Kiwis reign in Tocal’s first heavy horse comp

Three New Zealand teams entered the forging and shoeing competition and in an extremely close contest two of them took the top two places, with an ACT team third.

Professional Farriers Association of NSW secretary David Cookson, Mudgee, said the three top teams had to be split on a count back, initially all being tied for first place.

“The closeness of the scores just goes to show the quality of the work there was on show and how close the teams were,” Mr Cookson said.

He said the count back relied on the foot preparation to split the teams – the final results falling on the way the hoof was trimmed and prepared for the shoe.

It was the first time the competition had been held at Tocal Field Days and it was a great success, Mr Cookson said.

Eight teams of three men entered and took part in five events incorporating skills in shoeing, forging and “eagle eye” – where one team member looks at a horse’s foot and has to give instructions on the type and dimensions of the hoof to his teammates so they can make a shoe to fit.

“We were very pleased with the way it went and with the venue,” Mr Cookson said.

The winning New Zealand team was made up of Jim Bryant, Rodney King and Grant Nyhan, second place went to the team of Pat Schmanski, Laine Cameron, and Ryan Harris-Hayes, while the third place team from the ACT was made up of Garry Dowling, Steven Izzard and Tom Laurie.

Click the image below for more photos from Tocal Field Days.