The first time I saw farriers at work was a day I spent with Kit Houghton being given some equestrian photography tuition after winning a photography competition. Since that time, I've managed to photograph a number of farriers at work and it's something I've enjoyed a great deal. The farrier work has had some commercial success and has been sold as art prints and for commercial work. And soon it will be used on a farrier's web site.

These photos are of farriers George Creighton (now retired) and David Van Den Broek, and the horses I'm showing here are ones that my wife has ridden. As horses need reshoeing every six weeks or so there's lots of occasions when I can be photographing, but getting the opportunity to take the photos means that shoots can be a fair time apart.

I like the subject because it's horses and because it's about skilled work. All stages of the process provide strong compositions and can be spectacular, especially if the light is good. 

George Creighton shoeing Tabby

Tabby is an Arab mare and at the time of these photos, she was in her early 20s and one of the fittest horses in that yard (George was in his late 40s). These photos were taken over a number of years and conditions ranged from early morning bright sunshine, to falling snow. All of these images were shot on digital and some have been processed as BW or duotone in photoshop.

Hoof careCleaning a horse's hoof with a hoof pick.	FarrierA farrier at work
FarrierA farrier at work	FarrierA farrier at work
Single red horse shoe in a furnaceA farrier at work	Two red horse shoes in a furnaceA farrier at work
FarrierA farrier at work	FarrierA farrier at work

FarrierA farrier at work	FarrierA farrier at work
FarrierA farrier at work	FarrierA farrier at work

David Van Den Broek shoeing Bertie

Bertie is the horse my wife rode after Tabby went into retirement, she has moved from this yard and now is at Windsor Horse Rangers, where my wife teaches riding.

These shots were all taken on film. The light was pretty challenging, it ranged from bright sunshine to dark clouds and driving rain, and a further challenge was provided by one of the cameras. I had Ilford HP5+ in a Canon EOS 1v, which is a real joy to use and there was Fujifilm colour film in an older EOS 1 body that has a film rewind like a screaming banshee. I'd been worried about using that camera with horses, because the last thing you want is to mix red hot metal and a spooked horse.

20834_007-0019_aA yard visit from farrier David Van Den Broek to a yard in Cookham Dean. Shot on film	Hot fitting a horse shoeA yard visit from farrier David Van Den Broek to a yard in Cookham Dean.<br/>Shot on film
About to nail the horse shoeA yard visit from farrier David Van Den Broek to a yard in Cookham Dean.<br/>Shot on film	The first nail in a horse shoeA yard visit from farrier David Van Den Broek to a yard in Cookham Dean.<br/>Shot on film
Farrier's furnaceA yard visit from farrier David Van Den Broek to a yard in Cookham Dean.<br/>Shot on film	Red hot horse shoesA yard visit from farrier David Van Den Broek to a yard in Cookham Dean.<br/>Shot on film
CNV00020_aA yard visit from farrier David Van Den Broek to a yard in Cookham Dean. Shot on film	CNV00022_aA yard visit from farrier David Van Den Broek to a yard in Cookham Dean. Shot on film
CNV00036_aA yard visit from farrier David Van Den Broek to a yard in Cookham Dean. Shot on film