Queensland Master Farriers
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All our members are Government Accredited.
To be accredited, farriers must have completed an apprenticeship or gained a Certificate III in Farriery
Kerry Ireland(President) Areas Worked: Hendra
Ph 0418 120138
Kerry has been in the industry for over 25 years. Predominately a racing farrier, he has shown the ability to manage a large team while keeping his work to a high standard. Having spent 14 years working for the powerful Hawkes/Inghams operation (6 years at Crown Lodge in Sydney as Head Farrier) Kerry's skills are in demand by some of Australasia's leading racehorse trainers.
Bryn Jones(Vice President), Areas Worked: Tara
Ph 0408 712 457
Bryn has been in the industry for over 40 years. His specialty is Corrective Shoeing. Bryn is based in Ipswich and his area covers Brookfield, Moggill and Mt Crosby areas. His majority of clients are pleasure horses, show jumpers, dressage, endurance and eventers. He is currently Vice President of the Queensland Master Farriers' Association and has been a member for the past 20 years.
Steve Crosbie(Secretary) Areas Worked: Hendra & Northern Suburbs
Ph 0412 356993
Steve has also been in the industry for over 25 years. Being based in Brisbane's racing precinct for the past 16 years he has built up a reputation for workmanship and reliability which sees him being the farrier for the Qld arm of the Aquanita Racing Group. Currently he is Secretary of The Queensland Master Farriers' Association. He predominately does gallopers, but does do equestrian horses as well.
Bill Niemann(Treasurer), Areas Worked: South East Qld
Ph 0408 291161
Bill lives in Boonah and works all over South East Qld. Shoeing horses from both racing & equestrian stables as well as stud work. Bill is also licensed to be a Shoeing Inspector at race meetings run by Qld Racing.
Tim Heeb, Areas Worked: Beaudesert & Surrounds
Ph 0428182200
Tim has recently moved into the Beaudesert area after completing his apprenticeship earlier this year. Tim excelled during his apprenticeship under Hervey Bay's Steve Riggs. A regular on the competition circuit Tim regularly finished in front of tradsman with many more years experience. Last year Tim took out the innaugural "Australia's Top Apprentice" Competition. With credentials like this, bookings with Tim will fill fast.
Mitch Brace, Areas Worked: Bundaberg and Surrounds
Ph 0428 301241
Mitch is another who has just completed his apprenticeship.Having spent the first 3 years under respected caboolture farrier Delwyn Richardson, Mitch came to Brisbane to finish his time. Another top competitor has also shown the experienced tradesmen a thing or two in competitions, so you can be sure his skills are first class.
Kristian Coats, Areas Worked: Hendra
Ph 0413 258848
Kristian Coats is a farrier new to Brisbane, but comes with quality credentials from Melbourne. Having trained with some of the best in the farrier trade in Melbourne, namely Paul Cummings, Dave McDonald and Dave Mangan, Kristian has already shown his ability to work on elite level gallopers having shod Mr Prudent for legendary trainer George Hanlon for a Melbourne Cup campaign resulting in a second placing.
Brett Bartlett, Areas Worked:Canungra & Gold Coast
Ph 0408 882 729
Brett trained in Sydney under legendary Randwick farrier Albert O'Cass finishing his apprenticeship in 1982. He has been running a successful horse shoeing business in the pleasure and horse racing industries. "I moved to Qld 19 years ago and have been living in Canungra (Gold Coast Hinterland) for the past 12 years. Specializing in pleasure horses, I provide a prompt service but with respect, I do not accept credit cards or accounts".
Glen Sharp, Areas Worked: Townsville
Ph 0418 743102
Glen is one of our most northern members being in Townsville. Glen specialises in either hot or cold shoeing and will travel outside of the Townsville area when required. He shoes gallopers as well as pleasure horses and is also a qualified shoeing inspector registered with Queensland Racing. As a member of both the Qld Master Farriers Assoc. and the Australian Farriers and Blacksmiths Assoc. Glen has demonstrated his eagerness to continue his education through clinics and seminars run by these associations.
Iain Batten, Areas Worked: Gold Coast to Beaudesert
Ph 0418 180 602
Iain is another member with enormous experience. Having been in the trade for 30 years he has a wide knowledge base to draw upon when working. His areas range from the Gold Coast Hinterland out to Beaudesert. " I will shoe performance horses, thoroughbreds, dressage, show jumpers polo and pleasure horses".
Christopher McMullen, Areas Worked: Hendra
Ph 0403 398385
Chris these days works exclusively on thoroughbreds in the Hendra area. Having shod horses from all disciplines Chris is extensively experienced in all areas of shoeing.
Jim Urquhart, Areas Worked: Morayfield to Caloundra
Ph 0402 713861
Jim is an expat kiwi who now calls Australia home. Jim has been a past member of the New Zealand Master Farriers' Association and is a member of both Qld Master Farriers' Association and the Australian Farriers' and Blacksmith Association. Jim shoes hacks, ponies, thoroughbreds and broodmares. With over 30 years experience Jim is constantly striving to strengthen his skills by attending clinics and seminars.
Paul Ruddy, Areas Worked: Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Ph 0427 767 194
"I provide a quality, reliable service to Toowoomba and the Darling Downs. I specialise in thoroughbred racehorses and performance horses."
Arnold Dobbe, Areas Worked: Grandchester
Ph 0432 409137
Arnold comes from a racing family with both his father and sister professional jockeys. Lucky for us Arnold decided the farrier craft was more to his liking. Arnold shoes all types of horses including thoroughbreds and pleasure horses. With a keen interest in the shoe making side, he has gained strong skills and continues to build on them.
Claye Cunningham, Areas Worked: South East Queensland
Ph 0413 800 837
"Claye Cunningham has over 40 years experience and has shod some of the best race horses in Australia. He has lectured for 3 years at Gatton College in Horse Husbandry, 5 years lecturing Practical Shoeing at Ithaca College and 3 years lecturing at Logan Tafe. He's a shoeing inspector at the Ipswich and Gold Coast races. He specialises in Corrective Shoeing and services all over South East Queensland. Pictured is Claye shoeing one of H.R.H. Prince Abdullah Bin Mitch Al-Sound's million dollar horses at the "KL Grand Prix", Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 2004."
Tom Affleck, Areas Worked: Caboolture
Ph 0427 934420
Tom is another former New South Welshmen who has made Qld home. A regular on the competition circuit, Tom has has won or been placed at many of the top events in the country, proving he is among the best tradesmen around. Shoeing gallopers and pleasure horses has given Tom a wide variety of experience to draw upon when a foot problem presents itself.
Gary Dagnell, Areas Worked: South East Qld
Ph 0418457402
Gary works in the Gold Coast Hinterland area and out to Beaudesert as well as some racehorse work in Hendra. Gary's specialty for many years has been working with veterinarians on surgical and emergency cases. With his vast knowledge and experience Gary has been able to come up with some innovative solutions for lame and injured horses. He does extensive work for Eagle Farm Veterinary Hospital.
Glen Isdale, Areas Worked: Hendra, Deagon & Caloundra
Ph 0412 247176
Glen did his apprenticeship in Sydney with renown farrier Graeme Morrison. After a brief sting in the Northern Territory Glen has called Brisbane home for several years. Glen does mainly racehorses in his run from Hendra to Caloundra. Also as a registered Shoeing Inspector Glen works at metropolitan race meetings on most weekends.
Steve Riggs, Areas Worked: Hervey Bay
Ph 0417 428005
Steve Riggs is at the top level of farriers in this state. He is an active competitor and clinican as well as running a busy shoeing practice. He specialises in all types of sport horses including cutting horses. Working in the Hervey Bay area he covers plenty of miles and with the help of his top level apprentice Tim Heeb they make a formidalble combination that can handle just about anything.
Ross Chicken, Areas Worked: Caboolture
Ph 0412 772414
Ross is one of the most experienced members of our association. With 30 years under his belt, mostly doing pacers and trotters he has the runs on the board when it comes to knowing how to interpret a horse's foot. As a past president of the AFBA his committment to quality is unquestioned.
Wade Graham, Areas Worked: Brookfield and Western Suburbs
Ph 0413 189755
Wade works in the Brookfield, Mt Crosby area and specialises in dressaage and eventers. Wade is well respected by his peers and is an active member in the Australian Farriers and Blacksmiths Association as well as theQMFA. Widely experienced in all areas of hot shoeing and forging Wade comes highly recommended as a quality tradesman.
Delwyn Richardson, Areas Worked: Caboolture to Caloundra
Ph 0412 734228
Delwyn is another farrier active on the competition circuit. As an Open graded competitor you can rest assured that he has the skills to look after your horse. With a long involvement in all horse breeds from thoroughbreds to warmbloods Delwyn has all the skills you could possibly look for.
James Giltrow, Areas Worked: Samford
Ph 0428 519431
James completed his apprenticeship last year. Having done his apprenticeship with Richard Hansen one of Queensland's most respected farriers, James has had the advantage of doing a wide variety of work. From day to day shoeing right up to heavy horses and therapeutic work for vets, he has all the skills necessary to tackle anything put in front of him.
Kent Wells, Areas Worked:Beaudesert & Surrounding Areas
Ph 0414 742112
Kent is aspecialist in the area of foal abnormalities. His practice conssts of mainly stud work correcting conformation problems. With many years of experience in this area as well having trained apprentices Kent is a farrier well respected in the farrier community for his knowledge and expertise.
Mark O'Leary, Areas Worked: Gold Coast
Ph 0407 962623
Mark works mainly on the Gold Coast shoeing gallopers for some of Qld's top trainers. Mark is a hard working dedicated professional who has all the skills necessary to ensure that all your shoeing needs are catered for.
Steve Costin, Areas Worked:Beaudesert
Ph 0408 705189
Steve does a wide range of horss from gallopers to pleasure horses. With many years of experience Steve has the full range of skills at his disposal.
Josh Grieves, Areas Worked: Gold Coast & Hinterland
Ph 0439 673786
Josh is another young farrier establishing himself here in SEQ. Having come through the apprenticeship system you can be sure that he has all the theoretical knowlege to backup his hands on skills.
Terrance Rowe, Areas Worked: Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Ph 0428 933116
Terrence is another farrier that does horses from a wide variety of disciplines. Also registered as a Shoeing Inspector for Qld Racing, Terrence has done the whole spectrum of horses and comes highly recommended by his peers.
Jeffrey Langdon, Areas Worked: Gold Coast
Ph 0448 741 267
Jeff works mainly on trotters and pacers these days, however he spends alot of his time working as Shoeing Inspector at the Gold Coast and Ipswich for Queensland Racing.
Michael Niemann, Areas Worked: South East Qld
Ph 0407 642690
Michael works all over South East Qld doing breakers through to gallopers and everything in between. Having done his apprenticeship with his father Bill, Michael has a broad knowledge base to call upon when assessing your horse.
Dan Bourke, Areas Worked: Rosewood & Surrounding Districts
Ph 0427 123979
Dan has been in the association for several decades having spent many years on the Executive Committee as either Secretary or Treasurer. With years of involvement in the Farrier industry Dan has a vast knowledge of the issues affecting farriers and has worked towards advancing the trade. Dan shoes in the Rosewood area as well as working at race meetings as a Shoeing Inspector.
David Moss, Areas Worked: Brisbane Valley
Ph 0428 826305
Working west of Brisbane Dave is an experienced farrier covering a wide area. Licensed as a shoeing inspector for Qld Racing, Dave was also a past president of QMFA for many years.
Steve Woolley, Areas Worked: Southern England
Ph 0434 962637
Although Steve is from England he was so impressed with our organisation that he felt compelled to join up. He is currently over here for a working holiday for six months and will return to the UK at the end of the year.
Scotty Campbell(Retired)
Predominately a blacksmith, Scotty had shod many trotters and pacers in his career. Although his shoeing days are behind him Scotty remains committed to ensuring that the farrier trade continues to prosper. He regularly attends our meetings and is a conscientious contributor to the happenings in our association.
Ray Burnip(Retired)
Ray Burnip was a farrier that worked in the Hendra area from the Fifties through to the Eighties. He is shown here working on one of Alby Pratt's horses at Nudgee. The children in the photo are trainer Don Cleal's son and daughter. Unfortunately Ray suffered from ill health towards the latter part of his career and had to retire prematurely. His was a great loss to the racing fraternity of Hendra. His contribution to racing has been recognised by this association and we are very proud to say that Ray has been inducted as a life member.
Pat Burns(Retired)
Pat retired in 2004 after 63 years in the trade. Although no longer hands on anymore, Pat is still an active member in the Association. With his many years of experience Pat has much to offer younger farriers starting out in the horse shoeing business. Originally from Bundaberg he moved to Brisbane with his father Bill and they both set up farrier businesses in Brisbane. Pat worked on racehorses for most of his career and was the farrier for many Winter Carnival Stars including popular racehorse 'Rough Habit'.