Equine Foot Protection Natural Balance Farriery

Find out more about Clive Meers Rainger and Natural Balance Farriery

I was born in 1951 in London and started riding at the age of thirteen. At nineteen I joined the Household Cavalry as a Trooper in the Blues & Royals. After serving two years as a Mounted Dutyman, doing State ceremonies and riding one hundred and forty-seven guards at Horseguards, I went into the forge and started a four year apprenticeship as a farrier. Six years after joining the Cavalry I left and started my own business, including training two apprentices.

In the early 1980's I spend two and a half years traveling to Bahrain for one week out of every six, looking after the horses of the Crown Prince and National Arab Stud.

Natural Balance Shoeing

In the mid-1980's a friend of mine, David Nicholls, introduced me to Natural Balance shoeing, which when applied properly has many applications which help to maintain health and soundness in the modern horse. Natural Balance shoeing has enabled me to travel to many far flung destinations, which include working in seven States in America and also teaching Natural Balance techniques in the UK and Netherlands.

In have also researched front limb lameness with regard to hind limb alignment and been lucky enough to present this and other papers I have written in both Europe and America.

Qualified Natural Balance Specialist Farrier

Two years ago I was invited to be one of the first people in the world to take the four Natural Balance examinations and along with Ross Eager and David Nicholls was one of the first farriers to achieve Certified Lameness Specialist in Natural Balance techniques, which at present is the highest qualification in these practices.

Lameness Research Project

At present I am engaged in a research project on long toed, low weak heeled horses and the effect of this condition on the horses movement, musculature and skeletal alignment. This project has already taken a year to prepare and will probably continue for two to three more and as the information comes to hand you will be able to follow this project as it progresses.

Equine Knowledge base

I also run a vet and farrier study group, which incorporates body-workers and saddlers, the purpose of which is to understand each others perspective so that we can work in harmony for the benefit of the horse. It also enables each of us to pick up the phone and call other members of the group to discuss issues and share knowledge to maximise the effectiveness of our treatment.