Whose Responsibility?

We currently have openings for Committee Chairs and Committee Members. I would like to establish a list of members who would be willing to serve in these key leadership positions. The work of the AFA is about to begin readying for the Convention and the New Year. As your incoming President I would like to fill these positions by Convention.

Several of us have had the chance to learn a lot from the opportunity to serve the Association. We have served on Committees, as elected Officers and Directors. Personally I am grateful for the opportunity to get active, serve and give back what was so freely given to me and my family by this Association. We have a life second to none and it's because friends like you that I've met through my membership in this premier trade association.

We can assure you the AFA will have a brilliant future so please consider serving. All interested are welcome. There are no auditions - a good attitude and a desire to serve and have fun are all that are necessary.

Respectfully,

John Blombach, CJF

AFA President Elect

978-430-1757

PhantomFarrier@comcast.net

Regional News:

Empire State Farrier Association Clinic and Contest:
On August 25th and 26th the Empire State Farriers Association held their 32nd annual Horseshoe Forging Contest and Clinic. Ben Mangan did an outstanding job as judge and clinician for the event. The clinic was hosted by Greene County Horseshoe Supply in Greenville NY with the beautiful Catskill Mountains for a backdrop. For an eager group of competitors Ben answered questions and demonstrated techniques for building the contest shoes and covered other topics such as putting a perfect finish on a shoe using a hot rasp, clipping with a bob punch, shortening a shoe quick and clean with a hot cut tool, welding bar shoes, as well as many other tricks and techniques.

The contest was held at the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck, NY. Between classes contestants were able to watch such things as the judging of six in hand carriage horses in the next ring!

Our thanks to Greene County Supply for hosting the annual Clinic and to Montague Blacksmith Supply for supplying all the bar stock for the contest.

Story and photos by Ken Wildman, Field Editor

Southern New England Farriers Association monthly meeting

Leif Erikson was the guest speaker for the Southern New England Fariers Association meeting on September 6th. The topic of Leif's presentation was "In Search of the Perfect Gait" in which he spoke about how the alignment of the horses body effects gait as well as the feet and the usefulness of the equine chiropractor in maintaining the horses performance. He also talked about his experiences shoeing horses in his area of North Eastern Connecticut. Thank you Leif!

Story by Ken Wildman, Field Editor

Vermont Farriers Association Proudly Presents:

Clinic and Contest

Friday & Saturday * November 16 & 17 * 2012

CLINICIAN Roy Bloom

Clinic: 9 to 5, Friday * Contest: 8 to 4, Saturday
Ira Brook Farm, Route 133, Ira VT

We welcome you to our Friday clinic $35 (free to VTFA members), whether you are competing and would like to practice the shoe list or would just like to work on your forging skills!

Saturday will be an exciting event with 4 classes ($35 per class) and 3 divisions
(novice, intermediate and open) with LIVE SHOEING and PRIZE MONEY! Non-competing farriers and public are welcome to spectate free of charge!

All are invited to our VTFA Annual Banquet and Award Ceremony Saturday evening following the competition at Comfort Inn in Rutland.

BRING AN AUCTION ITEM!

For registration, further information and class list
email: vermontfarriers@aol.com
or call Ken Norman 802-353-0705

Story and photo by Vikki Fortier, Field Editor

Good Luck to the American Farriers Team!!!

AFT Team photo

The American Farriers Team is leaving on Friday, September 21st to head to the International Competition at Stoneleigh. The competition will run from Friday, September 28th through Sunday, September 30th. This years judges are Mark Milster, CJF and Darren Bazin, AWCF.

The team has practiced at the Kentucky Horse Park for several months prior to the competition and will be in top form. We wish the best of luck to Chris Overly, Daniel Jones, Bryan Osborne, Justin Fry, and Cody Gregory. With team manager Conrad Trow leading the way, they are sure to do great!

AFA Cultural Exchange Update

Follow Georgia Barry, CF on her grand adventure as this years recipient of the AFA Cultural Exchange Trip!

Select the blog link below to find out where she is and what's she's doing!

http://georgiasuktrip2012.blogspot.co.uk/

Member Benefits Bulletin

Farnam Coupon Book: Promote your services with a free business card horse owners are sure to hang onto! The AFA Coupon Book has approximately $70 in Farnam horse care savings, exclusive to the AFA. Every time horse owners save on horse care, they'll think of you for hoof care. The coupon books include your name, address, phone numbers and e-mail addresses, along with your professional experience, expertise, and specialties.

To order your coupon books, go to www.horseshoerssecret.com and use your AFA ID # to log in. The coupon books are only good until December, so act fast!

Professional Farrier

There are several ways to view your PF. It will arrive in your inbox from Equine Veterinarian with links to both Magazines. You will also find links on the AFA web site and Facebook page. If you have been viewing the new digital PF on line and find it grainy and hard to read, just scroll over the page and click your mouse to expand and enlarge to full page view and it will be crisp and easy to read. We get both the Professional Farrier and Equine Veterinarian.

Did you know you can advertise in the Professional Farrier e-zine and get your business seen by over 10,000 vets, farriers and horse owners?! Contact Dick Booth at Boca Publishing today to hear the great advertising rates available!

bocapublishing@bellsouth.net

Click the link below to view the August 2012 Issue

August 2012 Professional Farrier E-zine

June 2012 Professional Farrier E-zine

June 2012 Equine Veterinarian E-zine

2013 CVT Logo

Check out our new 2013 Convention Invitation Video here!

2013 Speaker Blurb

Eric Nygaard, CJF - Are You Running a Successful Practice or is it Running You?

This lecture will help open your eyes on some business expenses and everyday business practices.

Are you running your business or is it running you? After thirty plus years in the trade I have a different outlook and approach to running a successful Farrier practice.

After I suffered a major health eye opener 5 years ago I have a completely different outlook to share on what not to do in your business!

We will review 5 different Farriers business and create a farrier business from my surveys and look at the costs of running a Farrier business.

I will present some scenarios and plans for you to take home and review your own business practices to see if you are on the road to success and be able to retire with enough money and investments to support you and your family's life style in your later years!

Plan for the future but live for today within reason!

Trust me you will not want to miss this lecture no matter if you are new to the business or a seasoned veteran I promise you will not go home empty minded!

2013 Contest Rules and Shoe Drawings now available!

Select the link below to view the 2013 National Forging and Horseshoeing Competition rules and shoe drawings.

2013 Contest Rules & Shoe Drawings

Baton Rouge Attendee Raffles

If you are registered as a regular convention attendee, you have the opportunity to be drawn for one of two wonderful raffle prizes, valued at over $3,500! The first drawing will be for First Time Attendees, and the second will be for Regular Attendees. Both first time attendees and regular attendees will receive one raffle ticket, and the winner will be chosen at the conclusion of the General Membership Meeting on Saturday, March 2nd. You must be present to win. The list of prizes include:

First Time Attendees Raffle

A complete set of hand tools donated by GE Forge & Tool
A Myron McLane Apron donated by Myron McLane Aprons
Two Hurricane Forge hoof knives donated by Hurricane Forge
One shoeing box, donated by Yoder Blacksmith Supply
One Vettec start up kit donated by Vettec
Two Paul Mitchell Knife Sharpeners, donated by Paul Mitchell Sharpeners

Regular Registered Attendees Raffle

One Scott Anvil donated by Scott Anvils
One Scott Anvil tripod anvil stand donated by Scott Anvils
One Blacksmith Model Forge donated by Forgemaster
Two Paul Mitchell Knife Sharpeners, donated by Paul Mitchell Sharpeners

**AFA Officers, Regional Representatives & Committee Members are not eligible to win. You must be a first time attendee or a regular registered convention attendee to be eligible to win. Single day attendees are not eligible to win. You must be present at the AFA Annual Meeting to accept the prizes.**

**If you wish to donate to this raffle, please contact Eric Nygaard, CJF, AFA Convention Coordinating Committee Vice-Chairman at newfarm2@aol.com or 941-350-5131.**

Events Calendar

Please send your events and functions to the AFA office for inclusion in the Website Events Calendar and our Facebook page.

Certification Calendar

For the most current certification calendar, please select the link below.

AFA Certification Calendar

Private Events Liability Disclaimer:

The American Farriers Association, its officers, Board of Directors and employees will not be held liable for injury, loss or damage to personal property associated with non AFA events.

Roving Reporters:

We are looking for roving reporters from around the world. If you or someone you know travels around the globe and has a farrier related story we would like to know about it. Please contact John Blombach phantomfarrier@comcast.net or the AFA office.

Chapter Spotlight

If you would like the Spotlight on your chapter, send a short story of a recent event your chapter held and we will give your chapter the Chapter Spotlight.

Complimentary Classifieds

If you have items that are farrier related we will provide limited space for a complimentary ad for our members. Please send your ad to the AFA office. Limit: two lines - no photos.

Complimentary Classified: Boggs Tool Company - Attention trimmers and farriers! We sharpen 14" rasps - $5.00! Recycle! Save 75% or more! 1-800-547-5244.

Apprentice Connection

If you are looking to work for another farrier or if you are looking to hire a helper, apprentice, Journeyman, etc, please send us a description of your needs or qualifications and we will publish your contact information. Arrangements are made privately between the individuals and the Association cannot be responsible for the outcome.

Mission of the AFA

"To further the professional development of farriers, to provide leadership and resources for the benefit of the farrier industry, and to improve the welfare of the horse through continuing farrier education."