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AGRISPARES TRADING CO. LIMITED
(John Bontliman Agricultural Services) lANK Esi) Farm, Broruen Lane, Barnolbswick
Tei.: 01282 813241 • Moii: 07774 296109
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ybcuunt Tankers, Silage Ttailen & Ttxicton for hire and sale.
RELIEF MILKER 15 years experience
»General Farm Work • Calf De-horning Service “Reliable Competitive Rates H
Also Oiftxen, Dump TtaiUrs,
TYRES FORSALE Comj>€tithelyimcrtt
W
is he going?" he is not making polite conversation - he is assessing your horse. Ry looking at the foot for
signs of wear, listening to the owner and finding out what he or she wants to do with the horse, a farrier will be using his skills to decide what type of shoeing is required. His choices are endless, from
many types of shoes to the materials used. Today's farriers have moved
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VER the past year, a variety of new walks and rides have been opened up to the
public in Lancashire in agreements between farmers and the Depart ment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The walks, including several in
the Ribble Valley, are detailed in the latest edition of a free guide to walks and rides published by Defra. The Conservation Walks and Rides Register lists over 2,000 routes in the countryside open to the public, broken down by county. Access is made possible under
Defra's Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Countryside Steward
ship Schemes (ESA/CSS).These schemes were closed to new appli cants last year and have been replaced by the new Environmental Stewardship Scheme, the higher level of which will maintain the access elements. Walks in Lancashire range from
long hikes for serious walkers to short strolls for weekend hikers. They include Marshaw Farm in the Forest of Rowland, near Lancaster. Marshaw Farm permissive bri
dleway is a five-and-a-half kilometre circular route around the farm. It is an attractive circular off-road route for walkers, horse riders and cyclists. It affords impressive views of the Rowland Fells and passes through fields which are important
ccording to a recent report measuring the cost of inland and European food dis
tribution, if people switched to buy ing foods locally they would save £2.1 billion a year in environmental and congestion costs. The good news is that there is
June 2004, showed that 30% of households had visited a farmers' market and one third had used farm shops for food shopping in the past 12 months. Access to locally produced foods
already a great deal of support for the concept of buying locally. According to research carried out for the National Farmers' Retail and Markets Association, almost nine out of 10 households would buy locally produced foods if they had access to them. The same research, by YouGov in
has improved dramatically over the past seven
years.The number of farmers’ markets — at which pro ducers from a defined local area sell the foods they have grown, reared or otherwise produced, direct to consumers - has grown from one in 1997 to over 500 today, of which around half are certified, or in the process of being Certified, as gen uine farmers' markets by FARMA.
Agreements mean that there is now more farmland that walkers can access, but dogs must always be kept on a lead under such circumstance
into many new technological methods, all of which require skill and knowledge gleaned from continuous personal devel opment at seminars and cours es both here and abroad. This positive attitude and
search for knowledge enables Craig to give his customers the best possible service.
Executive As part of his contribution to
for ground-nesting birds. Look out also for the ruins of the 19th Centu ry WyresdaleTower. Farmer Mr Curwen said; "1 am
keen for people to use the bridle way and enjoy the countryside. We have had very positive comments from the horse riders, mountain bikers and walkers who have used the bridleway.' Mark Derbyshire, Rural Develop
ment Service Adviser in Preston, said; This is a great example of how we can work together to ensure that people can get out and about more in the countryside and that farmers and land managers are able to make the most of the opportunities offered to them by Defra under this scheme.'
Two other farm walks in the Rib
ble Valley listed on the new register are at Wood End Farm and Ashnott Farm/New Laithe Farm, both near Clitheroe. The updated Register also
includes details of special features such as historical and wildlife inter est, circular routes and access for the less mobile. The routes include bridleways for riders or cyclists. 0 Copies of the register for indi
vidual counties are available free from the Rural Development Ser vice at; RDS Preston, Rarton Flail, Garstang Road, Rarton, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 5F1E (Tel. 01772 865224). They are also available online at
www.countrywalks.defra.gov.uk
Vlliv more ami more are tlockiog to farmers' markets A
The number of farm shops is
around 3,500, pick-your-own farms 1,000, and box-schemes 300. Says FARMAs managing agent,
Gareth Jones; 'What people can do immediately is buy more of their sta ple foods, primary and seasonal pro duce - meat, eggs, bread, fruit and vegetables and the like - from their local farmers' market, farm shop or use box schemes, and reduce their visits to the supermarkets. "It's good news that saving the
planet happens to taste very good indeed with good, wholesome fresh foods from local sources, but it's a matter of getting more people to
nightly, on Tuesdays, as part of the normal market at Clitheroe.
the profession, Craig is a mem ber of the executive committee for NAFRAE (the National Asso ciation of Farriers, RIacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers), hav ing been nominated for the position by the membership of the Lancashire and Cheshire branch, of which he is chairman. He attends meetings at the
association's head office at Stoneleigh, where he helps to oversee the running of the NAF RAE, and is able to represent the views of local members. As a member of the Craft
Committee, he is responsible for the upkeep of standards within the industry and, like all farriers, he is registered with the Farriers' Registration Coun cil.
Membership of the registra take action to change their food-buy
ing habits. "We have carried out research at
member farmers' markets which showed that the majority of cus tomers come from within two or three miles of the
market.This is a cycleable, even walkable distance. Current concerns about food
traceability are driving more people than ever to farmers’ markets and farm shops, where they can be con fident of getting fully traceable foods. 0 A farmers' market is held fort
tion counoil is required by law and it is therefore illegal to shoe without being registered with the counoil. All registered farri ers will display their member ship badge or will carry it for identification. The council is the governing professional body of the industry. Craig is also a qualified train-
Craig's 1? years on l e M ' ! r n i '
HEN Craig DArcy picks up your horse's foot and asks "How
Word and pictures by Linda Clough
ing farrier. Having qualified at the age of 23, Craig has 17 years of experience as a farrier. Now trading as Red Rose
Farriers, he employs three apprentices and has two mobile units. He says that 99% of his work is now mobile, covering an area from Ramsbottom and Rury right through the Ribble Valley to Slaidburn. Working olosely with looal
vets, he is looking to give the best treatment for the equine market. Craig buys in around 50% of
ready made shoes with the rest being made "in house'.' This enables shoes to be specific to the individual requirements of a particular horse, allows appren tices the opportunity to develop their skills in shoemaking and practise hammer control. 1 asked him if ready shoes
are better than hand-made and he tells me that there is not much difference. There is so much technology going into machine-made shoes that they are improving all the time.
Dedicated You have to be dedicated if
you want to become a farrier, as it will take at least five years to qualify. Most training farriers prefer students to attend col lege for one year on a pre-farrier course before beoming an apprentice. Having gained a placement,
there follows four years work ing with the farrier both at his forge and from his mobile unit. This includes 27 weeks back at college, were NVQ Levels plus farrier certification have to be achieved. These final exams are oral, practical and written. All this and apprentices will
not even put a shoe on a horse until the third year of training. There are currently four col
leges offering farriery courses throughout the country, with the nearest, and latest, being Myerscough Agricultural Col lege. Horses should be shoed or
- ' i V . - l F-
7
Craig D'Arcy (right) with his team of farriers (from the left) Philip Jones, John Parkinson and Mark Barnard Is}
trimmed on average every six weeks to avoid any distortion of the hoof capsule and to allow the farrier to give the hooves a "health check'.' This part of the country is
notoriously damp and a lot of foot problems can arise. Abscesses, thrush, mud rash and laminitis are all common problems. Laminitis, which is trauma
within the lamini, is not just "the fat pony's problem'.' Although overfed equines are prone to laminitis, it is thought to have many other trigger points, including certain drugs, stress in transit and trauma from any thing from a knock or even too
RED ROSE FARRIERS LTD REGISTERED FARRIER D.I.P./W.C.F.
1 '
’ ,0 . '
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’ Static and Mobile Facilities ; S Fully equpped modern forge, o ' ,
' Standard and therapeutic work undertaken » ....
' 7 , . Registered measuring pad- , .... ........ .' Good access
' 01254264177/Mobile: 07732860816 * '
p)RfiPER| Tool Supplies
Official Stockists b u i t a i i v s Farm toys
Central Garage Stopper Lane Rimington Nr. Clitheroe BB7 4DU Tel: 01200 445254
. s ^
much road work. One day we might know for
oertain, but for now Craig has to help treat the problem and make the horse comfortable. Plastio shoes on laminitics are relatively new and can save causing more traumas to an already sore foot. Craig regularly attends cours
es and seminars to keep him up- to-date with new procedures, technology and products. At
present he is studying to take exams to increase his qualifica tions. He has a close relationship
with several veterinary prac tices in the area. Reing a horse owner and
rider himself, he feels that this helps him understand the needs of his clients, which are one reason why he likes to talk with them when he comes to
shoe their horse, as it is the owners who really know their animals. When asked how best to
keep a horse's feet in good condition, Craig states that the old adage "We are what we eat" still holds true, in that they should be fed good quality food in proportion to work that they are doing and they should be trimmed and/or shod regularly.
“1928 to 2005 Serving the Ribble Valley for 77 years” Independent Land Rover Specialist
• Sale & Repairs of all 4x4s • Land Rover Diagnostics
• Parts & Accessories • Paints & Tools ' Bodywork
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