"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."

Moon Over Reno

Grant Moon - Six time World Champion Blacksmith at Calgary. Five time reserve World Champion. Eleven time Forging Champion. Five time American Farriers Team member. That's just on the North American Continent.

Mr. Moon has given clinics and shod horses in thirty six countries around the world.

It has also been said that he once locked the keys in his rental car while it was still running immediately after giving a clinic in Upstate New York. Fortunately with the assistance and advice (helpful and unhelpful) of a dozen or more farriers that were in attendance he was able to get the car open just in time to catch his plane.

Grant Moon will be demonstrating at the Forty Third Annual American Farriers Convention in Reno, Nevada February, 2014.

If you have interesting impressions of previous conventions, or your first convention to share

E-mail Tom DuBois at:

trdpbny@frontiernet.net

Maybe we can use them.

Nominations open in Region IV

President John Blombach has opened nominations for the Board seat recently vacated by Director Lemmon. Nominations must be emailed to the Nominations and Elections Committee at dwlg@earthlink.net by Friday, November 22, 2013. Any nominations made must be seconded.

PAY PARTICULAR NOTICE!

It is suggested that if you are making a nomination you should also make arrangements for the second of that nomination which also must be emailed to dwlg@earthlink.net. It is not the responsibility of the Nominations & Election Committee to solicit seconds for nominations. ALL NOMINATIONS REQUIRE A SECOND!

McClendon Ratified

The Presidents appointment of Buck McClendon, CJF to serve the rest of the term in the recently vacated Region IV board seat through Convention was ratified last weekend by an email vote of the Board of Directors. Mr. McClendon can be reached at buckmcclendon16@gmail.com or though the Association's office phone system.

2014 Convention Speaker Highlight

Jeremiah Harris, CJF, TE

"How understanding ground reaction forces and the physics behind the long toed low heeled horse can help you shoe them"

Caudal heel pain and navicular related symptoms on long toed, low heeled horses are challenges all farriers face. Although many of these conditions are irreversible and degenerative, using simple techniques the onset can be slowed and many horses return to their high demand disciplines. This lecture will focus on proper farrier theory and technique to help the skilled farrier combat these common problems. We will cover ground reaction forces, biomechanics of the horse and the forging and fabricating of shoes. Increased knowledge of these topics can greatly improve communication with the owner and also with the attending veterinarian. Promoting good communication helps to build professional relationships with the end result being a higher standard of care for the horse.

2014 National Forging and Horseshoeing Competition

The judge's for the 2014 National Forging and horseshoeing Competition have been announced, and they will be Travis Koons, CJF, Gerard Laverty, CJF, TE and Gene Lieser, CJF.

The shoe drawings for the 2014 National Forging and Horseshoeing Competition are complete! Download your copy now by selecting the link below.

2014 Contest Shoes

2013 Achievement Award Nomination Form Now Available!

Download the 2013 Achievement Award Nomination Form below and return to Garrett Maloney, CJF, chairman of the Achievement Commitee by December 1, 2013. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to nominate someone you know who is deserving of one of these special awards.

2013 Achievement Form

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 2013 Issue

August 2013 Professional Farrier E-zine

June 2013 Professional Farrier E-zine

April 2013 Professional Farrier E-zine

February 2013 Professional Farrier E-zine

December 2012 Professional Farrier E-zine

December 2012 Equine Veterinarian E-zine

June 2012 Professional Farrier E-zine

June 2012 Equine Veterinarian E-zine

October 2012 Professional Farrier E-zine

August 2012 Professional Farrier E-zine

Job Opportunity

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University is accepting applications for an Agricultural Specialist III, Certified Journeyman Farrier, for the ISU Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center (LVMC). In consultation with clinical veterinarians, this position provides both advanced and basic farrier service for LVMC clients. Responsibilities of this position include teaching principles of therapeutic and basic shoeing to veterinary students; providing continuing education courses for farriers in Iowa and surrounding states; and devising and constructing therapeutic shoes for horses with a variety of equine diseases.

The candidate will be able to perform a broad range of blacksmithing including welding of steel and aluminum as well as build a variety of special shoes from scratch using a forge and bar stock.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work in a new state of the art farrier facility.

Requirements include a bachelor's degree and two years of related experience or a combination of education and related experience totaling 6 years. Must have attended at least a 12 week course in farrier skills and hold the distinction of AFA (American Farriers Association) Certified Journeyman Farrier.

For more information and to apply please visit: https://www.iastatejobs.com/

Search for Vacancy ID #131219

Iowa State University is an Affirmative Action employer and will take action to ensure that employment practices are free of discrimination. Iowa State University is committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity, 3350 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

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.

Bill Miller, CJF (AFA #48) has finally quit horseshoeing after 65 years. He is selling off his tools, equipment, etc. Please e-mail Bill at horseshoeguy@earthlink.net to request a price list.

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.

Seeking Apprentice: A relatively newly trained Farrier, preferably a CF or one seeking to attain that certification level and beyond, to continue his/her training within our group practice in Northern VA. The term will be for 1 year, we will provide a salary, housing and in depth mentoring on the hoofcare of sport horses and remedial work. Check out our website at forgingahead.us for contact info.

See you in Reno February 25 through February 28, 2014!