FARRIERS' ARRIVAL

FARRIERS' ARRIVAL SIGNALS
THE END OF HORSES'
SUMMER-TIME LAY-OFF

THE Clarilawmuir yard of Coltherd Racing was a hive of activity on Monday, July 15, with no fewer than 13 horses patiently waiting their turn to have new shoes fitted by the father-and-son farrier partnership of Stewart and Steven Shiel (pictured left).

The farriers' visit meant that the customary summer break enjoyed by these horses since the end of April is now at an end. Over the coming weeks, trainer Stuart Coltherd and his team will start preparing the horses to return to racing, through a carefully monitored fitness schedule, schooling programme and feed regime.

"For the past couple of months or so they've been enjoying a good lay-off and recovery period out in the fields surrounding Clarilawmuir," said Stuart. "Now it's time to get the horses' shoes back on and begin getting them prepared for the racetrack."

Stuart sets great store by the service and expertise provided by Borders-based farriers S. A. Shiel Blacksmith Ltd.

"Stewart and Steven have been coming here to shoe our horses for over 15 years. They're hard workers, very reliable, and are obviously very important members of the Coltherd Racing team."

For his part, Stewart says he finds the horses at Clarilawmuir a pretty calm bunch, and therefore easy to work with.

"It can sometimes be a bit harder when horses have been freshly brought in after spending a fair bit of time outside," said Stewart. "However, we haven't encountered any problems today and don't really see any difficulties arising."

Stewart and Steven have been working in tandem for the past 22 years, and as well as serving a large number of customers in the central and eastern Borders, also have clients in Northumberland.