Roland’s nags and nails: flora, fauna and packed lunches
This blog is sponsored by the PRO FEET range of hoof care products from NAF
I sometimes wonder if I’ve spent my whole life going around with my eyes shut. When it comes to recognising trees and birds, I’m totally illiterate!
Now that I live and work in the countryside, there is no excuse. So, to begin my ornithology and fauna education plan, I’ve installed Birds of Britain and Trees of Britain on my iPhone.
My aim is to be able to say ‘Oooh look, is that a Lark in that Larch’, rather than ‘What’s that bird in that tree?’. It’s a worthy goal me thinks and what’s a few hundred trees and birds along with everything I’m learning about shoeing horses. I fear my brain might explode!
Since starting my farriery apprenticeship, I reckon I’ve made somewhere in the region of 280 packed lunches. Blimey, that’s a lot! No longer can I pop to the deli for a sandwich, or go out for lunch, as I used to back in my office days. Now it’s a packed lunch all the way.
When I began the apprenticeship, I was quite good at keeping my sarnies interesting. Now, my packed lunch enthusiasm has somewhat dwindled and it’s something that I regret each lunchtime. What to do?! It’s a hassle making a packed lunch, let alone making it complicated, but suggestions for yummy yet quick and easy packed lunch items welcome! For now I think I’ll just add a greater variety of chocolate bars.
I understand that the fund raising for our trip to Cairo has been immensely successful. Even though we were all booked on the plane, there was still a long way to go to get the funding together. Well, it’s all systems go now so thank you to everyone who has supported the cause including Horse & Hound who have helped raise the profile of the charity.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Kris, my training farrier, Alex and I are really looking forward to getting out there now and doing whatever we can to improve the care of those Egyptian horses. None of us can imagine quite how the trip will go or what it will be like. One thing is for certain though, I doubt our packed lunches will be boring!
Until next week,
Roland
www.twitter.com/nagsandnails
Sponsor’s message
The market-leading PRO FEET range of hoof care products offers formulas designed to nourish and protect your horse’s feet.
Nourish with PRO FEET
Developed by veterinary scientists, with the help of farriers, PRO FEET offers the most concentrated, fast acting, nutritional support for quality horn growth and strong healthy hooves. Available in a powder and a liquid, giving you the choice of how to feed this highly specified formula to your horse. PRO FEET Liquid is available from £26.95, while PRO FEET Powder costs from £27.50.
The PRO FEET range is available from NAF stockists nationwide. For more details call the NAF Freephone Advice line: 0800 373106 or email info@naf-uk.com
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Roland owned a computer software business until he realised he didn't want to be stuck behind a desk for the rest of his working life. So in 2011 he started the four-year apprenticeship to become a farrier on the borders of Somerset, Devon and Dorset. He became fully qualified in 2014.