New DVD "The Balanced Horse" Offers Hoofcare Advice from Two of the World's Most Respected Farriers

28 February 2010 | Fran Jurga's Hoof Blog

Now ready for shipping from Hoofcare Books: The Balanced Horse by Jim and Allan Ferrie. 60 minutes; This DVD is designed to be played worldwide on PAL systems; in North America, this DVD will play on computers and laptops with DVD capabilities. Cost is $49 per DVD plus $5 post in USA; $8 post to other countries. To order call 978 281 3222; send email orders to books@hoofcare.com; fax to 978 283 8775. Click here to send a direct Paypal payment. Mail checks to Hoofcare Publishing, 19 Harbor Loop, Gloucester MA 01930 USA.

The whole horse world is the classroom in this easy-to-watch magazine-style briefing on hoofcare and farriery topics from Jim and Allan Ferrie. The Ferries' new DVD is broken down into easy to understand, bite-sized chapters which explain assessment of the hoof and limb (both standing and in motion), the use of studs, remedial shoeing, emergency shoe removal and much more. It is perfect for classroom use, library collections, personal study, or general enrichment.

Farriers at work: Allan Ferrie (right) and an apprentice work on two of the Clydesdales stabled in a park in Glasgow, Scotland; originally uploaded by jascmorgan; thanks for sharing!

This DVD is highly recommended as a basic building block of any educational library on hoofcare, farriery or horse management and is a companion to their successful first DVD, Shoemaking and Shoeing for Heavy Horses: Secrets of Success (80 minutes, available in North American format from our Hoofcare Books department; also $49 plus $5 post in USA). Click here to read a review of the first DVD and learn more about its contents.

Jim and Allan Ferrie run a multi-farrier practice and train apprentices in Newmilns, Ayrshire, Scotland. Both brothers are Fellows of the Worshipful Company of Farriers and examiners in the British system administered by the Worshipful Company. They have also both excelled in international farrier competitions all over the world and have represented Scotland as team members. They are consummate teachers with a strong dedication to improving the level of care provided to horses.

Allan (left) and Jim (middle) Ferrie were recently honored by the Scottish Equestrian Association in recognition of their contribution to the equine industry at a reception at Scottish Parliament. At right is Scottish Minister for the Environment, Michael Russell.

While Allan and Jim are known the world over for their work on the hooves of the great Clydesdale horses of Scotland, their practice is quite diverse and includes all sorts of horses, competing in all sports and disciplines. The practice also supplies farrier services to the University of Glasgow's veterinary college hospital and to many veterinary surgeons in the Ayrshire region of Scotland. Both brothers are members of the International Horseshoers Hall of Fame.

Jim and Allan also own J and A Ferrie Farrier Supplies, one of the leading farrier retail companies in Europe; their firm, managed by Alan Murdoch, is the European distributor for GE Tools. Should I even mention the salmon fishing guide business, the guest cabin for fly fishermen, the well-bred gun dogs and that stunning splashy-colored crossbred colt in the front paddock?

Where and how the Ferrie brothers found time to make a video is anyone's guess but you'll be glad they did when you watch this DVD. Both DVDs flew off our booth's table at the recent American Farrier's Association convention; people didn't even ask what was on the DVDs. They saw the Ferrie name and that was all they needed to see to know that this was something they wanted and would find valuable.

Note: Return to top for ordering information.
Click here for order form for fax and mail orders.

Here Lies the Farrier...And There Goes Tam O'Shanter

by Fran Jurga | 31 October 2009 | Fran Jurga's Hoof Blog

Lichen covers this fascinating old gravestone in the Alloway kirkyard near Ayr, Scotland. Surely a farrier lies here. Was he the farrier who inspired the lines in the poem: "That every naig was ca'd a shoe on, The smith and thee gat roaring fou on"? (Tam and the smith had a drink for every shoe that was nailed on.) Or did he die earlier so it was part of this scene: "Coffins stood round like open presses / That shaw'd the dead in their last dresses /And by some devilish cantraip slight / Each in its cauld hand held a light."

Happy Halloween!

There are many farrier headstones in cemeteries around the world. Grand anvils and headstones sporting horseshoes decorate churchyards and forgotten family plots. But I think this one is suitable for Halloween!

You'll find this stone in the churchyard at Alloway, near Ayr in Scotland. Was this farrier also a pirate (note the skull and crossbones) and someone with royal ties (note the crown)?

This graveyard is not far from Closeburn, the home of the late famed farrier Edward Martin, and I must assume that Edward knew of this stone, though I don't recall him telling any stories about it--and this stone surely has a great story!

Alloway is the town of Robert Burns's birth as well as where he set his famous poem, Tam O'Shanter. This is the universal tale of a man who simply stayed too late at the pub one night, drinking with the smith (perhaps the one buried here?) and his other pals, and had to count on his good mare Meg to get him home in foul weather.

Tam was shocked to see half-dressed women from the village cavorting with the devil. But in his drunken state he called out in admiration to one attractive woman in a "cutty sark", which set them all in pursuit after him.

The poem is interpreted many ways when it comes to people's views on alcohol, witchcraft and lewd behavior. But there is never any doubt about the character of the horse involved.

Tam gives his mare Meg her head to find her way home and probably snoozed in the saddle. Passing through Alloway, he's startled awake to see the church ablaze, with witches dancing in every window as the devil plays the bagpipes and the graveyard's coffins open wide.

The Brig o'Doon, or bridge over the River Doon in Alloway. Apparently, a witch can't cross a running stream so Tam spurred his mare on. Once across, Tam O'Shanter would be safe from the witches, though he would still have to answer to his wife. But his horse would never be the same again.

I won't spoil the story for you. You can read the interpretation here. (It's a great tale!)

But let it be known that Meg the Mare takes care of her rider that night...though she spends the rest of her life as testimony that something did happen on the way home, even if it was the most elaborate and world-famous tale a husband ever made up for why he was late coming home from the pub. 

Spooky enough for Halloween, don't you think?