Roland’s nags and nails: smelling like a real farrier

Last week I was surprised to have so many messages encouraging me to carry on with my blog.

Thank you to all those who wrote to Horse & Hound and to those who posted via Facebook.

I really had no idea! At times I felt like my blog was just me talking to myself.

To know that it is being read really makes a difference. I still need to discuss with Horse & Hound whether to carry on or not, but the blog has more meaning now that I know it’s not just me reading it! I hope to make a decision by Christmas.

Anyway, back to the day job and my word a lot happened last week!

I fitted my first refits — that’s shoes that are being refitted once the foot has been trimmed and rebalanced — attempted to shoe 10 feet, nailed on quite a few shoes and I also took part in a shoeing demonstration!

Bearing in mind that my duties are normally shoe removal, trimming and clenching, it feels like there has been a massive change in activities.

As with every new stage that I embark on I feel so mal-co-ordinated and clumsy. I was very aware of the crowd of Christmas shoppers in South Molton that were drawn to the smell and sounds of a horse being shod (the aforementioned demonstration), and that I looked like a passer-by “having a go!”

I’ve also noticed this week that I smell differently. There’s a new aroma added to my usual “I’ve just rolled in a filthy stable” smell.

Burning hoof is really pungent and now I smell like a real farrier. I’m not sure my wife is that impressed though!

Until next week,

Roland

www.twitter.com/nagsandnails

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