legs to get a better understanding of the structures capabilities and mechanics re load bearing capabilities ( gory but fascinating )

So Nigel Gatesman is my vote for my horsey hero .
 
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I wish all farriers would put in the same amount of research, practice and understanding into their work! Can Nigel please move near me!
 
Over the years I have had some damn awful farriers with a god complex who tbh have done an average or worse job.

Nigel has taught me so much about diet and management and recommended some amazing books.

He also taught me how to handle my filly as she was a suprise and I was worried sick. He made it all so straight forward and taught me how to work with her.
 
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