BSc(Hons) AWCF
Registered Farrier
matters
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paul.conroy@summitforge.co.uk
Paul is the principle farrier of Summit Forge.
Paul was born in 1975 in St Helens, Lancashire. He grew up around horses and did some riding and general stable work. He always looked forward to the farrier arriving and realised at a young age that he wanted to be one.
He joined the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in 1991. After basic training he successfully completed Riding school and was posted to Hyde Park Barracks, where he served as a mounted dutyman for four years, taking part in many state occasions including Trooping the Colour & the State Opening of Parliament.
During this period he also carried out many Queens Life Guards at Horse Guards Parade.
In 1995 Paul joined the Regiment’s forge and started his apprenticeship in farriery.
He qualified in 1999 and was entered onto Part 1 of the register of farriers.
Paul left the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in 2003 and set up Summit Forge Farriery practice in Littleborough, near Rochdale, Lancashire.
In 2005 he passed his ATF and L11 course and became an Approved Training Farrier, able to take on an apprentice farrier.
In 2006 Paul began a Degree course held at Myerscough college and, following successful completion of the course, was awarded a Foundation Science (FdSc) Degree in Farriery with distinction and also became an Associate of the Worshipful Company Of Farriers (AWCF).
In May 2011, after two more years of study, Paul was awarded a BSc(Hons) degree in Farriery Science from the University of Central Lancashire.
Paul’s long term aims are to write a farriery textbook and, one day, hopes to gain his MSc in Farriery.
Paul is a committed advocate of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and has achieved the recommended CPD points in each and every year from 2008 to 2011. He is already on target for 2012. g
sam.ratcliffe@summitforge.co.uk
Sam was born in 1986 and is Littleborough born and bred. He has always owned his own horse and had a love of them, he also knew from a young age that he wanted to be a farrier.
Sam began his apprenticeship in 2006 alongside Paul in the Summit Forge Farriery practice and passed his farriery final examinations in January 2010 when he was awarded the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (Dip WCF). He has now become a partner in the practice where he intends to continue his own development and experience, with the aim of also becoming an Approved Training Farrier.
Additional accredited training throughout 2010 and 2011 ensured Sam obtained the recommended CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points; a goal he has also set himself for 2012.
Sam’s longer term aim is to obtain a Foundation Science (FdSc) degree in farriery and become an Associate member of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (AWCF). Sam is an incredibly committed and talented young farrier who has a great future within this practice. g
Paul Conroy
Sam Ratcliffe
Kurt Mooney
kurt.mooney@summitforge.co.uk
Kurt was born in 1988 in Oldham. At the age of 13, he started working for a horse dealer which led to him owning his own horse. At 15 he started work experience with Paul at Summit Forge.
He found a love for farriery straight away and instantly knew that this was what wanted as a career.
In 2006 he attended Myerscough College to gain his forging certificate and then began what became a three year wait to join Summit Forge Farriery practice as an apprentice.
Kurt started in January 2010 and will be a huge asset to the practice. He will sit his farriery final examinations in January 2014. g