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CJ Carrel Ltd Registered Farrier, Wester Raddery, Fortrose (2025)

27/03/2025

What a great couple of days attending the Scottish Farrier Conference held at Glasgow Equine Hospital and Practice, University of Glasgow earlier this week - a CPD event held over two days organised by Jim Ferrie FWCF Hon RCVS and the University Equine Hospital staff.

Two interesting lecture presentations on the Tuesday afternoon; Parallel Relationship Between P3 & Dorsum from Brad Greenham FWCF and then Stuart Muir NZCEF, CJF, DWCF a very experienced farrier from New Zealand currently working in Kentucky, USA talked to us about Farrier Management of Foals and his role at the Rood & Riddle Equine Podiatry stud farm working on young stock.

After a meet, greet and catch up with other farriers on Wednesday morning, we took our seats for more presentations from Brad and Stuart covering Negative Plantar Angle and a 5 Year Laminitis Study respectively. Wednesday afternoon’s programme was arranged with a series of practical live shoeing demonstrations delivered to smaller groups by Stuart covering glue-on aluminium shoes; Alex Mercer AWCF & Graham McBerny AWCF using the Werkman Hoofbeat gait diagnostic technology to assess dynamics before shoeing and then Jim & Brad talking about Higher Exam format; making & fitting straight bar-shoes and how the candidate’s work is assessed from a WCF Examiner’s perspective.

Each day was rounded off with an opportunity to wander around the trade stands; browse the new tools, shoes, nails, modern materials and hoof care products and get some orders in! Many thanks for all the samples… 🔥🔨🧲🐴

A huge thank you goes out to the organisers, the clinician farriers and the Equine Veterinary Hospital staff for hosting a very interesting, inspiring and informative event.

Stromsholm Farriers Supplies Red Horse Products Farrier Supplies EasyCare Inc. Protective Hoofwear Ash Horseshoes Company of Farriers Mustad Hoofcare Shoes Scotland

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18/10/2024

Another great CPD event today hosted by Sarah Logie FWCF put on for the North of Scotland Farriers.

Ian Gajczak was the clinician farrier talking about the application of 3D HoofCare & Jim Blurton 3D pads for orthotic use on equine feet, applied with either acrylic glue or hoof cast tape.

We all had a go at using the 3D Hoof Cast tape to wrap the demo plastic hooves - something that I’ve never done before so I learned a lot from this. We also talked about the uses.

Ian also gave us a demonstration on the application of an EasyCare Inc. Protective Hoofwear hybrid composite aluminium shoe with a urethane cuff using acrylic adhesive.

All in all an interesting and informative day and an opportunity to catch up with other farriers - many thanks to Sarah, Dan and Ian for all their efforts.

01/09/2024

A varied but a very busy week last week, working in several different locations across the Highlands; trimming and shoeing liveries in and around the Black Isle, a day on the Summer Isles which includes a choppy ferry crossing, a morning at Strathconon Estate shoeing stalking ponies, a long day up on the northwest coast trimming cobs, ponies and donkeys with a stop at Loch Assynt with the girls 🐶🐶 on the way back…

More liveries on Saturday then rounded off the week with a sit on a western saddle… 🐴🤠 - thank you Linda and her lovely mare Millie for the opportunity - my first time riding western style… very different but very comfortable!

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

01/05/2024

Another lovely morning here at Royal Windsor Horse Show - the sun is shining!! Pre-show day yesterday with some rehearsals in the Castle Arena and an opportunity to walk around the new layout of the Showground.

Again I’m very humbled to be invited back for my 22nd year to provide Show Farrier cover alongside my two assistants - together as a team we will provide Farrier cover in the stabling areas, the Castle Arena and up in the Great Park for the Royal Windsor Endurance on Friday and then the International Driving Grand Prix marathon on Saturday.

Any lost shoes, loose/twisted shoes or diffy stud holes then please contact me directly or one of the Stable Managers on arrival.

📱07788 971942

Good luck to all competitors and displays - looking forward to an enjoyable 2024!

24/04/2024

A great afternoon working up at Strathconon Estate - trimming and shoeing Highland hill ponies used for deer stalking… nice to put some handmade calk & wedge hind shoes on which will offer better traction on the steep slopes whilst this mare is in training for the next stalking season…

Just more practice needed with my heels!!

12/04/2024

Another inspiring evening of CPD Farriery education online - this time two interesting presentations by fellow AWCF farriers…

Brad Greenham AWCF - A study to investigate a more accurate measurement of the parallel relationship between the distal phalanx and the dorsal hoof wall.

Andrew Bowyer AWCF Grad Dip ELR - Measuring moisture content in keratinised structures of the foot in domesticated horses.

Many thanks gents and good luck with your FWCF exams… 🙏

01/02/2024

This time last week I was at the International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA for a 4-day convention aimed at equine hoof care professionals - farriers, vets and hoof trimmers alike.

Each day was filled with an itinerary of lectures concentrating on anatomy, pathology of the equine lower limb and morphology of the diseased hoof - using radiographs and dissections, limb deformities in foals with Dr Simon J Curtis FWCF.

We also covered pathological & hospital shoeing, the use of modern materials such as Glue-U Adhesives shoes and pads, understanding equine behaviour, horsemanship and use of sedation with Zoetis, the basics of hoof balance, shoeing the laminitic horse, understanding venograms and radiography, managing heel pain with MRI and an interesting personal welfare presentation by Tiffany Gardner CJF DWCF on Avoiding Isolation: What we can learn from each other… a topic which most of us can relate to… particularly as I was highlighted as an example with some of my photos included in the slide show.

There was also round-table discussions in the evenings; simply decide on two different subjects available. And then we all had several opportunities to browse the Trade Fair, network and meet other farriers from the US and around the world, see the latest shoes, nails, tools and products.

I was given an opportunity to photograph some of the clinicians and lecturers on behalf of the American Farriers Journal so hopefully we should see some of my images published.

Finally, we had the evenings to gather at the hotel bars and restaurants to socialise and experience what Cincinnati has to offer. All in all a great week of learning and socialising with international farriers!! 🇺🇸

-u

31/12/2023

With the sun setting for the last time on 2023 it’s time to wish all my customers, families, friends and loved ones a very happy and joyful New Year from the Highlands…

It’s also a time to reflect and remember those we lost in the last 12 months and so live life to the fullest…

Here’s to a successful and prosperous 2024 filled with hope, health and happiness for everyone…

🎊🍾🥂🥃🥂🍾🎊

24/12/2023

🎊🎄A very Merry Christmas to all my clients, their horses and their families… Thank you all for being such good customers over the last year🎄🎊

My phone is on for any lost-shoe urgencies or twisted-shoe emergencies over the holidays so please call or message if needed.

Enjoy the festive season and the last week of 2023…. New Year is just around the corner…

Merry Christmas! 🎅🏻🎄🍺

29/09/2023

‘Everyday is a school day……’

A great day of learning at a CPD clinic with other farriers and trimmers studying and dissecting the equine limb using cadaver feet and legs.

Many thanks to Farriery Tuition with Jay Tovey FWCF and Stephen Hill Fwcf for a very informative and interesting presentation and demonstration - the day flowed well inspiring discussion and thoughts on internal findings and pathological changes from a farrier’s perspective.

Also a huge thanks to Sarah Logie FWCF for organising and hosting the well attended event 👍🐴

⚠️ Warning; some graphic images!

21/09/2023

Last week I hosted Cody Bogard CJF DWCF for the day - Cody, a Farrier from the United States is in the UK on a Cultural Exchange Programme for 3 months , travelling around working with different Farriers from different parts of the country - and as he’s been in the North of Scotland for a few weeks he wanted to spend yet more time in the Highlands and so another day with me!

Last time Cody was with me a few weeks ago we worked on some Highland stalking ponies on huge Estates up in the glens - this time we stayed close to home on the Black Isle; trimming Clydesdales in the morning and then Shetlands in the afternoon - that’s the native breeds of Scotland covered 🐴

Again many thanks for your help Cody Bogard aka Dixie's Farrier Service - always appreciate the company as well. I know your time in the UK on this Programme is drawing to an end so good luck with the rest of your trip and your journey home - I’m sure you’ll be glad to get back to better weather, drive on the right side of the road and under your own horses!! 🐴🧲🔥🔨

03/09/2023

So last Tuesday I had the opportunity to host an American Farrier for the day - Cody Bogard CJF DWCF t/a Dixie's Farrier Service from Indiana in the United States is spending 3 months in the UK on the BFBA Edward Martin cultural exchange program co-organised by the American Farriers Association and the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association.

Cody and I spent the day heading up into the glens - first of all to Kildermorie Estate, meet the gamekeepers and then trim/shoe some Highland ponies used for carrying game during the deer stalking season. Then onto Benmore Estate to shoe more stalking ponies. After that we headed back to the Black Isle via the West Coast to give Cody a chance to see some spectacular views of the Highlands.

It was an enjoyable day and despite the hours spent driving it was very interesting to talk about work, business models and lifestyles as Farriers from either side of the pond!

Many thanks for your assistance Cody and good luck with the rest of your travels in the UK.

🇺🇸🐴🧲🔥🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

10/05/2023

Another year, another Royal Windsor Horse Show…..21 years as Show Farrier!! 🍾🥂

Very honoured to be invited back to provide Farrier cover all week from yesterday for the early arrivals through to the last day of the on Sunday evening.

It might be a bit squelchy underfoot but bring your wellies/brollies and enjoy everything the Show has to offer starting with CDI4* Dressage Grand Prix this afternoon. There’s a break in the clouds and the forecast looks better towards the end of the week 🌤️☀️

Here’s to a successful week ahead for all competitors - I’m on-site and on duty with two other Farriers for any shoeing emergencies 🔥🧲🐴

My number is 07788 971942 or contact the Stable Manager’s Office.

16/04/2023

Our first Farrier CPD Day was a great success here at Wester Raddery on the Black Isle.

My thanks to Carl Bettison from Stromsholm Farriers Supplies for putting the clinic on together with Jay Tovey and Jeff Newnham.

These guys took us through a series of presentations, lectures and practical demos throughout the day - keeping it interesting, informative yet entertaining with a sense of humour!

I think we all learned something new and above all else; it was good to get 17 farriers from across the North of Scotland together - the messages of thanks I’ve received have been encouraging and inspiring to host more highlighting the importance of Continuous Professional Development.

I would like to thank everyone that made the effort to attend and support this event especially the 3 clinician farriers who traveled to the Highlands. And a huge thanks to my wife Leanne (Elsi Equestrian) for her assistance behind the scenes; tea lady; horse holder etc!

Here’s to the next CPD day 👍 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🐴

13/04/2023

Good evening,

Well the weather forecast looks good for Saturday, the confirmed numbers of those attending has reached 17 with a possibility of one or two more drop-in appearances!

I’ve been saying to those that have messaged/phoned me to start arriving at 0830-0900 ish to get a tea/coffee with a pastry and a catch-up before the clinic starts so feel free to head over early - there’s plenty of parking!

For those of you that use What3Words it’s:

blemishes.hindering.altering

….which will bring you to the top of the road end. For everybody else the address is:

Wester Raddery
Killen
Fortrose
IV10 8RA

I’ll cut/paste some directions in the comments below - your sat/nav may well take you to the neighbouring farm (Easter Templands) which is the centre of the post code so it’s best to follow the directions. If anyone gets lost phone me on 07788 971942

Lastly, there is an opportunity to purchase some The Farriers Foundation merchandise and donate to raise funds for our very worthy charity so bring your wallets!

See you all on Saturday morning 👍

Chris

CJ Carrel Ltd Registered Farrier

27/03/2025

18/10/2024

01/09/2024

01/05/2024

24/04/2024

12/04/2024

01/02/2024

31/12/2023

24/12/2023

29/09/2023

21/09/2023

03/09/2023

10/05/2023

16/04/2023

13/04/2023

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