Army appoints Whitwell woman as first female military farrier

Her role will see her looking after 100 horses

A Derbyshire woman has become the first female military farrier in the Army.

Lance Bombardier Abbie Robinson-Wyss, 28, began her career in 2014 as a King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery (KTRHA) Mounted Gunner.

LBdr Robinson-Wyss, from Whitwell, is now celebrating after specialising in 2020 before passing her apprenticeship exams and becoming a KTRHA military farrier.

She said: "I don't know if it's sunk in yet, it's surreal."

She added: "I was just so focused on passing and I put a lot of pressure on myself to do the best I could but to then realise I had made history by becoming the first female farrier in the British Army was mega."

With honours

The Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR), based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, congratulated LBdr Robinson-Wyss.

They said: "The DATR would like to congratulate LBdr Robinson-Wyss on becoming the first female in the British Army to fully qualify as a military farrier.

"With her apprenticeship completed at the DATR, LBdr Robinson-Wyss joins the cadre of certified military farriers, with her CMF qualification. Additionally, to her credit; she passed her farriery theory examinations with honours.

Farriers are responsible for the health and wellbeing of horse's feet

"Well done LBdr Robinson-Wyss! It was a pleasure to have you with us for the main stages of your apprenticeship."

KTRHA, a ceremonial unit in the Army, is made up of about 140 Household Troops, around half of which are women, based in George VI Lines in Woolwich, south east London.

Their primary role is ceremonial, as the saluting battery of His Majesty's Household providing ceremonial gun salutes to mark coronation days, royal birthdays, royal births, and other state ceremonial occasions.

As a military farrier, LBdr Robinson-Wyss will work to recondition and trim the feet of KTRHA's 100 horses, and to replace or repair their shoes.