Cancer claims the lives of about 10 million people around the world annually. The picture won’t get any rosier. Cancer experts believe that the number will balloon to 18 million a year by 2050. International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer Sandy Beveridge wants to make a difference in his corner of the world.
The Carluke, Scotland, farrier created a rotating and spinning globe crafted from a variety of horseshoes handmade by 194 farriers from around the world. The Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF) will display the globe to raise donations for Cancer Research UK. All proceeds will go to the charity.
“All of us will have been touched by cancer, either within our own family, our friends or even ourselves,” Beveridge says. “I hope that the Globe can be a benchmark of the skills that exist by farriers of today and of the past.”
Collecting the horseshoes from a veritable who’s who was a “humbling experience,” Beveridge told The Scottish Farmer. Each shoe bears the name or initials of the farrier who forged the shoe, some of whom are industry legends who have passed on, including Hall of Fame members Edward Martin, David Gulley, Ivon Bell and David Wilson.
“Some of the shoes presented on the Globe have been made by past individual world champions, world champion team members, national champions, international team or international individual champions who are some of the highest qualified farriers in the world,” according to the WCF. “In due course, the WCF aims to find a permanent home for the Globe in a public location where it can be viewed by all as a testimony to the craft and skill of the farriery profession.”
The WCF created a page on the Cancer Research UK website to collect donations.
“We are asking for people to support this very worthy cause,” Beveridge says.
Honoring Farriers
As Farriers Week kicks off, the efforts by Beveridge, the 194 farriers who contributed their work for the Globe and the WCF are another example of the generosity and selfless nature of the industry.
To honor their dedication and service, American Farriers Journal (AFJ)created Farriers Week. In its 28th year, Farriers Week, presented by Vetericyn, is an opportunity to recognize farriers for their contributions to the equine industry.
AFJ started the “Farriers Spotlight” in 2012, which is an online-exclusive compilation dedicated to showcasing some of the many farriers in the industry. The farrier tributes featured were either submitted to us by farriers who want to thank their mentors and instructors or members of the equine community who want to express their gratitude to the farriers who care for their horses.
From all of us at American Farriers Journal and the International Hoof-Care Summit, thank you for your tireless work on the majestic horse.
