This is a story of excellent farriery. I first met David in 2003 when he was recommended to me by a friend, because I knew my retired racehorse, Rainbow Walk, needed some help. He was plagued with intermittent back trouble. I remember there was no doubt about who I needed: you need Gully! the friend said. So, over to The Forge we went. My first impression was of a brusque, no nonsense, stocky man who bluntly got me trotting up my horse so he could see what was wrong. He then, also with few words, got someone else to trot up Bo, so I could see what he had discovered: chronic plaiting of the nearside hind leg in trot (a motion whereby the foot is swung underneath and towards the other side of the horse, instead of planting vertically forwards and downwards. This plaiting was the source of the strain on Bo's back and his intermittent lameness. (How that was missed in the vetting I've no idea! I'd only had him a few months!).

And so we moved toward the solution, also with few words being exchanged, which was to design remedial shoes for both back feet to encourage Bo to place his hind feet more correctly. This involved welding inner riggers to the shoes to widen his stance. Once fitted with his new shoes, he was then trotted up again and the improvement was so dramatic as to be almost miraculous: only a trace of the plaiting remained! I continued going to Gully for many months and, over time, his back feet were shaped so he provided himself with the support he needed and eventually the remedial shoes were replaced with standard ones. And his recurring back troubles became a thing of the past. In the meantime I had bought a second horse (as you do!) and, of course, there was only one place to go for his foot care. The routine only ended when one of David's apprentices qualified and set up business in my local area. Changing farriers is a bit like changing doctors (or used to be - perhaps not so much now) - you have to tread a bit carefully. And so I wrote to David asking if he would mind if Craig took over the care of my horses, to which he graciously agreed.

So, in summary, I wouldn't say I knew David Gully well but, what I did know, I liked immensely. I liked his no frills approach to business; I respected his immense knowledge, experience and skill in his art; I liked him, and I wish I could have known him better. His memory will stay with me for as long as I remain and I will be forever grateful to him for bequeathing me an unparalleled education in how to ride strongly and correctly, as my chestnut thoroughbred regained his power and became, once again, a racehorse! And my teacher! It turns out the saying is true: you can take a thoroughbred out of racing, but you can't take racing out of the thoroughbred! Especially one who is now feeling very well, thanks to a master craftsman!

Rest in peace, David. And thanks for everything!

David Lawson.