My ambition to be a farrier - Johnny Eastwood

Pictured: Johnny Eastwood driving his horse Snowball on the Blackpool drive.

"My name is Johnny Eastwood. I live in Surrey with my mother and father and three sisters. I'm 14 years old. 

"I've always liked animals: dogs, chickens, but my real passion is for horses. I've always had horses from a young child. I started with Shetlands, then ponies.

"I've always been around horses. My father would always take me to the fairs and has been a horse dealer himself.

"Horses is in my blood. I feel very confident around horses and handle all types. I got to thinking to myself that being as times are changing and today you need to be qualified in something, I decided that I would stay in school so that I would be able to sit a course to be a horse farrier.

"It is a long process: 4 years until you can be fully qualified. That includes being an apprentice for an already qualified farrier.

"I don't like school but if that's what it takes for me to be able to achieve my dream of continuing to be around horses all the time I don't think twice about it now. I've heard people say that if you're happy in your work then you've never worked a day in your life, if that happens then it's win win. I thought what do I like: "horses" , so that's it, farrier for me.

"Travellers' way of life is being taken from them. A lawyer or scientist I will never be, and a suit and tie aren't for me. But give me an horse and I'm happy, it's the Gypsy way of life for me.

"I drive me horses and carts. Me and my dad go on horse drives around London, the New Forest and Blackpool. Here is a recent photo of me on Snowball at the Blackpool drive.

"So boys and girls, the law says we have to be more educated as Travellers to get work. Think about what you love and what's in your blood so that way you're still keeping the Gypsy way of life going."