The National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) joined fellow equine welfare organisations at Farrier Focus in Warwickshire over the weekend, promoting the vital importance of good footcare and strengthening connections with professionals working across the equine sector.

Held annually at Stoneleigh Park, Farrier Focus is an important event in the farriery and blacksmithing calendar. Organised by the British Farrier and Blacksmith Association (BFBA), the two-day event followed the BFBA International Team Horseshoeing Championship and featured lectures from leading clinicians, trade stands, live demonstrations and opportunities to engage with organisations working across the sector.

The NEWC stand provided an opportunity for representatives from NEWC member organisations The Donkey Sanctuary, World Horse Welfare, Bransby Horses and Blue Cross to connect with farriers, veterinary professionals and other delegates, and to talk about the role of appropriate footcare in supporting equine welfare.

The event also provided an opportunity for NEWC members to share knowledge and experiences, and to hear directly from professionals about the challenges they encounter when supporting the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and other equines.

Visitors to the NEWC stand were invited to take part in a quiz exploring some of the differences between horse and donkey feet. A Horseshoe Throw competition also took place across both days, with prizes of farrier knives kindly donated by Stromsholm Ltd, who provide hoof care solutions for equine owners and professionals.

Farrier Focus provided a valuable opportunity for NEWC and its members to connect directly with professionals working at the heart of equine footcare. Good footcare is fundamental to equine welfare, and events such as this provide an opportunity to share information, build relationships and better understand the experiences of those working with equines in different settings.

NEWC is grateful to the BFBA for the opportunity to attend, to the member organisations who helped to staff the NEWC stand and share their expertise, and to Stromsholm Ltd for generously donating the prizes for the Horseshoe Throw competition.

The event highlighted the important connections between farriery and equine welfare, and the value of bringing welfare organisations and professionals together to share knowledge and experience.