Henry Middleton Launches Farriery Business in Oxfordshire
22nd January 2021
Henry Middleton’s love of horses and strong desire to keep rural craftsmanship skills alive led him to embark on a career in farriery. After training for five years with farrier Karn Herbert in Berkshire, supported by a QEST Dulverton Trust Apprenticeship, Henry has now completed his training and this month sees the launch of his new business, Middleton Farriery.
Henry gained a wealth of knowledge concerning routine, corrective and remedial shoeing during his apprenticeship with Karn, and gained experience working with High Goal Polo Teams, race horses, Grand Prix Dressage and Show Jumpers as well as recreational horses, ponies and donkeys. He was also awarded the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (DipWCF).
During his training Henry focused on mastering the traditional techniques that are essential in farriery. “Shoeing horses has happened for hundreds of years and it is the true age-old skills of making and fitting bespoke shoes to individual horses that are vital to maintain and care for their feet,” he explains.
The farriery industry is seeing increased modernisation, with machines now making almost all of the shoes applied in basic shoeing. As a result, the number of people using these traditional skills are in decline. “I would like to continue this age-old skillset,” says Henry, “whilst also bringing a further dimension to the farriery business, with a focus on the remedial side. This specialist area uses modern materials and methods, combined with the traditional skills required to make adequate shoes, in order to serve the complex veterinary anatomical problems associated with horses. This method of shoeing can only be done by hand and keeps the old skills alive, with a modern direction.”
With his new business, Henry will be working across Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas, providing a high quality, reliable service to meet each horse’s needs and keeping the true rural craft of farriery alive.
If you’re interested in Henry’s advice and services he can be contacted on 07538 030381 or by emailing [email protected]
