Mission accomplished – new website for the BFBA

New website launched for the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association (BFBA).

I launched Forge & Farrier back in 2007 to provide an online information resource for the farriery industry. During the last 15 years the website has grown rapidly in size and extended it’s reach across the world. Borne from an idea to provide an online calendar for UK farriers (whilst walking on a beach in Wales) the website has surpassed all expectations. We have made many new connections and friends, experienced events and competitions and travelled throughout the UK and across the world including the European Farrier Championships hosted in Bordeaux and the World Championships, hosted at Calgary Stampede.

Forge & Farrier was purchased by the BFBA at the end of 2020 and it has now been relaunched. The design and build of the new site was undertaken by Aubergine, and we thank them for their support.

The new website encompasses all the best of the original site PLUS an exciting new area for BFBA members which includes a wealth of educational resources. It is now time for me to hand over the day-to-day management of the site to the BFBA Head Office who can be contacted on 024 76 696595 or on email ([email protected]).

This just leaves me to say a huge thank you to those who have supported us along the way –

to the late Richard Ellis DipWCF who believed in the concept and told me to “go for it”. A complete gentleman and ridiculously talented farrier who is sorely missed and fondly remembered,

my long-standing supporters of the website – Handmade Shoes (UK) Ltd, Stromsholm Farriers Supplies, Eastlake & Beachell, MNC Ltd, NAF, Imprint Equine Foot Care, Atlantic Equine Ltd, Londonderry Forge Supplies Ltd, Mustad Hoofcare, Total Foot Protection Ltd, Swan Portaforge and Silverback Chaps.

to Penny, at Stafford Web, who has been with me throughout this journey; understood what I wanted to do, managed various updates and amends and assisted with the final handover this week,

and to all farriers and apprentices who have spread the word, shared the website, sent us events and news, displayed our stickers and acted as walking billboards! What other advocates did we need?

Thank you.

I continue to work for the BFBA in a freelance capacity providing PR and marketing support, but for now, a well-earned glass of something bubbly!