The future, he maintains, will be "working with horses
rather than forcing them to do something against their natural
being."
But even though he forecasts less shoeing of horses, he foresees
a bigger, and more important role for farriers as the demands
for performance from the horse increases.
"The level of care for horses will increase," he says. "Horses
will need farriers to look after them. There will still be horses
that need shoeing. Horses that don’t need shoeing will
still need their hoofs treated. Everything will become more scientific
and more holistic. The farrier will continue to be in the forefront
of the horse healthcare programme."
In the last 25 years he has seen the “useful” working
life of the horse increase by 50%, if you were still riding or
competing your horse in its late teens, you were doing well,
now that age is nearer 30 years. He puts this down to 4 main
things: better nutrition, better parasite control, better dentistry
and better farriery. He added that veterinary intervention although
better diagnostic equipment has produced a better understanding
of lamenesses, the treatment is still pretty similar to that
of 25 years ago : either box rest or field rest with basic drug
use to control the discomfort.
It's well worthwhile listening to what Jeff Newnham says. For
when he speaks people around the world listen. Based in Bexhill,
East Sussex, he has an international following. He is well-known
as a lecturer, presenter of DVD's and speaker at specialist conferences
both here and abroad. He has worked extensively throughout the
United States. With clients in Holland, Germany and Romania
he has also worked closely with the American Eventing team
for over 20 years.
Jeff's ambition, however, was not to be a
farrier but a zoologist.
"When I was a kid I used to watch this television programme,
Daktari, (Swahili for Doctor) based in Nairobi all about
animals. This interest in animals continues to this day , but
it was not until, he says, "I was in my teens that
I started riding at our local riding school just outside Canterbury.
My seconday school had an arrangement with the local riding
school. Instead of taking part in the usual football/cricket,
I used to go riding. “
He was 17 when he decided he wanted to become a farrier.
"Throwaway lines can change your life," he says. "A
lady at the stables said to me one day, ever thought of becoming
a farrier? I'd never thought about it until then. I then checked
it out. I investigated it. I ended up working as an apprentice
for 4 - 5 years at Wittersham Forge, just outside Rye.
"When I qualified I was all set to go to Denmark to work
but one of the lecturers at college gave me the name of a farrier
in America and told me to give the guy a call. I called him.
He offered me a job. I sold my car, a cheap, old Ford Escort,
bought my ticket and off I went."
For the next 2 years he worked first in New Hampshire alongside
one of Americas leading farriers’ of Morgan, Saddlebacks
and Quarter horses and then Pennsylvania working with Steve Teichman
who has been the Farrier for the USET for the last 4 Olympics
who, without doubt is one of the finest farriers in the world.
Jeff says being a good farrier is simple, “ just find a
good farrier and copy what they do” the problem, he goes
on to say “ is that “when you are learning, you simply
do not know enough to recognise what is good and what is not” and
if ,when you have newly qualified, you start up in business immediately
the only influence you would have had id the one person you worked
for” Jeff then goes on to say “ by travelling and
working with many farriers you can have a thousand experiences
if you don’t, you just have the same experience a thousand
times”
The availability of the internet and email
has enabled Jeff to continue to work closely with Steve Teichman,
a friendship that has lasted over 25 years,.
"We still keep very much in touch," he says. "I
often send him pictures of broken, badly damaged hoofs and he
sends me pictures of broken, badly damaged hoofs."
If you look at Jeff Newnham’s web site, www.jnfs.co.uk,
you will see how unselfishly he continues to share his knowledge
with other farriers and horse owners around the world.
In l987 Jeff returned home to Hawkhurst, Kent and set up his
own business, Jeff Newnham Farrier Services. From day one he
was in business.
