07/12/2025
Yesterday involved a road trip down to Aboyne, Aberdeenshire for a Farrier CPD event held at World Horse Welfare @ Belwade Farm hosted by Donald Nicol Awcf and Carl Bettison AWCF of Stromsholm Farriers Supplies who welcomed us to a modern materials clinic with Jim Blurton AWCF and Kelvin Lymer DWCF.
We were split into two groups to each get a practical demonstration in turn with Jim Blurton on applying a glue-on aluminium side-clipped rolled-toe shoe bonded to a polyurethane cuff onto a dressed and prepared hoof of a young barefoot mare needing some extra help and support for a limb with a knee injury/swelling that the vets are treating.
The second demonstration with Kelvin Lymer was glueing a sole pad onto the trimmed and prepared foot of a barefoot pony - these sole pads are designed to follow the concavity of the (ideal) arched sole and sit within the white line thus allowing the hoof wall to make contact with the hard ground. These are used to protect the solar areas of the equine feet from hard, stoney, rocky ground that potentially cause bruising or foot soreness but still allowing the horse/pony to remain barefoot.
After lunch in the Reception area we re-adjourned in the Forge for the third joint demonstration on applying Squish Pad Cuffs to the front feet of a 2 year old WB mare that’s undergoing veterinary treatment for contracted flexor tendons which presents itself as bi-laterally lame… the Squish Pads with a honeycomb matrix design allows the horse to sink into them and find a comfortable position to enable it to move around less painfully. The cuffs were taped on with strong adhesive bandages under veterinarian supervision.
Many thanks to Donald Nicol & Carl Bettison for organising the day - Jim Blurton & Kelvin Lymer for the informative demos - the grooms at Belwade Farm for holding the horses - the catering staff for the very welcome lunch and refreshments - and finally a great opportunity to meet or catch up with other Farriers.
Jim Blurton Farrier Products 3D HoofCare EasyCare Inc. Protective Hoofwear Glue-U Adhesives Aid Hoof Products
