Qualified, registered farrier · South Oxfordshire
A farrier you can stick with.
Regular trims and shoeing, heavier traditional horses, and corrective and remedial work, whether it’s one horse at home or a livery yard.
Room on the roundSouth Oxfordshire · October 2026
- QualifiedQualified to Farrier Standard
QFS since May 2026, after four years of graft and a tough set of final exams.
- RegisteredA registered farrier
Qualified farriers register with the Farriers Registration Council before they can shoe.
- TrainedFour years with his ATF
Trained from the start by Will Beach, his Approved Training Farrier.
- CompetesTop four, first time out
His first shoeing competition, Hereford School of Farriery, March 2026.
Services
Comfortable horses. Balanced hooves.
“My aim is simple: keeping your horses comfortable and their hooves balanced, while making the whole process straightforward for you.”
John, in his advert
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Trims and barefoot care
Regular trims to keep feet balanced, and barefoot hoof care for horses working without shoes.
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Shoeing
All types of shoeing, fitted on your yard with the anvil set up at the back of the van.
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Heavier, traditional horses
Cobs and heavies, feather and all, as well as everything lighter.
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Corrective and remedial work
For the more complex cases, John works alongside your vet, physio and other equine professionals, including horses with ongoing lameness issues and horses in rehabilitation.
“I take the time to understand your horse and what it needs.”
John
One horse at home or a whole livery yard. Check availability
The feet
No foot, no horse.
The oldest saying in farriery. Every foot here was picked up and photographed once the job was done, then posted to John’s Instagram. Newest first, from his apprenticeship to qualifying.
September 2023 to September 2026More on Instagram, @johnmatthewsfarrier
At the forge
More than shoes and nails.
“There’s a lot more to the trade than just shoes and nails.”
John, on qualifying, May 2026
John has been on the county show circuit since 2023, making shoes in forging competitions against the clock. In March 2026 he entered his first shoeing competition, paired with @jtf_4 at Hereford School of Farriery, and finished in the top four.
Shows on his feedRoyal Bath & West · Kent County · Suffolk · New Forest · Edenbridge & Oxted
John’s introduction, October 2026. Filmed by Alex Smith Media.
About John
Building his own round.
John qualified in May 2026, after four years training under his ATF, Will Beach.
“I came to him with limited experience and since then he has guided me into a career I truly love.”
John, on Will
Now he’s building his own round in South Oxfordshire, bringing that experience directly to local owners and yards. He thanks a long list of farriers and lecturers for getting him there, and Jake G and GWR for their help in the forge and on the competition side.
Where
Covering South Oxfordshire.
John’s round is in South Oxfordshire, and he covers areas of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
- OxfordshireSouth Oxfordshire round
- BerkshireAreas covered
- BuckinghamshireAreas covered
Not sure you’re on his patch? Tell him where the horses are and he’ll let you know.
Check availability
There’s room on the round.
John takes enquiries by Instagram message. The quickest way in is the word he asks for in his advert.