History & Heritage.
Ashmount is the name that was given to the Kielt Family home in Ireland after it was purchased in 1981 by Oliver and Sadie. The same year the third of their four children and only boy Stephen was born.
Located on the edge of Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, it used to be very much in the countryside but now finds itself nestled within the town boundaries. The old farmhouse was what’s known in Ireland as a “Celiich House”, the door was never locked and no one ever knocked. There was barely a night that the house wouldn’t be full of visitors, the kettle always on the boil and a slice of toast never far away.
Stephen is a second generation farrier, his father family were steeped in the traditions of farming and horses. Oliver, was first and foremost a horseman and a very accomplished rider. Due to poor health he had ceased full time work by the time Stephen was at an age to remember but Stephen recalls watching him on occasions trimming a mare or shoeing a pony.
Stephen fondly remembers stories his father told, of how he spent time learning from the great Master Farrier John Comerford in Kilkenny and of when he visited Hereford college in Wales. Oliver could turn his hand to anything, and was someone who believed in the virtues of hard work and the satisfaction of a job well done.
Given his family history and passion for horses it was inevitable that Stephen would pursue a career within the equine industry. From his earliest memory all he ever wanted to do was to follow the in the footsteps of his father. When Stephen began farrier college in Scotland at age 16, Oliver converted the cow byer into a forge for him to practice. Over the years as more space was needed the forge was expanded to encompass neighbouring stables and tack room.
The forge is a mix between a museum and a working entity. Every tool and item in it was hand sourced, each with its story and purpose. The floor comprises of railway sleepers as they are softer than concrete for man and horse to stand on, the anvil has cork placed underneath to give it its own distinctive ring. Nothing is there by chance and no detail has been overlooked. The forge is a testament to Oliver’s vision, his passion for excellence and his attention to detail. Therefore when Stephen began his own farriery business in Newmarket in 2007, a few months after the death of his father it could only be named Ashmount Forge.
Over the last 18 years the business has grown from its first formative steps until today where it is a multi-farrier practice with a client base that spans multiple continents. There have been too many important people and horses to list individually; however, special mention must go to Sir Henry Cecil, Roger Varian and the Niarchos Family, their faith has paved the way for Stephen and Ashmount Forge to grow and flourish.
Spearheaded by Frankel, an undefeated and undisputed World Champion we have shod the winners of close to 60 Group and Grade One races worldwide. These include Champions from every corner of the globe, including Equinox; the highest rated horse to ever emerge from Japan.
