Londonderry, North Yorkshire

Looking west from Sutton Bank across the Yorkshire Dales

I am in James Herriot country!  I realized this when driving along the A1(M) with Huw and he said "those are the Yorkshire Dales, over there," and pointed west. 

Once he learned that I was a fan of the vet-turned-author he took me to the museum the next weekend.  It is the actual house and business (Sinclair & Wight) and is located only ten miles from Huw's place.  Apparently, Huw even used to get abscess referrals from them.  Anyways, lots of fun to see the place all done up as it would have been in the 40's and 50's and to go through the museum above it.  That was all about the development of Veterinary science and practice- and consequently about farriery as well- in England.  Looking at all of the tools and restraints that were used I am very glad to be working in the age of anesthetics and tranquilizer!

Sinclair & Wight, now The World of James Herriot.

The Dispensary, as it would have been in the 40's (before antibiotics).

On some other historical notes: Huw's Londonderry Forge is located on the old A1, which is the old Roman Road.  Apparently the Roman cobbles are still there, two feet below the current pavement.  In more recent years the town was a Stagecoach stop, it being located fourteen miles between the other two stops (the horses galloped a maximum of fifteen miles).  The barn across from the Forge, now a pig farm, was the stable, housing up to 22 horses at a time.

Londonderry Forge and Farrier Supply.  The attached house is now apartments for apprentices.

The Roman Road (old A1) looking south from the Forge

Crosby Farm, originally the Stagecoach Barn, across the street from the Forge, looking north up the Roman Road.

Huw has a number of apprentices, four to be exact.  Every day some of the lads get sent out to do routine work, and others will ride with the boss to more involved cases.  Since I have spent all of my time working with Huw, I have gotten to see a number of revolting/interesting/involved things that I don't see at home.  Sometimes these are just unfortunate things, like the horse with the quittor that was a really neglect case because the owner didn't realize the severity of the situation, but often they are patches or involved glue jobs.  Huw gets called in to do a lot of gluing, and the last few days have been very Equilox intensive. 

Quittor, it spurted pus out with every step.

A 2-3 month old foal that is in desperate need of lateral extensions.  Prognosis is guarded as there is not much side-to-side flexibility in the pastern joint.  The inside of both hooves is no longer in contact with the ground.

The business does many race yards.  This is interesting for me as I have never been around race stables.  However, Thoroughbred feet are no better in the UK than in the US.

One of Huw's corrective shoe jobs on a race horse.  This mare has very flat feet and has a lot of success adding artificial heel and then covering the heels with glue to prevent shoe pulling.  Sometimes he just covers the heels to prevent pulling.  So far I have seen him use glue to create all sorts of wedges and to cover and help correct wonky feet.  This job seems to be rather a speciality of his and is very popular with trainers as they believe it to be lighter than pads and it stays on very well.