SAY WHAT?

By John Blombach, CJF

Is technology changing the way farriers do business?  Yes, but not fast enough.  With all the talk about working together and teamwork and the complete approach to horse health and hoof care, we still often get our information third hand from our clients.  Veterinarians and trainers alike often rely on the client to relay vital information to the farrier.  The translation in the best of situations is mostly inaccurate, incomplete or misinterpreted and you are left to fill in the blanks.  The end result is almost always the same, and in most cases extremely predictable.  The job does not go right and the client gets discouraged and becomes understandably unhappy with the service you both have provided.  The farrier, the trainer and/or the veterinarian get replaced.

Make sure what you hear is exactly what the veterinarian or trainer actually said.  If you are the veterinarian, try to make sure that what you said is what the farrier heard.  Try to speak directly with each other if possible and get a copy of the report and radiographs and other diagnostics that were used and readily available.  With the use of smart phones and other widely used technology, the reports and radiographs can be sent directly to the farrier. If either has questions or something is not crystal clear, then a phone consultation is in order. Often times farriers and veterinarians don't speak the same language, example a rolled toe might actually mean a rocker toe, and so on.   Get it right the first time and avoid embarrassment and frustration and maybe you can return the horse to the winners circle.

AFA GOES GLOBAL

The first digital edition of our signature publication Professional Farrier is less than one month away and we are getting really excited about the possibilities of a global readership.  The first edition is slated to go out to approximately 12,000 farriers, veterinarians and horse owners worldwide and will feature articles of interest that promote the AFA and the industry as a whole.  AFA information, including its membership, our Certification program including what it is and what that means to the horse industry.  We will focus on other programs as well, such as our Cultural exchange that expands farrier education beyond our borders and our Research program that has funded hoof research for the last twenty years. 

St. Paddy's Day Clinic at Horseshoes Plus

Our thanks to Horseshoes Plus for hosting Dusty Franklin, CJF at their Nineteenth Annual Spring Clinic.  The clinic was well attended with 73 working farriers present.  Dusty spoke about entering the farrier profession by shoeing horses with his father.  He also spoke about the evolution of his career, about how he came to compete at blacksmithing contests and how he earned his spot on the American Farriers Team.  Dusty also did some live shoeing as well as various forging demonstrations.  Quotable tip of the day "Shake your can of flux before you apply it to the shoe." 
Thanks also goes to Delta Mustad for sponsoring Dusty, and for the generous support from Vettec, Farrier Products Distribution, Castle Plastics, Grand Circuit, Victory Racing Plates and Sound Horse Technologies in helping to bring this event to us.

No Foot No Horse Newsletter Update

Starting with the May issue of No Foot, No Horse the AFA will run a special feature series on AFA Certification.  The first article will focus on clarification of the bar shoe fit and fitting in general and will be complete with photos and drawings.  Also of great importance in the first article will be the explanation of how to make a hoof pattern plate including which materials will be acceptable.  The plate must show the frog as well as the white line.  Can that be depicted with a Sharpie or will it require something else?  How do the clips need to fit and be cut into the pattern, how that is done and what is the passing standard for fit?  These questions will all be answered in the coming article as well as much more with lots of photos.  The series will cover everything from hoof plate making to finished shoe board and more.

Check out our Facebook page and website for 41^st Annual Convention wrap up photos and comments.  Please like us on Facebook.

START SAVING YOUR MONEY NOW!!!

PLAN ON ATTENDING THE AFA CONVENTION IN BATON ROUGE, LA IN 2013

  If you have never attended an AFA Convention, plan on something big to happen if you attend the AFA Convention in Baton Rouge February 27^th - March 2^nd, 2013. We are raffling off a complete set of farrier tools complements of GE Forge &Tool, a Myron McLane Apron, 2 Hurricane Forge Hoof Knives and a shoeing box from Yoder Blacksmith Supply. Over $1,200 in tools and merchandise will be given away to one lucky attendee! The lucky winner will be drawn from only first time attendees at the General Membership Meeting on Saturday during the 2013 convention. You must be in attendance to win. Those who are regulars you have not been forgotten!! We have a surprise for you also.

  Follow us on Facebook, the web site, the AFA Newsletter, and the new on line magazine for continuous updates. You won't want to miss this convention.

  Looking forward to seeing you in Baton Rouge!!!!!!

  Greg Johnson, CF & the Convention Coordinating Committee

Complimentary Classifieds

 AFA adds another new member and chapter benefit: free complimentary AFA related classified ads in all electronic media!