Farrier services
Here at Hook Norton Farriers Ltd we aim to provide a friendly, reliable and professional service, from routine shoeing to intricate remedial hoof treatment.
Request a farrier visit
Free, no obligation shoeing advice. We will get back to you as soon as we can.
What we offer
Andy has over 25 years of experience successfully treating and addressing lameness issues. Whether your horse needs a routine set of shoes or specialist care, here is what we offer.
Want to know who will be shoeing your horse? Meet Andy and the team.
01
We run two mobile units travelling out to customers across Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas, so most horses can be shod at home in familiar surroundings.
Regular shoeing matters. Horses competing at a high level are often shod every 4 to 5 weeks, and noticing any changes to your horse’s feet or performance between visits is useful information for your farrier when your horse is next shod.
Enquire about mobile farriers
02
Consultation work is undertaken by Andy Martin AWCF. Andy has over 25 years of experience successfully treating and addressing lameness issues, from imbalances in the hoof to intricate remedial hoof treatment.
Remedial work and lameness issues can be assessed at our on-site forge, and we will work alongside your vet and your own farrier to get the best outcome for the horse. Recent examples include a spider shoe made for a thoroughbred with arthritic changes within the foot, and a lateral support shoe giving an event horse greater support to the hock area.
Enquire about remedial shoeing
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Our on-site forge and clinic at Yew Tree Barn in Swerford is suitable for clients to travel to us for any type of shoeing. Horses can even stable over a few days if the treatment needs further attention.
An outdoor all weather arena is used for trot up assessments before and after shoeing, and on-site stables with 24 hours supervision are available for horses requiring in depth remedial hoof care.
Enquire about on-site facilities
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Andy uses copper nails on horses that tend to have brittle, cracked feet and suffer from bacterial hoof problems causing the hoof to crumble. Horses that displayed bacteria around the nail holes from steel nails showed an improvement of the hoof wall when shod with copper nails.
Both copper and mild steel nails have their place, and the condition of the hoof will determine what type of nail to use. Copper race plates are also available for racehorses.
Enquire about copper coated nails
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Shoes are handmade at the forge for remedial work, shaped to suit the individual horse rather than the other way round. Andy has won and been reserve World Shoeing Champion twice at the World Blacksmith Competition in Calgary, and that shoemaking skill goes into every remedial shoe.
Glue on plastic shoes are also fitted, which can help horses whose hoof wall will not hold a nail well.
Enquire about handmade & glue-on shoes
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We also offer farrier cover at horse events and racecourses. All our team of farriers have ridden and handle all types of horses every day, from racehorses and youngsters to eventers and nervous or skittish types.
Andy is a fully licensed racehorse trainer and the team shoe a number of National Hunt racehorses, so we understand the demands of a busy competition day.
Enquire about event & racecourse coverHow it works
Call 07801 567 586 or send an enquiry with a few details about your horse and where you are based.
Every horse is different. We look at the feet, the way the horse moves and any history from you or your vet.
Your horse is shod to its individual requirements, either on your yard or at our forge in Swerford.
Remedial cases can be trotted up on our all weather arena before and after shoeing to check progress.
See the forge, the horses and the shoes for yourself in our photo gallery, or catch up on the latest from the yard in our news and blog.
Talk to Andy
Call 07801 567 586 for free, no obligation advice about your horse's shoeing.