'Uncle Pete', is a Farrier with 35 years hands on experience with horses.
Accomplished though he may be, Uncle Pete can only apply his experience to one horse at a time, until now.

Through this website and a number of other inititatives, Uncle Pete plans to share his experience to help a wider audience. This website is therefore of interest to the equine beginner or new horse owner, as well as the more expereinced Stable Managers, Grooms and those that work with horses on a daily basis.

Pete Wherrett: Gloucestershire roots

Coming from a small village in Gloucestershire & seeing "Kellys Heroes" Pete joined the Royal Armoured Corps Juniors, as soon as he could leave school at age 15.
Loving the outdoors & sport was ideal but preferred animals to "Tanks" & engines!

The Royal Hussars

Two years later, upon joining the proper adult regiment, The Royal Hussars, found they had horses. They were not ceremonial, but as an ex-cavalry regiment they were allowed to have a stable for recreation, racing, jumping, polo etc.

The regiment was due for one of their many tours of duty to Northern Ireland. Pete was half a year too young for active service so was given the chance to work in the stables.
Staying in Germany with the skeleton of the regiment that supports the rest & holds the fort for their return.

Regimental Farrier

His Horse Career had started!

Four years of grooming, with occasional proper soldiering duties, he was given the chance to train to be the regimental farrier, as the vacancy was soon opening.

Enjoying all aspects of the stable work including riding, grooming, shoeing plus HGV trained to drive the horse box, Pete became very useful especially for polo. Exceling at the stable side, the attitude to the proper soldiering was not quite the same!

So when Pete returned to the trips and duties in the main part of the regiment with tanks, he was demoted again. His postings were to England, Canada and Northern Ireland, but mainly Germany.

It was in germany where he met & married Gaby and took the opportunty to learn the language.

Polo

Becoming a "General" didn’t seem likely so in 1983 left the army to join a very good farrier and his team of apprentices, back home in Gloucestershire. After 2 years Petes 3rd kid was on its way & by working week-ends + evenings had built up enough work to go it alone. Clair Tomlinson, a major name in polo, was taken on from his now ex boss, Mike Thomas.

The head lad at Clairs also took a new job with "Kennelot" a high goal polo team from the States who would be based at the Royal Berks Polo Club. He asked if Pete would go there too, as he liked the way Pete shod the polo ponies.

By the end of that season "85" Pete had also started work for other big names in polo, such as Pendle & The Black Bears, with players like Howard Hipwood, Eduardo Heguy,Pita Merlos.

More & more shoeing for polo, 10 horses per day, 7 day week, meant Pete had to stop doing other types of horses. With polo being mainly seasonal, apart from a small amount of arena the winters were slow but time to keep up with family & holidays.

More on Polo & Polocrosse

Introducing 'Uncle Pete'

The "Uncle Pete" came from a new groom at the Black Bears. Seeing Pete turn up in a Volvo estate car, a little scruffy in such a smart yard, she looked at Pete with suspicion. "Hi girl, it’s ok, I’m Uncle Pete, to do the feet" So Uncle Pete it is!

Royal connections

One of the teams Pete worked for was Royal Pahang, owned by the Prince of Pahang, Malaysia. They were so impressed by his work asked if he would go over to teach the farriers there to improve their work. Pete jumped at the chance, and even made it to a state banquette in honour of the Sultans 70th birthday. Well why not?

New Zealand beckons

The clients started to cut down on arena polo, so each winter got harder to manage, and with his marriage about over looked else where for work! Friends & clients, English and Kiwis suggested trying New Zealand. As the seasons are about opposite, and so work with no winters. Pete set up a business there. Perfect!

Polocrosse

1997 somehow Pete lost his driving license for a spell and needed a driver! The chap he got was into "Polocrosse" and soon got Pete into it too. Getting on abit, loving sport, football and such, found this was great as the horse now did the running. "Poor old git". Being a bit "Shy" Uncle Pete soon was known quite well in UK Polocrosse & abroad by not only being him, but lending his horses out for international tests.

More on Polo & Polocrosse

Uncle Pete in action

Knight in shining armour

Lorraine needed help with her horse, so through a friend, Uncle Pete came to the rescue! Now the pair are a happy couple with the same interests. YEP Horses! Shoeing, then looking after, riding, schooling and all to do with his four horses is their life. Of course they are still close to their families and Polocrosse makes life pretty full but good!

The Future...

Hopefully his web-site will help others in horse & hoof care to gain from the years of knowledge Uncle Pete has acquired over his time with all aspects of Stable & Horse Management.

Keep up to date with developments on our News and Blogs page.

Uncle Pete... in less active pose.