Main description:

Sparks from the Smiddy tells the life story of David Wilson, a sixth generation blacksmith and world champion farrier (a craftsman who trims and shoes horses' hooves). The book includes details of David's memories of annoying his father as a child by nailing horse shoes to the smiddy floor, his first experience of trying to catch a horse, the hard work he put into learning his trade, along with picking up and running the family business. The story follows the highs and lows of David's earliest competitions through to his ultimate win at the 1985 World Championship in Calgary, Canada. And, it concludes with tales of the travel opportunities that his work and successes opened up to him, including meeting the Princess Royal in 1995. Told in a humorous yet modest style, and including 60 of David's photos, Sparks from the Smiddy sheds light on this previously unreported aspect of working and shoeing horses, helping readers to understand the skills of a farrier and giving a nostalgic look back over this important part of rural life. [Subject: Memoir, Animal Care, Traditional Trades and Skills]