KBIS Support Local Farriers and UK Charity Combat Stress

The sun was shining on the 5th June as Farriers and Apprentices gathered once again to compete in the 5th Bell Shoeing Competition in aid of Combat Stress and sponsored by KBIS. The competition is now a very popular event for horse owners in Berkshire, as well as for villagers from Waltham St Lawrence and the surrounding area. Obviously the Beer festival and Horse Shoeing Competition go very well together... and as word has spread about the competition, more and more farriers and apprentices are keen to take part and their customers are equally keen to come and support them. One competitor even chose to compete rather than go to a friend's stag party!

 

Founded in 1919, Combat Stress is the only UK charity to provide specialist help and care to ex-Servicemen and women who suffer from Service related psychological injury, ranging from clinical depression, raised anxiety states, phobic disorders, obsessive- compulsive disorders through to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many of the farriers competing are in the Army or ex-Army, as was the judge this year, Fraser Macdonald and so for them, the competition has a special significance. This year the competition raised a total of £2,415 for the charity, beating all previous records.

 

For the Farriers who compete, the competition offers an opportunity to maintain their high standard of shoeing and have their work peer reviewed by other farriers, often having to forge complicated specialist shoes for particular hoof conditions and circumstances, all against the clock. They are judged on foot preparation, forging skills and fitting the shoe correctly to the foot, as well as making a specialist shoe prepared in advance by the judge.

 

The competition offers the apprentices a rare chance to put their skills to the test in a friendly and supportive environment, which helps to prepare them for their exam at the end of their 4 year apprenticeship - and they are starting young! 10 year old Owen, son of local farrier Lloyd Jenkins regularly makes shoes with his father and tried his skills in the competition too, scoring a 9 for his specimen shoe.

 

Robin May AWCF came first in the Farrier Class, Lloyd Jenkins AWCF came second and Haitze Wiersma DWCF, who started the competition 5 years ago, came third. Apprentice Jack Boardman won the 3rd /4th year Apprentice class and Robin May’s Apprentice Jack Homan won the 1st /2nd year Apprentice class.

 

KBIS offer a total insurance package for farriers which includes cover for Liability, Stock and Vehicles. One farrier from the event has already changed his insurance company to KBIS and saved over £300 by doing so. To find out more about the insurance cover available phone us on 0845 345 2300.

Farrier at work during the Bell Shoeing Competition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At work during the competition

The prizes on offer at the competition donated by KBIS and other local businesses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The prizes lined up ready to be presented