Ben Benson Farrier

16/10/2026

That tea and biscuit feeling!!

In case you didn’t know already, we’re big fans of ‘feeding the farrier’! You might have seen a few of our posts celebrating the treats we’ve been lucky enough to receive from our wonderful clients.

Safe to say, we’re not complaining! Keep them coming 😂

14/10/2026

Yesterday Ben attended the Better Beginnings Conference, as a Master Farrier and BHF Trustee, joining leading experts in equine health, breeding and welfare to explore how we can give young horses the best possible start in life.

As part of one of the sessions, “Spotlight on Promoting Lifelong Soundness”, Ben contributed to discussions around the important role that farriery management plays in supporting the young horse’s development and long-term soundness.

With talks covering everything from temperament and genetics to nutrition, biomechanics and gut health, it was a valuable day of shared knowledge, collaboration and a common commitment to improving lifelong equine wellbeing.

It was a pleasure to be on the stage speaking with Richard Davison about the importance of early farriery and getting the foundations right from the very beginning.

13/10/2026

Sometimes, the answer to an imbalanced foot isn’t to take more hoof away.

By shaping the shoe to accommodate the individual hoof, we can work with its natural conformation, preserve healthy hoof wall and tailor support where it’s needed.

It’s all about looking at the bigger picture and understanding that every foot is different.

Good farriery isn’t about making every hoof look the same; it’s about making informed decisions to support the individual horse.

Swipe through to find out more.

10/10/2026

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: while our work centres around the feet, understanding the horse’s whole anatomy is essential.

Forest is a great example of why a whole-horse approach matters. Following a pelvic injury and bilateral front-limb lameness, Forest had experienced ongoing foot problems that required careful assessment and a considered approach.

Following a veterinary referral and by assessing his movement and balance over time, we were able to help provide the support he needed throughout his recovery.

The result? Forest has returned to competition - and has been back winning, too!

A great reminder that successful farriery goes beyond the feet. Understanding how the whole horse moves can be key to supporting their comfort, soundness and performance.

08/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HWWZ2MZDM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

What does your farrier really hate?

The farrier is an integral part of maintaining your horse’s health and wellbeing. Their regular visits ensure your horse’s hooves are kept in the best condition and help prevent lameness but are you doing things your farrier wishes you wouldn’t? Are you making their job harder than it needs to be?

Master Farrier Ben Benson AWCF explains five key things which you should stop doing to help your farrier out and enable them to do their work more effectively and efficiently.

Find out more via link in comments.

06/10/2026

For this horse, Ben used a more complex shoe and additional padding to provide the horse with extra support and cushioning.

Once the shoe is on, Ben uses a backing-up block to make sure the nails are properly seated into the fullering (groove in the shoe) and not sitting too high so as to give too much grip or work loose. This means his apprentice Austin will have a tight, secure and good amount of nail to work with when he comes to clench them up. The aim is a strong, flush and smooth finish.

You can also see the dental impression material underneath the shoe. Once applied, this material moulds to the foot and can be used to provide support and cushioning. Trimming the excess and creating a sloped front surface to it under the pad neatly helps ensure it remains where it is intended to provide support and prevent unwanted muck and dirt from making its way underneath.

It’s these small adjustments - knowing where, how much and why - that show the skill behind good farriery.

02/10/2026

What an amazing day spent in Le Pouget, with 65 farriers coming together for the Mustad/FIM farrier clinic.

We spent the day looking at what farriers can do to help horses become more balanced in their bodies, and how thoughtful, appropriate shoeing can play an important role in the soundness and longevity of some horses.

After an amazing four-course lunch (with a delicious cheeseboard), we got the opportunity to work with a lovely young horse.

Using some simple assessment processes, we were able to rebalance the front feet and help equalise the loading through each leg. We then looked at how our fitting skills can be used to make significant improvements to the function of the hind limb.

The difference in the horse afterwards was remarkable - a great example of how small, considered changes can make a meaningful difference to the way a horse loads and uses its legs.

It was a pleasure to meet so many new French friends and share ideas and experience with farriers from across France.

A huge thank you to France Industrie Maréchalerie for sponsoring the day and Mustad Hoofcare for the invitation.

And a special thank you to Fabrice Cavé for the 1,000 km pickup, thunderstorm and wonderful French dinner! Also to Pierre Dupre for getting me back to Marseille Airport.

A brilliant few days of learning, sharing knowledge and making new friends.

Now looking forward to getting back home to Debbie, the family and the dogs… and obviously Butch too!🐴

30/09/2026

The hammer is one of the most important tools in a farrier's kit.

Just like our own footwear, a horseshoe shouldn't be treated as one-size-fits-all.

Every horse has individual feet, which is why careful assessment, preparation and fitting are such an important part of the farriery process.

…and our specialist hammers are a vital tool in the fitting process!

From the shape of the shoe to its placement and nail position - all these elements come together to create an appropriate fit for the individual hoof, ensuring your horse is comfortable and able to perform.

28/09/2026

Ben is very much looking forward to being at Le Pouget for the Mustad professionals clinic later on this week, bringing together farriers and equine professionals for a day of practical demonstrations, discussion and shared knowledge.

The programme will cover the fundamentals of shoeing alongside modern techniques, with practical demonstrations including shoe modifications and Hoofcast application, before looking at the decision-making involved in shoeing to optimise locomotion.

We’re looking forward to seeing what’s in store… and hopefully a chance to sneak in a croissant along the way!