Ben Benson started his Farriery apprenticeship in 1999, training under Haydn Price and finishing with David Smith AWCF.

Following qualification in 2003, Ben set up on his own, as well as working freelance for Haydn Price and other well known qualified farriers. At this point his interest in shoeing sports horses increased significantly. He saw to what extent shoeing, and its effect could influence the horses gait, soundness, and range of movement. This led Ben then to gravitate his business and shoeing practice towards the sports and performance horses that he is known for shoeing.

He now has a successful business in North Oxfordshire that employs 2 qualified Farriers and has 2 apprentices with a client list from hairy ponies at the bottom of gardens to horses that are competing regularly at international and national levels from 3* and 4* eventing to Grand Prix dressage and Global Champions tour showjumpers. He also works with many varied vet practices and alongside all other team associated para professionals.

He was one of the 2 head Farriers at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics. He will also be travelling to Rio 2016 with Team GB.  In the last few years Ben has worked with the British Equestrian Federation as Farrier on their Excel Talent program and is the Farrier for the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Equestrian program looking after the Eventing’s podium program. Ben also sits on the Executive Committee for the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association which looks to promote and develop the farriery industry within the UK.

Tony graduated from the European School of Osteopathy, Maidstone, Kent in 1988. Within a year of being in private practice he was asked if he could treat a horse with a stiff neck. After seeking veterinary advice he found that he could actually help the animal in question. This set about a chain of events that have lead him to pioneer the successful application of osteopathic treatment to over 300 different species and breeds of domestic and wild creatures. Based in the UK his work has taken him to various parts of the globe both treating and teaching. A popular workshop he runs is based in Northern Thailand where he introduces others to the fascinating prospect of treating elephants.

Tony is passionate about the professional growth and acceptance of this branch of osteopathic medicine, and is currently the course director on the only MSc programme that allows post graduate osteopaths (in the UK) to study this fascinating subject. So far the course has seen every student graduate under his guidance.

Apart from exotic locations Tony runs several equine and small animal clinics in the UK, where he has a particular interest in the chronic long standing problems that so often plague horses and dogs. Working within veterinary clinics and hospitals has allowed Tony to integrate osteopathic medicine with standard veterinary practice, often achieving remarkable results. He is a co-author on a ground breaking equine paper that was published in a peer reviewed veterinary journal, and has had several other minor papers published covering his elephant, wildlife, and avian work. He is presently putting the final words on paper for the first comprehensive text book on Animal Osteopathy – A comprehensive guide to the osteopathic treatment of animals and birds; a collaborative tome that will be published in September 2016.

Tony lives in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK with his wife, and burgeoning family. When not immersed in osteopathy he loves photography, walking, snorkelling, good food, and great company. He is passionate about global conservation and the part eco tourism has to play.

Simon Daniels is a lecturer at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, England. Simon has been involved with horses since the age of 5, after choosing to read Equine and Animal Science at university Simons career has focussed on the field of gastroenterology and taken him to industry, working as an equine nutritionist for a feed company.

After 3 years in industry Simon then moved back to academia working for the University of Liverpool in the School of Veterinary Science as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project. This project was with an industry partner specialising in equine parasite control. This position involved the design, implementation and running of a parasitology laboratory and becoming the companies technical manager. At this point Simon started his PhD focussing on anthelmintic resistance in equine parasites.

On completion of the KTP project Simon took a lectureship within Equine Science at UWE Hartpury College specialising in equine and animal nutrition and parasitology. In 2014 Simon moved to the Royal Agricultural University's new School of Equine Management and Science to take up a lectureship in equine nutrition and parasitology and continues working on collaborative research with the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey.   

Craig Bonthrone is a Strength and Conditioning Coach who has ample experience within a wide range of complex sports.  He is currently working with contact (rugby, waterpolo, hockey), travel (equestrian) and neurally demanding sports (clay pigeon shooting) on a national level.  

He has been a private consultant for Equestrian Performance for the past year and a half, providing strength training and fitness programs to riders in Zimbabwe built on evidence based research.