Flying Anvil Foundation

It’s a wonderful season. I visit the stud farms and check on the young foals. We undertake certain corrections, and I am always fascinated to see how easy it is to work with foals that are educated from birth. There’s no stress, they are confident; we handle their feet like those of seasoned horses. They are so used to being handled. Breeding also involves building trust with the horses from a young age, which makes the work so much easier. It is always a pleasure to come to India.

C’est une saison merveilleuse. Je parcours les élevages et contrôle les jeunes poulains. Nous entreprenons certaines corrections, et je suis toujours fasciné de voir à quel point il est facile de travailler avec des poulains qui sont éduqués dès la naissance. Pas de stress, ils sont confiants ; on leur prend les pieds comme à des vieux chevaux. Ils ont tellement l’habitude d’être manipulés. L’élevage consiste aussi à mettre en confiance les chevaux dès leur plus jeune âge, ce qui rend le travail tellement plus facile. C’est toujours un plaisir de venir en Inde.

FAFFID
Our second group of the year consists of farriers who already have some experience. What’s interesting is that they have experience, but they have never learned the basic concepts of farriery. That is what we are trying to teach them, and their progress is evident day by day.

They know how to make certain corrections, but they don’t always understand why! They are learning, discovering, and the profession is changing its face. Well done, guys! The school provides you with answers, and that is what we are dedicated to.

Baba Bernard

FAFFID

Notre deuxième groupe de l’année est composé de maréchaux déjà un peu expérimentés. Ce qui est intéressant, c’est qu’ils ont de l’expérience, mais qu’ils n’avaient jamais appris les concepts de base de la maréchalerie. C’est ce que nous essayons de leur enseigner, et les progrès se mesurent de jour en jour.

Ils savent faire certaines corrections, mais ils ne comprennent pas toujours pourquoi ! Ils apprennent, découvrent et la profession change de visage. Bravo les gars ! L’école vous apporte des réponses, et c’est ce à quoi nous sommes dévoués.
Baba Bernard

Today, we had the pleasure of welcoming to the school Jabbar Singh, the father of Motti Singh, who is currently working in Saudi Arabia. Jabbar was a Jamadar at the Nanoli Stud Farm for many years. It is always moving to reconnect with people with whom we have shared such good times in that farm, which has left a lasting impression on all of us. Baba Bernard

A new horse hospital has just opened in Punjab! Dr. Anhadbir Sidhu, an equine specialist, has realized his dream by establishing a fantastic facility ready to address any issues affecting horses. Well-organized and thoughtfully designed, this place is truly unique in all of India.
I wish Dr. Sidhu and his remarkable team great success. My initial impression is that there will be excellent collaboration between the farriery profession and this hospital, as our two professions are highly complementary. We must all strive to do our best in farriery to help horses suffering from lameness.

Happy Holi to all our Indian friends! Baba Bernard

Our last class of 2025 has finished, and the students are on their way home. Another group that will build a clientele and put into practice everything they learned from this training. When we see them launching with only a few months of training, we, the teachers, think they are quite bold. In Europe, it would be unthinkable to compete in a market that is much more demanding and critical of young beginners. We wish them great success, humility, and to remember the lessons we have taught them. We remain by your side to guide and help you whenever you feel the need. A special thanks to Frank Barboni, Khan Singh, and Sandeep Shelar, our tireless teachers.
Baba Bernard

Notre dernier cours de 2025 est terminé, et les élèves sont en route pour rentrer chez eux. Encore une volée qui va se constituer une clientèle et mettre en pratique tout ce qu’ils ont retenu de cette formation. Quand on les voit se lancer avec seulement quelques mois de formation, nous, les enseignants, nous nous disons qu’ils n’ont pas froid aux yeux. En Europe, il serait impensable de se battre sur un marché beaucoup plus exigeant et critique envers les jeunes qui débutent. Nous leur souhaitons plein de succès, de la modestie et de se souvenir de l’enseignement qu’on leur a dispensé. Nous restons à vos côtés pour vous guider et vous aider lorsque vous en ressentirez le besoin. Merci à Frank Barboni khan Singh et Sandeep Shelar nos enseignants infatigables.

Baba Bernard

Engaging Course for Veterinarians

At FAFFID, we offer continuing education courses for equine veterinarians practicing in India. This recent session featured a diverse group, including two women from the mounted police, vets from stud farms, and others from various regions of the country. We were also joined by a passionate veterinarian from Morocco, who works part-time for an NGO and teaches farriery.

Our guest instructor was Dominique Lavorel, a veterinarian from France with 35 years of experience running his equine clinic in Annecy, near the Swiss border. He was sponsored for his trip by Werkman Shoe Company in Holland. The course focused on the study of lameness, including analysis, diagnosis, treatment, and farriery.

Over the course of four days, we received support from Epsilon Company in Jaipur, which provided an X-ray machine and a technician. This allowed us to conduct an engaging workshop that combined theoretical knowledge with practical experience, working with lame horses brought in from both our stables and other sources. We encountered a variety of interesting cases, and the fortunate horses received treatment and shoeing before returning home.

We plan to offer this course more frequently, as it presents a valuable opportunity for Indian veterinarians to continue learning from foreign experts.

It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my dear friend, Professor Mohammed Ouassat, from Rabat, Morocco. I had the joy of sharing many wonderful moments by his side as the exceptional teacher he was. His passionate interest in farriery brought our paths together, and I am deeply grateful to him for that.

His humanism and kindness toward often underprivileged individuals have always been a beautiful lesson in camaraderie for me. We met in many countries during conferences and courses we taught together in Morocco, where his laughter shone and sometimes lightened even the most serious moments.

I learned a great deal from Mohammed, and I realized how big his heart was and what a natural talent he had for teaching. I was fortunate to have him as a friend, and I will always remember his generosity, his smile, and everything I owe him.
Bernard Duvernay