Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Convention

1. Open division spaces for the National Forging and Horseshoeing Competition have been filled!  Entries will still be accepted and placed on a first come-first served waiting list. There IS space available for the Intermediate Division.

2. If you register by December 1 and are among the first 100 to do so, Delta Mustad Hoofcare Center will provide a Gr8at Heller Legend or a Gr8at Red Tang Rasp.

3. Register by February 1 and save $75 off the full registration price and receive a commemorative AFA t-shirt.  

4. The AFA/FIA MarketPlace has sold out!  A waiting list is available. Great news for shoppers.

5.  The 2015 convention is going to provide HUGE educational opportunities.  Look for notes about the speakers and their topics in our e-blasts, newsletter, e-zine, website, and Facebook page.

The Woes of Highs and Lows

  Brian Barrett, CJF, TE, AWCF and Brent Barrett, DVM, CJF are not only brothers who share the unique distinction of both being highly accomplished farriers, they are also well-known and sought after clinicians. The AFA is delighted that they will be joining us for a two-part lecture and live demonstration on a topic that concerns anyone who shoes: "The Woes of Highs and Lows - Reading Feet and Radiographs."

  They will discuss how to address excess toe length through trimming and shoeing using concepts other than simply trimming more toe and backing up the shoe. Further discussion will center around the hoof pathology found in long-toe/low-heeled feet and club feet and how these pathologies impact soundness.

  To read the article in its entirety, please select this link:  The Woes of Highs and Lows. 

Brent Barrett, DVM, CJF

Brian Barrett, CJF, TE, AWCF

Lookout Mountain School of Horseshoeing Annual Clinic

  Lookout Mountain School of Horseshoeing, located near Gadsden, Alabama, held their annual clinic Saturday, October 18. Lots of vendors supported this event.  FPD sponsored the clinician Michael Wildenstein, CJF, FWCF.   Delta Mustad Hoofcare Center, Blackwater Forge,  Tennessee Farrier Supply,  Georgia Farrier Supply, Razor Shoes, Vettec and Life Data Labs, makers of Farriers Formula, were among the vendors in attendance.

  Michael gave a morning power point presentation on proper balance and shod a horse after lunch. He demonstrated how to properly make adjustments to keg shoes, thus helping the horse with some conformation issues. An auction in memory of Mark Thorpe, Alabama Professional Farriers Association first President, followed lunch. Mark was taken from us due to multiple sclerosis some years back. We raised $765 for the Multiple Sclerosis Association.

  The school also held an alumni contest in which we made egg bar shoes. I was shown how to do it correctly by my apprentice Cody Ivey, who took first place. This clinic was well attended by about 75 farriers. Many thanks to our wonderful hosts, Tom and Lane McNew. Lots of good farriers have come through this school.

  Respectfully Submitted by Tom Saunders, CJF - Region 4 Director

Derby City Horseshoeing Association Annual Contest & Clinic

  The Derby City Horseshoeing Association hosted their third annual clinic and contest November 7 & 8, 2014 in Prospect, KY at Stone Place Stables.  The number of competitors was the largest to date, with 15 total in 3 divisions.

  The clinic began Friday at 9:30 am with a demonstration by Pat Broadus on Hatton glue-on-shoes.  Iain Richie, DWCF, was front and center immediately following Pat, and he also served as the judge for the afternoon contest.  It was standing room only as everyone in attendance squeezed together around Iain's forge to get a view of his technique.  Iain has been shoeing for 24 years. He immigrated to Canada in 1998 and has helped trained 7 apprentices, most of which are female.  As a competitor, Iain has reached the top 5 at the World Championship Blacksmith Competition in Calgary, competed at Stoneleigh twice as part of the Canadian team, and won the Canadian National Championships the last 3 years.

  This event is a great way for competitors to prepare for the National Forging and Horseshoeing Competition at Convention as the shoe list is exactly the same. Furthermore, since DCHA always chooses a judge who will be judging at the upcoming AFA convention, contestants get an inside look at what the convention judges expect to see.  Following each class, Iain took the time to review all the shoes from each division and score them in front of the group to give everyone a better understanding of what they did right and wrong. 

  The event concluded on Saturday following a draft class, live shoeing classes for each division, and the awards presentation and auction.  The belt buckles, ribbons and auction items were beautiful and encouraged the competitors to keep their eye on the prize.

  A special thank you to the DCHA for allowing me to visit with them during the event, and to Iain Richie for sharing his knowledge and expertise with so many farriers who were eager to learn.  

  Respectfully Submitted by Rachel Heighton - AFA Office Manager

Iain Richie, DWCF