Jim and Allan Ferrie are the names behind one of Scotland's best known farriers. A family trade their father Craig and grandfather Thomas Craig were both were farriers in Easterhouse area of Glasgow and Kirkintilloch.

With the introduction of machinery and the city expanding, the numbers of horses reduced and their father stopped shoeing for 10 years. The family moved to Ayrshire at Newmilns in 1968, it was a natural progression for Jim and Allan to follow in their father's footsteps and as Jim explains there was a whole generation of farriers lost between his father and himself. At that time there was no regulatory body and Jim started shoeing at the age of 14 and Allan at 11. They set up J and A Ferrie shoeing and were busy with work right from the start.

Jim and Allan have seen huge changes in the equestrian industry since they first started. The Registration Act was the work of The Worshipful Company Of Farriers of London. It became law in England in 1977 and Scotland in 1979. There was a basic exam which is now the diploma for a licence to practice, similar to the exam the apprentices sit at the end of their four years today. Jim and Allan both went on to pass the associateship and fellowship exams and are examiners for the Worshipful Company of Farriers and Jim is the chairman of the examiners board.

"At that time we were doing lots of shoeing competitions and learnt a lot from our peers," explained Jim. Both Jim and Allan have been runners up in the World Championships in Calgary, they won the pairs championships twice and been part of the winning four-man team seven times. They also set up the Ayrshire Shoeing competition in 1978, which is the biggest in Britain and at last month's competition had 120 farriers enter.

At the time they started shoeing most of their work was hunters, with showjumpers, eventers and games ponies during the summer. They remember Muirmill Equestrian Centre in Symmington in Ayrshire being built and the introduction of an indoor riding arena. This revolutionised their work, it meant they were busy in the winter when traditionally apart from hunters most horses would be rested.

"The farrier registration act prevents an assistant working with us," explained Jim.

"We were so busy that we'd have liked someone to pull shoes off and clench which would let us get on with the more skillful elements of the shoeing process. That led to us taking on apprentices," said Allan.

Since 1982 they have trained 30 apprentices, of that 20 are still local to their business. Some farriers stayed on working for Jim and Allan, at one point they had six vans going out the smiddy in the morning. They also have a farrier supply business which was also started in 1982. This has grown with them also selling their own brand of shoes and hand tools.

"We built our business on service, there was always someone on the end of the phone in the office and there was always someone in the area going past who could put a shoe back on in an emergency," points out Jim, who started working at Glasgow Vet School in 1974 and visits each week for remedial work.

However, after 43 years in the business the brothers have decided to cut back their business. With five farriers working for them as well as two office based staff they felt the time was right.

"We've been shoeing six or seven horses per day, often seven days a week in the early years, for 43 years – and there's only so many horses in your back," explained Jim, who has broken many bones after shoeing although it was through fishing that he broke his leg!

"We had three qualified farriers that we had trained and were working for us. They had their own runs and were already shoeing under the J and A Ferrie name that we decided to give them their client list," said Jim.

"The horse industry has really improved. When we started we were expected to shoe a horse at the field gate but most people now give us a clean, dry under cover place to shoe. There's been a big move from Irish-bred horses to warmbloods and their behaviour is impeccable. The owners expect quality work, before they were just happy to get a set of shoes on their horse."

Jim and Allan will continue to shoe, albeit at a slower pace. Jim has moved to Perth and already has clients in that area, right down towards the Glasgow Vet School, taking in Gleneagles, the Carse of Stirling and Drymen, while Allan will continue to shoe horses locally.

"Even though there's lots of new products being developed for the horse's hoof there's still no substitute for metal shoes and nails, and the technique hasn't changed for centuries," concludes Jim.

n Last year J and A Ferrie won The Scottish Farmer equestrian supplier award, presented at the Royal Highland Show.

Do you know an equestrian supplier that offers an outstanding service or someone that goes the extra mile?

The annual The Scottish Farmer award ceremony takes place at the Royal Highland Show on June 20. Past winners include Equisave, Eric Gillie Horse Transport, Clyde Vet Group, The Equine Veterinary Clinic and J and A Ferrie.

To nominate, simply visit www.agriculturalsupplierawards.co.uk the closing date is Wednesday, June 5 or see the advert on page 16/17 for more information.