Isobel Mogford Dip WCF - Registered Farrier

It was lovely seeing so many off my customers yesterday at The Candover Ride and getting to introduce Alfie to you. It was great to get out for a few hours without a baby in tow!

Just putting this here to give you all a chuckle! It’s from 9 years ago….

This is one of my favourite fun rides, it’s a great mix of tracks & field and always a very chilled atmosphere. Still spaces available on it.

Sunday 5th May 2024 - 2 weeks to go!

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/hh-events/candover-valley-spring-ride-2024/e-xglmdr

Chilton Manor Farm, SO24 9TX
Tickets: £30 adults, £15 for under 15s

The bluebells are out, the ground is fantastic! What could be better than a ride over private land, across the Hampshire downlands.

Ride approximately 8 miles, with short cuts available. No jumps or water crossings

Just a little reminder I am currently on maternity leave and not working at all.
I have suddenly had a load of messages about work due to being a “female farrier” so wondering if my name has been recommended somewhere?!

When I come back I will announce it on this page but I will also only be coving a small area off Hampshire, roughly around Alresford, Alton & Meon Valley.

Happy International Woman’s Day

Doing what men do, but with baby’s in us and on us.

I will be back before you know it & until then Ben has me playing with the sheep…

Back in December I was asked to write a short article for Horse & Rider Magazine about becoming a farrier and life as a farrier.

Here is the final piece out in print! Which is actually pretty cool, even if I could have written 5x more!

I have seen this advertised locally and thought some of you might be interested in it.

I have no links to this event and am only sharing the flier so please don’t ask me anything about it! But I have seen you need to book a place at it.

And then I had two little apprentices - introducing Alfie. Arthur is a very proud big bother and taking it all in his stride.

Continuing Professional Development - 2023 is the first year all UK farriers have had to complete CPD and log it online with the FRC.

I however have always had to complete it as they brought it in for newly qualified farriers from the year I qualified. So this is nothing new for me (and lots off farriers did go to CPD events even though not mandatory for them)

We have to get 10 points a year or 30 over 3 years. This year I got 11.5 points going to a variety of different events in person and online.

This is also the time off year that the retention fees are paid. I will be off the farrier register from the 1st January as baby is due in the next month and I am not working. I will be restored onto the register when I’m ready to come back next year. This is saving me a lot of money while I’m not working!

A slightly late Happy Christmas too all my customers who have supported me this year.

2024 is going to be a big adventure, navigating motherhood to two (feral) children and getting back to work at some point.
I will definitely be coming back to work though as I need to afford a new friend for Leo 🐴

P.S this is Leo’s “happy face”

Finally getting things done now I’m not constantly shoeing - a very shinny corner off the truck is now fixed!

After a pheasant 1 - 0 Truck accident where the pheasant broke my engine cooler, it had to go in to be fixed anyway.

One of the many little things now ticked of my to do list while I’m not out working.

I have been working on something this week which hopefully I can share with you soon.
It’s involved looking back at some old photos of me working…

I may not be working currently, but the learning never stops.
Last night I went to a really interesting night at Liphook Equine Hospital.

We had a talk in MRI and it’s uses in diagnosing palmer heal pain (so the DDFT & navicular bone) looking at some case studies and the shoeing that helped these horses.

Then two talks linked to laminitis, the first on different shoeing methods, mostly the use of clogs and then one about studies into preventing EMS in horses & ponies though diet and exercise.

We then had a tour around the hospital which was really interesting - did you know they have a viewing window so you can watch your horse be operated on?!

🎅🏼🎄🎁 Tonight 🎁🎄🎅🏼

Come get your Christmas gifts at the HHSC Christmas Market, tonight. All stalls are local and have a countryside theme going on. Organising this market has taken up a lot of my time since I stopped shoeing. It would be lovely to see some of my customers there & Arthur will be here to.

The Hampshire Hunt Supporters Club is holding a Christmas Market at Ropley Village Hall (what3words address.
https://w3w.co/distracts.jolt.october
///distracts.jolt.october) on Thursday 23rd November from 6 – 9:30pm.

We have a fantastic array of stands, the hall has WiFi for card payments (but remember your cash too) and plenty of parking.
Entry is £5 and includes a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine. Under 12s free.

Trade stands include; Fawley Farm Feeds, Gamekeepers Goods, PDM Game, Buttoned Up, Spotted Horse Craft, Lily Florist, Silver Brumby Photography, Tynefield Farm, FOJ Fudge, test valley lanyards & Camilla’s Kitchen

As well as the trade stands the HHSC will be selling: decorated match boxes, home baking and produce, HH merchandise, Christmas decorations and much more.

https://www.facebook.com/share/fw33NdkVVzqZGRfB/?mibextid=9l3rBW

Edit to say, I now have someone lined up and several other people who can help me out if needed.

I am looking for a freelance groom to muck out my horses week days from either 15th or 22nd of January until around the end of February/early March

We have 2 horses & 1 Shetland, easy to do, have concrete outside stables, undercover area, muck, hay & straw is all close by and hosepipe for water.

The horses will be brought in and out by us, so the mucking out can be done any time in the day (within daylight hours)

Looking for someone who can muck out to a high standard and is reliable.

Based near Upper Wield

Today is World Horse Appreciation Day - I am so lucky to currently have 3 amazing horses in my life, one who has been in my life for the last 16 years! They look after both myself, Ben, Arthur and bump. Arthur is so lucky to have little Coppice who puts up with all his cuddles, brushing her with a hoof pick & trying to climb onto her back.
These 3 are truly part of our crazy family ❤️❤️❤️

I have a 6’6’ light weight turnout rug, was professional washed and reproofed and been bag ever since (taken out just for these photos).
£30 Ono - cash on collection, collection from me or can organise dropping off if I’m near you at all.

Are you looking for new livery in the new year? RB Equine Exercise is setting up her own little yard and I’m so excited for her. The yard is in Bramdean with amazing facilities. Rachel will be the one looking after your horse and I could not think of anyone better to look after a horse. Rachel rides mine so I know the care she has for horses & shoeing hers I know just how smart & tidy the yard will be.

I have been busy since finishing work last week. I spent the weekend up at Stoneleigh Park at BFBA Focus, a weekend of lectures, demonstrations, trade stands and catching up with farrier friends from around the UK. Knowledge is the key even if I won’t be using it for a while.

I have also had the truck cleaned inside! And out, not that you can notice that already.

I also have my 2024 diary ready for when I come back and in the mean time my social life

🎄❤️🐴 Save the Date 🐴 ❤️🎄

HHSC Christmas Market is back this year in a bigger and better location - Ropley Village Hall. Loads of parking & WiFi for card payments.

The perfect place to get your Christmas gifts & support your local hunt.

It’s also Arthur’s 2nd birthday, so he will be there for cuddles.

(Also if you would like a stand we have a few spaces left)

And it’s a wrap, the shoeing maternity leave has started…. When will I be back? No idea yet, but I will be letting you all know as and when I’m ready.

I still have a fair amount of paperwork to finish off, invoicing, accounting, stock take, cleaning the truck…. So don’t go thinking it’s all feet up & day time TV for me!

Everyone is asking after Arthur so a small update. A week and a half ago he had the lump operated on which we where very happy about as was causing him a lot of discomfort and upset.
He was a lot happier straight after the operation, however he’s decided sleeping is overrated and for the weak again 😬

But I only have one more week off work left and then it’s mat leave - scary & exciting times.

Just a reminder - I am NOT taking on any new clients.
I am stopping shoeing in two weeks time for maternity leave.

Well where do I start - first a thank you to all my very understanding customers and to all the farriers who are helping me out at the moment.

Arthur ended up back in hospital again, we are back home but having to go in for treatment & check ups every day.

Monday is another appointment with a specialist consultant so now creeping into a 3rd disrupted week off work. We also have limited childcare as he’s got a cannula in his hand so can’t go to the childminder.

This is not really what I had planned for my last few weeks of shoeing before the baby holiday. But I’m am working around appointments the best I can and contacting all clients on a week by week basis when I have more information as things seem to be changing rapidly.

Thank you for all the support & understanding everyone is giving us.

Not the start of a busy week that I wanted. As some of you know, Arthur has been poorly recently and looking like a hamster 🐹
The doctors referred him in to Wi******er today for tests and we are back tomorrow for more.

I have spoken to all customers today & tomorrow and am making arrangements to get everyone booked in with the help off some other farriers. Tomorrow I should know better how the rest of my week will be effected.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may be causing you. Also I have NO reception in the hospital and patchy WiFi.

Some horse though everything they have at you, so I’m chucking everything back at him….

I took him on in June, knowing he had bad feet & like pulling shoes…. Easy to fix… or so I thought…. Typical tb feet and the ability to break filler & pull shoes like nothing else.

First photo is today and they go back in time to when I first shod him. As you can see Back in casts, but shoes nailed on. Finally a side clip shoe like I would like on him.

Now I’m just praying this stays on…

All my customers shoe have received a message this evening. If I have missed you please let me know!

In this weeks Hampshire Chronicles there are two horses I shoe! The grey doing the jump and the huntsman’s horse.
Arthur is also pictured - feeling very proud

I had all the helpers today!