Third generation farrier wins Horse trust competition
Staffordshire farrier Matt Randles has won a farriery competition sponsored by leading equine charity, The Horse Trust.
The Horse Trust Open Farriery competition took place over the weekend of 14-15 November at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
Matt, 26, from Biddulph, won The Horse Trust Rose Bowl trophy and a cheque for £250, which were presented to him by Paul Jepson, chief executive and veterinary director of The Horse Trust.
Matt, who qualified as a farrier five years ago, was delighted to win the award.
“It’s a great award to win — particularly at my age,” said Matt. “I enjoy competitions as I learn a lot — having someone looking over my work really helps.”
Matt is the third generation in his family to become a farrier.
“Being around my dad and granddad has given me some good experience — I’ve been making shoes since I was 11 years old,” said Matt.
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The Horse Trust Open Farriery competition consisted of two classes — hunter shoeing and therapeutic shoeing.
Matt won the hunter shoeing class and came third in the therapeutic shoeing class. He achieved more points than the other competitors, making him the overall winner.
For more information about The Horse Trust, visit www.horsetrust.org.uk or the charity’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HorseTrust
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.