JUNE / JULY 2024 No Foot, No Horse
REGION 1 Alaska, Arizona, Asia, Australia, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Yukon Territory Claude Lyman, CJF (’26) [email protected] Brian Strelow, CJF (‘24) [email protected] Sam Durham, CJF, DipWCF (‘25) durhamfarrierservice@ gmail.com REGION 2 Alberta, Central America, Colorado, Kansas, Manitoba, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming Pat Hall, CJF (‘26) [email protected] Lee Olsen, CJF (‘24) [email protected] Wes Sharp, CJF (‘25) [email protected] REGION 3 Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Ontario, Wisconsin Kenny Hoyle, CJF (‘26) [email protected] David Hallock, CJF, AWCF, ASF (‘24) [email protected] Travis (Vern) Powell, CJF, TE, AWCF (‘25) [email protected] REGION 4 Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia Marcus Wise, CJF (‘26) [email protected] Earl Ellerbee, CJF (‘24) [email protected] Adam Fahr, CJF (‘25) [email protected] REGION 5 Connecticut, Delaware, Europe, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nova Scotia, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C. Matt Hillegas, CJF (‘26) [email protected] Doug Corey, CJF, DipWCF (‘24) [email protected] Mike Licata (‘25) [email protected] Executive Committee PRESIDENT Hank Chisholm, CJF 601-947-5602 [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT Jacob Manning, CJF 435-823-3343 jacobmanningcjf@hotmail. com TREASURER Tim Byrne, CJF 812-987-3469 [email protected] BOD REPRESENTATIVES Kenny Hoyle, CJF 937-231-3367 [email protected] Brian Strelow, CJF 360-320-8826 [email protected] SECRETARY (ex officio) Lori McBride, CJF 330-268-8197 [email protected] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Martha L. Jones 317-417-4544 [email protected] Board of Directors Cover Daniel Jones, CJF, 8-time American Farriers Team member and Examiner, competes at the American Farriers Team Trials at Five Star Horseshoeing School.. Image: Hannah Gunderson AFA Communications Chairperson: Heather Beauchemin, CJF, TE Managing Editor: Martha L. Jones Our Mission Representing professional farriers, veterinarians, suppliers and horse owners, the American Farrier’s Association is the oldest and largest membership organization for the farrier industry in North America, and the only one with internationally recognized standards of competency through our certification programs. Setting the standard for excellence in hoof care, the AFA provides professional development, certification, leadership and resources for the benefit of the farrier industry and the welfare of the horse. 2201 Regency Rd., Ste. 704 Lexington, KY 40503 P 859-233-7411 F 859-231-7862 [email protected] www.americanfarriers.org In This Issue 3 AFA President’s Letter 4 FIA President’s Letter 5 Executive Director’s Report 6 AFA News & Announcements 8 Special 2024 Convention Preview 16 The ADD/ADHD Farrier Conundrum 20 Road to the Journeyman 22 Body Work Series: Nutrition 24 Journal Club Roundup 28 Calendar of Events and Certifications 30 Event Wrap-Ups 2 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
AFA President’s Letter Dear AFA Members, Summer has arrived, and I am a happy man. And as most of you know, that’s about all there is to it! With that out of the way, I want to say that I’ve been very fortunate to get to see many of you over the last couple of months. I presented for the SFA Clinic in Louisiana, attended the TPFA clinic at Jim Poor’s, and was honored to be a part of the Keep ‘Em Ringing Clinic to benefit Scott Collier’s widow, and at all of these events, it was great to see so many people in our community. There’s no doubt that the benefit clinic to honor Scott’s life and contributions to our industry was a huge success and a very meaningful event, and I’d like to thank the Virginia Horseshoers Association for the work they put into an unbelievable weekend. Annually, May also brings with it several Finance Committee meetings led by Tim Byrne, CJF. That group spends many hours ensuring we are managing our finances with the highest level of integrity and staying on track for the upcoming year, and I am thankful for their efforts and dedication to that process. I also attended a Foundation Board of Directors meeting, and I can tell you that they are working on an outstanding upcoming fundraiser to support the Foundation, our efforts to buy AFA property, and particularly — in this case — to help Certification candidates on their journey. Stay tuned for announcements on that in July — it is my hope that many of you will participate and support a cause that’s dear to my heart at the same time. Of course, it’s also a busy time as we get ready to open registration for our 53rd Annual Convention in Chattanooga. I know firsthand that our FIA MarketPlace is off to a good start, and is filling up fast, so I expect our farrier attendance to be strong, as well. In addition, the National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition, under Justin Fry’s (CJF) leadership is going to be another one to watch, and I hope many of you will consider signing up for that, as well. You might remember that we held the Open Jackpot class for the first time in 2023 —which Tom Petersen, CJF and Chris Madrid, CJF won — and I’m excited to see who jumps in the mix this year for our second annual event. Finally, I’ve also learned recently that we’ll have several visitors from the British Farriers & Blacksmiths Association, so I hope you’ll join me in welcoming them while they’re onsite in Chattanooga. It’s going to be a big time! I’m also very encouraged that there are efforts underway to better assist and communicate with our Chapters, as evidenced by our first Chapter Presidents’ meeting in Region 3. Vern Powell, CJF, TE, AWCF, and Kenny Hoyle, CJF, set that up for the Presidents in their Region, and I can tell you it was a big success, and we all learned a lot. I know other Regions will follow, and I hope to participate in all of those. It was amazing to me how much was shared and how much better we can all be together when we open the lines of communication. Finally, I’d like to thank all of the competitors who came out to our 2024 American Farriers Team Trials. It was an outstanding group, and a tough contest, and everyone deserves big congratulations for their efforts. I look forward to seeing how you all do in Chattanooga! I’ll wrap this up now by wishing you a great summer ahead — I know it’s a busy time for all of us, but if there’s anything I can do for you, even if it’s just listen to your ideas, comments or concerns, please never hesitate to call me. See ya’ll soon! Hank Chisholm, CJF President, American Farrier’s Association J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 3
FIA President’s Letter Farrier Industry Association Mission Statement: The mission of the FIA is to provide companies in the hoof care industry with programs and services which will strengthen and grow their businesses. Are you a fan of the Triple Crown? Only 13 horses have won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes races to claim this achievement. The first was Sir Barton in 1919 and the latest was Justify in 2018. Owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, farriers, and the other connections can enjoy this feat as they each had a part in this history making event. Todd Boston is the farrier that shod Mystik Dan with St. Croix racing plates before winning the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Frankie Guarneri is the farrier that shod Seize the Grey with Victory racing plates before he won the 2024 Preakness Stakes. Although there won’t be a Triple Crown winner this year, another outstanding farrier will plate the Belmont Stakes winner too. The Farrier Industry Association has many more great manufacturers as members, just like Mustad and Victory, and we are proud to be connected to you. Speaking of connected, the admin team for the FaceBook group “Farrier Retailers: Swap & Talk” is opening up the group to FIA members. This is a private group that keeps an eye out for scams in the industry and discusses relevant issues. You might even find some overstock supplies from another part of the country that you could sell in yours. Anyway, with all of the fraud and scammers out there this might be a group that you should join for farrier industry information. Since the last NFNH issue, FIA members have held and supported many events. To name a few: Oleo Acres Farrier Supply has generously donated to the RMFA enough stall mats to fill a hockey rink in Kremmling for the Colorado Classic in July; once again Well-Shod Farrier Supply is supporting the American Farriers Team and the team trials at Five Star Horseshoeing School; the Virginia Horseshoers Association Keep Em Ringin’ Benefit Clinic had many members including Stockhoff’s Farrier Supply, Crossroads Farrier Supply, World Championship Blacksmiths, and WellShod in attendance. Thank you all! LET’S GO CHATTANOOGA!! FIA MarketPlace 2024 is filling in nicely so far. Over 2/3 of our booths are sold and this is only June! Thank you to the FIA office folks for doing the heavy lifting with all of the booth applications. Our eastern US AFA Convention is always well-attended and the FIA MarketPlace in 2024 will be the last one until spring 2026. In fact, this will be the biggest farrier industry trade show east of the Mississippi for at least 3 years! If you’re on the fence about attending or purchasing a booth, just do it! One more time, if you have considered joining the FIA BOD or serving on a FIA committee, please reach out to me or our office staff. You must be working for an FIA member company to be eligible. We can steer you to a spot that would be an appropriate fit for your interests. Committee members usually meet several times a year but are not required to attend the BOD meetings. New BOD members are voted on by the current BOD members and meet every other month. We’d love to have you involved! Mark Hickcox, CF The Victory Racing Plate Company FIA President 4 NO FOOT, NO HORSE J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 4
Hello, AFA and FIA Members! Summer is such a great season in so many ways, but of course, with summer comes the heat (in excess), flies (in real excess!), and some very long days — so it is my hope that this issue finds you all having a summer filled with all of the very best things such as abundant sunshine, happiness, and family time — and none of the, er, less than good things (those dang flies)! And since summer has arrived, I could not be more excited that we’ve recently rolled out an incredible new member benefit! AFA Member Deals include discounts on travel, theme parks, attractions, water parks, sporting events, concerts, shopping and more — just waiting for you to take advantage of! One of the cooler features (in my opinion) is that you also have the ability to search by city — so if you have a trip planned with your family — be sure to visit the site and see what activities are available in that local area before you leave! This discount program is also one of my favorites because it allows our members to treat their families to outstanding memory-making events and experiences — and we all know how important and meaningful those times are. So sure, you can absolutely save FAR more than your annual dues using this program — but you can also make memories of a lifetime! For more information, please visit Page 27 of this issue, and be sure to take advantage of all of the opportunities that await you! Summer also brings exciting times for the AFA and FIA as we continue planning our 53rd Annual Convention! It’s an absolute truth that Chattanooga was good to us in 2020 (despite COVID being on our “doorstep” as we were leaving) — and we are truly excited to be returning this year! In fact, the MarketPlace has already been rapidly filling up, we have a speaker list that is sure to knock your socks right off (!), registration has opened to a terrific turnout, and of course, if you’re competing in the National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition, the shoe list is provided to you in this issue! It’s about this time of year that we get truly excited to see all of you again, so if you haven’t already (gasp!), mark your calendars, get registered, and most importantly, get EXCITED for Chattanooga! Of course, we have a lot of other things kicking right now, not the least of which is our Achievement Awards nomination period (which is only open through August 1st!). As I look around our community, I see so many people who inspire me with their dedication and passion for our industry — and I know they inspire you, as well! So, help us recognize their outstanding contributions, and visit the website (AmericanFarriers.org/ page/achievement-awards) to nominate today! While you’re on the website, you might also check out the Cultural Exchange page (AmericanFarriers.org/page/ cultural_exchange). We have been so blessed to experience (at times daily!) the travels of our participants over the last couple of years on Facebook, and if the program seems to be for you — it’s time to apply! If we’ve learned anything recently, it’s that these trips are both an education — and an experience! — of a lifetime, and to that end, I want to wish Jack Trainor, CJF (departing on July 6th), an outstanding trip to Europe this summer! Of course, this time of year also brings budget time at the AFA — and while not everyone may find that exciting, our Finance Committee, led by Tim Byrne, CJF, does an absolutely tremendous job on this task. But it’s especially important that I bring this to your attention this year, as Tim is “terming out” of his office. And, while I know his successor will also do an incredible job as steward of our association finances, I want to send a very, very massive thank you to Tim for his years of service. It’s a time consuming and, at times, thankless position, but one could argue that it is one of the most critical — if not the most critical — positions in our association. Tim has handled it with grace, with skill, with a dash of his good humor, and with the absolute highest integrity, and it is my hope that if you see him, you’ll join me in thanking him for his service and dedication to our association. So with that, I will wrap this up and wish you all the absolute best summer ahead! When the days seem long, and the flies seem extra pesky, just remember — “Summertime is always the best of what might be.” Cheers, Martha Jones Executive Director American Farrier’s Association and Farrier Industry Association Executive Director’s Report J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 5
AFA News & Press Releases 53rd Annual AFA Convention: Registration Opened on June 10! Big Convention News! Not only will you find our National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition shoe list in this issue, but by now you should have received your full registration packet in the mail! Please be sure to review that in detail and sign up online through our website OR via our app! As a reminder, competition spots are limited, so the sooner you sign up, the better! Returning for its second year! Our Open Jackpot Class! This two-man class is open to anyone, and Draft Class rules do not apply (in other words, you can choose anyone to be your partner — whether they’ve been on a national Team or not). Nearly $10,000 up for grabs in this winner-take-all event! Don’t miss out on your chance to split big money with your legendary partner! Also — Certification opportunities abound at Convention, so start practicing and plan to continue your journey in Chattanooga! Whether you are pursuing your CF, CTF, or CJF — or even one of our higher education endorsements — be sure to sign up today! Space for the Therapeutic Endorsement is limited, so please contact Director, Travis Burns, CJF, TE, EE, FWCF, and register online ASAP if you are interested in the TE! Reminder: 2024 Achievement Awards The nomination period is open through August 1 (which makes this your final No Foot, No Horse reminder)! Please take a few moments to submit nominees who are outstanding contributors to our association and the industry for our 2024 awards. Like last year, all nominees will be shared with the membership for voting, which makes our awards even more special to the recipients! Please remember to submit those via the nomination form on our website which can be found here: AmericanFarriers. org/page/achievement-awards. (Sharon Walker Association Newsletter submissions should be submitted via PDF at the same link.) Thank you for helping us honor your peers! Cultural Exchange: Applications Due September 1 With Jack Trainor, CJF, setting off to Europe in July and Sara Snyder, CJF, having recently returned from working and exploring in South Africa, we want to remind you that these jet setting adventures could be in your future! For more information, application procedures, and the application itself, head to our website: https://americanfarriers. org/page/cultural_exchange! You are also welcome to reach out to our Cultural Exchange Chair, Vern Powell, CJF, TE, AWCF, with questions at [email protected]. Are you our next participant? If so, get your application started and turned in by September 1! Danny Ward Memorial Scholarship WInner Named The Danny Ward Memorial Scholarship committee of the Troy Price Horseshoeing School is pleased to announce that Jennifer Villalobos is the recipient of a $1,000 award to be used toward tuition at horseshoeing school. Villalobos began attending the Oklahoma Horseshoeing School in May 2024 for the 12-week Advanced Horseshoeing and Blacksmith Course. In her application, Villalobos shared about her love of horses and Mexican rodeo. She works closely with her dad shoeing horses and plans to bring the knowledge she learns back to her home community in Texas. After school, she wants to work with other farriers at first and then eventually start down a path with clients of her own. Congratulations to Jennifer Villalobos on being awarded this scholarship! We wish her the best in her farrier journey! 6 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
Elite Forge • Glenn Reese, CJF • J Fry Tools • Lamar Weaver Hoof Knives • Mark Thorkildson, CJF, AWCF • Nathanael Zoerhof, CJF • Triple E Forge & Tool • Yukon Forge Thank You 2024 Team Trials Sponsors! Current Team Standings: Competitor Points Tom Petersen, CJF 37 Sawyer Spradling, CJF 34 Lamar Weaver, CJF 29 Daniel Jones, CJF 28 Bryan Osborne, CJF 26 Adam Fahr, CJF 15 Travis Smith, CJF 14 Garrett Stark, CJF 12 Brian Strelow, CJF 11 Rory Bauer, CJF 4 Cody Mecham, CJF 4 Mason Mileski, CJF 3 David Reed, CJF 2 Sam Howard, CJF 1 Mike Miller, CJF - Marcus Wise, CJF - Lance Yohe, CJF - 2024 American Farriers Team Trials: The Results Are In! What can we say about May 3-4? It was intense, action-packed, TOUGH, fun, inspiring, and basically everything you could want from a Team Trials contest! We have to start off by thanking our host, Dusty Franklin, CJF, AWCF, ASF, and the Five Star Horseshoeing School students! Many people say it, but in this case, it’s particularly true — we simply could not do this without you! Also, we had two incredible judges in Carl Via, CJF, and Todd Walker, CJF. They had their work cut out for them with such a competitive field — and they nailed it with consistency and fairness all the way around. Big thanks, Carl and Todd! Of course, our sponsors — each year we are wowed by their generosity, and this year proved no different! In fact, we were comparing pictures of our sponsor banners from our very first Trials to now, and not only are many of the same companies still supporting us, but we have SO many new ones! To all of you — we are humbled by your generosity! Finally, to our competitors. It was a hard contest, and you all are champions in our book! You practiced, you dedicated yourself to it, and came out and gave it your all — and you should be proud! You are better because of it! We can’t wait to see you in Chattanooga in November! Class Winners: Fully Fullered Bevel: Daniel Jones, CJF Roadster: Sawyer Spradling, CJF Aluminum Heart Bar: Tom Petersen, CJF Deep Seated Hunter: Tom Petersen, CJF Best Shod Foot: Daniel Jones, CJF J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 7
2024 National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition in Chattanooga, TN 2024 National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition in Chattanooga, TN Competition Judges Open Division: (Pictured left to right) Lewis Balfour, AWCF Travis Smith, CJF Bodie Trnka, CJF Elevate your education to new heights and compete this year at the 2024 National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition! The contest will be conducted in rounds of 20 AFA provided forging stations which means competitors have opportunities to take in a lot of the convention lectures, demos and other activities. Competitors do not need to haul a station to compete. The Intermediate Division is open to farriers who have never won the Intermediate Division or competed in the Open Division (2-Person Draft excluded) at a prior convention competition. Open Division competitors wishing to be considered for the American Farriers Team must have attained the AFA CJF certification, have previously qualified during 2024 Team Trials, be a citizen of the United States (or have attained permanent resident status), and must have a valid passport. The contest will be conducted in rounds of 20 AFA provided forging stations. The Top 20 will be determined by the overall average of all 3 individual classes. Please see all of the competition rules at the end of this document. Chairman: Justin Fry, CJF Members: Phillip Box, CJF; Troy Colglazier, CJF; Dusty Franklin, CJF, AWCF; Bryan Osborne, CJF; Tom Petersen, CJF; Matthew Shaklee, CF; Travis Smith, CJF; Conrad Trow, CJF, DipWCF; Andrew Wells, CJF Rules Committee Intermediate Division 2024 American Farriers Team: (Pictured left to right) Andrew Wells, CJF (2024 Team Manager) Rory Bauer, CJF Sawyer Spradling, CJF Daniel Jones, CJF Tom Petersen, CJF Travis Smith, CJF (2023 Team Manager) Hank Chisholm, CJF (AFA President) Lamar Weaver, CJF (not pictured) 1 2024 National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition • Chattanooga, Tennessee • 8 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
Journeyman Class Forge a full set of shoes, one pair of front shoes and a pair of hind shoes. Time Limit: 45 minutes PAIR OF FRONTS • 12” x 3/8” x 3/4” • Fullered & toe clipped, hammer finished • Punched for six Kahn Forge 5 city slim nails • Measures 5 3/16” wide x 5 3/16” long PAIR OF HINDS • 11 1/2” x 3/8” x 3/4” • Fullered with quarter clips,, hammer finished • Punched for six Kahn Forge 5 city slim nails • Measures 4 3/4” wide x 5 3/16” long Roadster Class The Roadster Class, open to all open division competitors, requires competitors to forge two shoes: Fullered Front Shoe and Double Caulkin. Competitors may have a striker. Time Limit: 45 minutes 1. DOUBLE CAULKIN 13 1/2” of 1/2” × 1” Hammer Finished Punched for seven E6 nails Measures 5 1/2” wide x 5 3/4” long 2. FULLERED FRONT SHOE • 12” x 3/8” x 3/4” • Fullered, toe clipped • Punched for six 5 City or 5 Slim Nails • Measures 5 3/16” wide x 5” long J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 9
Specialty Forging Class The AFA Rules Committee will select three shoes from a list of six. Competitors will learn during the on-site competitors meeting which shoes they will make. Time Limit: 90 minutes 1. BARSHOE • 13 1/2” x 1/4” x 1” • Punched for six E3 Nails • Measures 5” wide x 4 7/8” long 2. SLIDING PLATE • 10” x 1/4” x 1 1/4” • Punched for eight Mustad 4.5 Race Nails • Measures 4 5/8” wide x 5 1/4” long 3. ROCKER BAR • 12 1/2” x 1/2” x 3/4” • Punched for six Mustad 5 Combo Nails • Measures 5 1/4” wide x 5 3/8” long • Bar measures 3” 4. HIND HEARTBAR • 16” x 3/8” x 3/4” • Punched for six E4 Nails • Measures 5 1/8” wide x 5 1/2” long 10 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
5. HIND CAULK AND WEDGE • 10” x 1/2” x 3/4” • Bob punched, toe clip, 3/4 fullered • Punched for six Mustad E4 Slim Nails • Measures 4 5/8” wide x 5 1/4” long Live Shoeing Class: The Capewell North American Challenge Cup The top 20 from the high score averages of the Journeyman Class, the Roadster Class and the Specialty Forging Class will compete in The Capewell North American Challenge Cup Live Shoeing Class in reverse order, with the competitor in 20th place competing first and the competitor in 1st place competing last. You will forge the same shoes as made in the Roadster Class. Contestants will be allowed a striker; the striker may not rasp or hold the hammer and tongs at the same time. A front or hind foot will be shod with a hand-forged shoe made from 14” x3/8” x 3/4” bar stock (provided). 14” x 3/8” x 1” bar stock will also be available for bigger feet should the 3/8” x 3/4” not be appropriate. The toe-clipped shoe will be fullered and punched with 6 nail holes for appropriate Capewell city head or slim nails, which will be provided by the stewards.Competitors must use the nails provided and the required number of nails per shoe. The roadster shoe will be forged for the same side as in the Roadster Class and made from 11” x 1/2” x 1” bar stock. The shoe will be punched with six nail holes for E6 slim nails. The specimen shall be 5 1/2” wide (tolerance +/- 1/8 of an inch), with the width measured on the ground surface. A time limit of 15 minutes is set for hoof preparation, and to facilitate the judging process competitors will begin at specific intervals. The competitor will notify the steward when the foot is ready to be judged. The first judge will score the dressed foot. The next judge will score shoe quality and fit. Stewards will notify the judge when this portion is ready to be judged. Competitors should allow enough time to nail and finish. After time expires, the third judge will score nailing and finish. A finished job is defined as a foot with nails clinched which by definition means the nails are at least bent down against the hoof wall. A competitor will be disqualified if the time limit is exceeded. The competitor must still complete the horse, even if time has expired. A scoreboard will show names and scores of the competitors; however, specimen shoe scores will be kept confidential until the Grand Finale Banquet. Score sheets will be emailed after the banquet for competitor review. 6. Aluminum Heartbar • 17” x 3/8” x 3/4” • Punched for six Combo 5 Nails • Measures 5” wide x 5” long • Frog plate length: 2 1/2” • Bar: 2 1/2” J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 11
Awards In addition to the awards mentioned with the specific classes, other awards include: Overall High Point Award National High Point Award Intermediate Overall High Point Award Reserve National High Point Award Two-Person Draft Class One competitor will make a pair of front shoes from 17” x 1/2” x 1 1/4” bar stock, hammer-drawn toe clip, scotch heels, fullered, and punched for eight E-10 nails. The other will make a pair of hind shoes from 16” x 1/2” x 1 1/4” bar stock, hammer-drawn toe clip, scotch heels, fullered, punched for seven E-10 nails. No filing and sanding, flatters and bob punches are allowed. Intermediate Journeyman Class Intermediate Bar Shoe Class Time Limit: 45 minutes 4 PLAIN STAMPED SHOES 3/8” x 3/4” • Front 11 1/2” – Punched for six 5 Slim Nails, toe clips • Hind 11” – Punched for six 5 City Slim Nails, quarter clips Time Limit: 45 minutes ONE FRONT STRAIGHT BARSHOE • 14” x 3/8” x 3/4”, fullered • Punched for six 5 Slim Nails ONE PLAIN STAMPED HIND SHOE • 11” × 3/8” x 3/4”, quarter clips • Punched for six 5 Slim Nails Time Limit: 70 minutes 12 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
Judge: Bruce Worman, CJF (Winner of the 2023 Vern Hornquist Memorial Class) Time Limit: 60 minutes FRONT SHOE TOE CLIPPED • 12” x 3/8 x 3/4, universal sided • Punched for six MX 50 nails • 4 7/8” wide by 5 1/8” long Intermediate Specialty Forging Class The AFA Rules Committee will select two of the three shoes. Competitors will learn during the on-site competitors meeting which shoes they will make. Time Limit: 70 minutes Vern Hornquist Memorial Class 3. HUNTER FRONT • 12 1/2” x 1/2” x 3/4” • Masselotte toe clip • Punched for six Liberty E5 Nails • Measures 5 1/2” wide x 5 1/2” long 1. CAULK AND FEATHER • 12 1/2” x 3/8” x 3/4” • Punched for six Liberty E4 Slim Nails • Measures 4 7/8” wide x 6” long 2. HIND PREVENTER BAR • 14 1/2” x 3/8” x 3/4” • Punched for five Liberty 5 Combo Nails • Measures 5” wide x 5 5/16” long • Bar measures 3 3/16” HIND QUARTER CLIPPED • 11 1/4” x 3/8” x 3/4, universal sided • Punched for six MX 50 nails • 4 5/8” wide by 5 1/8” long J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 13
The Open Jackpot Class is a two-person class. Two of the four shoes shown below will be selected and announced at the Competitors Meeting on Monday evening. Each competitor must make a shoe. Two-person teams may be comprised of anyone, there are no restrictions on past Team participants. Time Limit: 45 minutes Open Jackpot Class 1. TOOL & FULLERED CAULK & WEDGE • 12” of 5/8 square, cut to desired length • Measures 4 3/4” wide x 5 1/8” long • Punched for E4 Slim Nails 2. HIND BEVEL • 16” x 1/2” x 1 1/4” • Masselotte toe clip • Punched for seven E8 nails • Measures 7 1/4” wide x 7 3/8” long 3. FRONT BEVEL • 13” x 1/2” x 1 1/4” • 6 1/8” wide on ground side; Heavy 6 1/4” toe to lateral heel; Light 6 1/4” toe to medial heel • Punched for six E7 Nails • Bob punched 4. DRAFT STRAIGHTBAR HIND • 22” x 1/2” x 1 1/4” • Toe clipped, fullered • Punched for seven E10 nails • Measures 7 5/8” wide x 7 1/4” long • Bar measures 4 3/8”
November 11-15, 2024 2024 SPEAKER LINEUP Jim Linzy Keynote Speaker Dr. Simon Curtis, FWCF, BSc (Hons), PhD, HonAssocRCVS Lewis Balfour, AWCF Brian Beasley, DVM, CJF, DACVSMR Ben Benson, AWCF Wren Burnley, DVM Travis Burns, MSc, CJF, TE, EE, FWCF Chad Chance, CJF Gavine Cooper, CJF Jason Critton, CJF, TE, AWCF Austin Edens, CJF Nigel Fennell, CJF, FE, FWCF (Hons) Riley Kirkpatrick, CJF Mark Milster, CJF Brian Mullins, CJF Lee Olsen, CJF Kayla Shepherd, CJF Lyle Shepherd, CJF Travis Smith, CJF Bodie Trnka, CJF A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 2 4 15
By Chris Diehl, CJF, FE, EE, AWCF Those of you that are reading this today get to witness me taking my AFA Educator Endorsement exam. The first portion of the exam is to present a written article on a subject I feel is important and is also important to our Association. I tell you this because I genuinely love the AFA and the levels of Certifications that it offers to its members. Perhaps reading this will motivate others to try to achieve the AFA Specialty Endorsements. I hope you see why I feel that ADD/ADHD is an important and overlooked subject in our Certifications, and I hope this article helps you move forward with your next Certification level. Traditional Study Methods Before we can dive into the world of ADD/ADHD we need to briefly talk about how normal minded (neuro-typical) teachers and students share information and learn from it. We have all sat in a classroom where the teacher rambles on in a monotone voice day in and day out. There are usually worksheets involved and of course a textbook to read. The teacher assigns the class homework and on Friday there will be a test on the information. I call this “absorb and produce,” meaning the teacher has presented you with information to absorb. At the end of the week, there will be an exam to prove that you have absorbed the information and can produce evidence in the form of a test score to show how much you have absorbed. It is the most traditional way of presenting information and studying, but unfortunately it doesn’t work for ADD/ADHD people. This is the most basic form of traditional education, but it’s one we are all familiar with. Studying with ADD/ADHD Let’s start by asking a few questions. Are you one of those farriers who can walk through the Certification shoe display and shoeing practical, but just cannot get past that dang written exam? Is it because anatomy can be confusing? Perhaps the idea of test taking still gives you nightmares reminiscent of your high school days? Do you struggle to make time in your day to study? Have you considered that you may have undiagnosed ADD or ADHD? If you answered “yes,” “yes,” “yes,” and “maybe,” keep reading. This article might have the answers you have been looking for. Looking at the definitions of ADD/ADHD, it is easy to see that people with these issues are immediately set up for failure. What is interesting about these definitions is that not once but twice does it speak of ADD/ADHD in a negative context. First with the word deficit, then again with the word disorder: • Adult ADD definition: Abbreviation: short for attention deficit disorder (ADD) • Adult ADHD definition: Abbreviation: short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) My Experiences With ADD/ADHD While I do believe that people with ADD/ADHD have a deficit in their ability to focus, I do not believe it is a disorder. I believe it is an overload of neurons firing faster than the average adult, an overload of information flowing through their brain and the inability to control what they are paying attention to. ADD/ ADHD is comparable to a superpower that needs to be harnessed and embraced thus allowing the student to maximize their learning abilities. Artists, singers, sculptors, and yes, farriers are all examples of people who excel in their craft because they break the mold of traditional education. Working with their hands or voices, using hammers, brushes, or guitars to create the things that we enjoy every day. Things that cannot be mass produced are all products of ADD/ADHD minded people. Before getting into studying with ADD/ADHD, I want to take a moment and share with you a bit about me and my time as a student. I am curious to see if we have a few things in common. My years as a student were not good ones. When I got to about fifth grade, it became very apparent to me that studying was not something I was good at. As my grades continued to drop so did the motivation from teachers to help me. We both grew more frustrated with each other. I was disruptive Farrier Article An unorthodox approach to passing your next certification written exam. This is the first of a two-part series. The ADD/ADHD Farrier Conundrum 16 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
in class; I was often in fights or skipping class altogether - all the classic traits of a bad kid. Until about eighth grade when I was introduced to the metal shop and a teacher who really understood kids like me. He was a great teacher who spoke “to us” not “at us”. I had a wonderful time in his class. Unfortunately, I could not live in the metal shop forever, could I? Finally, in 10th grade the rest of my schoolwork became so overwhelming that I convinced my parents I was being held back by school and I wanted to pursue my life as a farrier. I had been an apprentice and helper since eighth grade, and I knew I was going to be a horseshoer. As odd as this sounds, I am grateful they let me quit school. I believe staying until I was forced out would have been detrimental to my future. So how does ADD/ADHD come into the story? Too often kids with ADD/ADHD are labeled as bad kids in class, or disruptive and inattentive. What is happening is they are bored, or their brains are operating with a V12 motor when the rest of their classmates are running on V6’s. The problem is the timing is off on the V12. It cannot control which piston fires next, therefore, in the mind of the ADD/ADHD student, nothing is running smoothly. Ask yourself if any of this sounds familiar. At 19, I joined the military, where things got different. Although in the military they tell you exactly what to do and how to do it, you need to be able to study if you want to be promoted. The motivation to be promoted above my peers is where I accidentally learned how to study with ADD/ADHD. At this point I would not say that I had ADD/ADHD, I would just say “I didn’t like studying.” I noticed that when I sat in my barracks room with my roommates and I tried to read the promotion study guide — it was a fight for me to focus. It did not matter if the study setting was quiet or if they were drinking and partying loudly, there was no way I could focus. I needed a unique place of my own to study. I would go to a little gazebo outside of our barracks and I would sit there and try to study. My study times were usually after working hours into the night. The little gazebo was not lit up, so I had until the sun went down to study there. From sundown until sleep, I would find a streetlamp and pace back and forth reading in the dim yellow light. I noticed because I could not see well in the streetlight, I would read aloud to ensure I was getting all the words right. As I became more comfortable with reading aloud, I would begin to ask myself questions aloud. I would have full blown conversations with myself as I was trying to get a solid grasp on the material I was reading. As time went on, walking around and reading aloud became my go to study tactic. I left the military at 22 and went to farrier school. I mean no disrespect for my instructor, but the school I attended was not very strict on the academic side of being a farrier, so once again I avoided having to be a good student in the textbook. About a year into my career as a farrier, I decided to move forward and sit for the AFA CF Certification. I only owned one textbook and it was full of words I never heard in horseshoeing school. I tried, but failed at reading that book from chapter 1 to chapter 50. I quickly gave up on that idea. I reached out to one of the AFA Examiners,telling him I wanted to take the Certification test, but I was struggling to study. He gave me the best advice I have ever received on Certifications. He asked me, “Do you really know what the AFA Certification is asking of you?” I put down the textbook and started to read the Certification guideline booklet instead. After spending a week studying not just the CF portion of the guideline book, but the whole thing, I realized I was able to cut the textbook into a third. Meaning a third less of the studying that I thought I had. Suddenly, that 600-page textbook was only 200 pages. I was relieved. An interesting thing about people with ADD/ADHD is that they cannot fake interest in a topic they do not care about. Which is why when an ADD/ADHD person grabs a hold of a subject that they enjoy, all 12 cylinders in their mind fire in perfect harmony. All of this may sound odd to people who do not struggle with ADD/ADHD but believe me when I say it is a fight to focus when the environment is not exactly right. If you are a normal minded person and would really like to have a glimpse into the mind of an ADD/ ADHD person, the next paragraph is the best analogy I could write to give you some insight. Imagine you have cable TV with 60 channels. Someone tells you to watch a program on earthworms, but you do not want to watch a program on earthworms. Remember ADD/ADHD people cannot fake interest in a subject. While you are trying extremely hard to watch the earthworm program, someone else has the remote control. Every 30 seconds that person turns the channel on you. Then when the program is over, they ask you to take a test on earthworms. How well do you think you would do on your earthworm test? That is the life of an ADD/ADHD student. Symptoms of ADHD Before we talk about how to study with ADD/ADHD, we need to see if you have any of the classic character traits of an ADD/ADHD adult. Inattention: • Makes careless mistakes or lacks attention to detail. • Has difficulty paying attention to tasks. • Seems not to listen when spoken to directly. • Fails to follow through on instructions, chores, or duties in the workplace or at home. • Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities. • Avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to participate in tasks requiring sustained mental effort. • Loses things necessary for tasks or activities. • Easily distracted by other things, especially unrelated thoughts. Impulsivity and Hyperactivty: • Fidgets with or taps with hands and feet, or squirms in seat. • Leaves seat when remaining seated is expected. • Unable to participate in leisure activities quietly. • Acts as if “on the go” or “driven by a motor.” • Talks excessively. • Blurts out an answer before a question has been fully asked. • Has difficulty waiting his or her turn. • Socially awkward in conversation. Statistically speaking, ADD/ADHD adults are 500% more likely to start their own J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 17
business. One hundred percent of our current AFA membership is, was, or is about to be self-employed. Studies show that approximately 4.4% of adults in the U.S. have diagnosed ADD/ADHD, with 5.2% being male and 3.2% being female. That might seem small on a world scale, but the percentage is most likely higher in our niche organization. When you look at those percentages of people with diagnosed ADD/ADHD it is staggering. Imagine the ones who live their lives undiagnosed. ADD/ADHD is rapidly growing in our lives. It is evident in how we multitask. About 25 years ago, we all drove distraction free with manual transmissions. Today, it is nothing to be driving 80 mph down the I-10, texting a client, trolling Facebook, and choosing a new song in our music app, while eating a fast-food cheeseburger. Imagine telling yourself from 25 years ago what you do today with just a finger tap on a pocketsized computer. RELY ON US TO INNOVATE FOR YOUR SUCCESS FIND AN FPD DEALER NEAR YOU CARRYING THESE EXCITING NEW PRODUCTS AT FARRIERPRODUCTS.COM/LOCATIONS OR CALL (800) 468-2879. @farrierproductdistribution @fpdinc @farrierproducts Every product in the FPD Group is developed with you, the professional farrier, in mind. Dedication to collaborative design and the pursuit of excellence sets brands in the FPD Group apart from all other brands. Watch FPD’s video of the proper installation of Carbide Studs, by scanning the QR code below. WHAT’S NEW AT AN FPD DEALER NEAR YOU ■ Plexus Full Support Performance Pads ■ Footpro Soft DIM20 ■ New Lower Prices for Vettec ■ Footpro Carbide Studs ■ KnKut Step-Point Drill Bits ■ Kerckhaert Steel Comfort Sport with Thicker Steel in Sizes 2-4 FPD IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE AFA AND ITS EVENTS In my experience, ADD/ADHD made keeping a normal day job exceedingly difficult. My brain strives for a change of pace. Simple things like not waking up at the same time every day, leaving the house at various times and arriving at a new job site every morning is refreshing. Unpack the truck, make conversation, cut clinches, pull shoes, trim hooves, light forge, make more conversation, burn shoes, nail up, get paid, drive away. Life as a farrier is an ADD/ ADHD dream job. Right up until we must focus on mundane tasks, such as being on time, restocking and organizing the truck, texting a client back, filing our taxes, or even worse cleaning out the cab throwing away all those precious McDonald’s bags we have been saving. Surprisingly ADD/ ADHD people do not like to be disorganized, but the idea of spending the time required to do little jobs becomes overwhelming so instead they live a cluttered lifestyle. Now that we have a better understanding of ADD/ADHD we can move forward with the alternative study techniques I have used over the years to help me achieve my levels of Certification. I hope that this article helps you continue with your career path to CF or CJF, including all the specialty endorsements. This article was submitted as part of the Educator’s Endorsement Exam. To find out more about this and other endorsements offered by the AFA, go to AmericanFarriers. org/page/certification. Look for Part 2 of this article in the next issue! References 1. “ADD.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam webster.com/ dictionary/add. Accessed 26 Jun. 2023. 2. “ADHD.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam webster.com/ dictionary/ADHD. Accessed 26 Jun. 2023. 3. “Symptoms-Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)”. NHS, www.nhs.uk/ conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivitydisorder-adhd/symptoms. 4. Pearce, Kyle. “Amazing Facts About ADHD, Neurodiversity, and Entrepreneurship”. January 2023. 5. “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD”. National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/ attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder adhd#part_2553 . Accessed 26 June 2023. 18 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
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Road to the Journeyman Farrier Article By Mark Sumler, CJF The fifteenth try on December 15th, 2023, the day I succeeded. To rewind a little, I went to horseshoeing school in 2000 and became a CF in 2004, at which time I competed for a few years. I won the Oklahoma contest in Division 1 in 2006 and placed in other competitions, but quit competing and pursuing the CJF due to a growing family, ministry, and a few health problems. Even while I took time off, the thought of the Journeyman still haunted me. In 2017, I started testing in Arkansas at the Arkansas Horseshoeing School and then another in Beebe, Arkansas. Once in Iowa, once in Nebraska, three times at Heartland Horseshoeing School, the written and bar shoe at Convention from 2017 to 2022. Eight times I failed all three parts. This is when Mark Milster, CJF,. told me, “Pritch, you don’t get points for good attendance.” (Pritch is short for Pritchell, my nickname.) Thank God for his honesty. That’s what I did until Convention 2022 — just showed up thinking I would pass. I decided I wanted to study for the CJF written and bar shoe, but only began when I got to Little Rock. I met with the AFA crew that put on the written study sessions, a guy named Todd Haenel, CJF, changed everything about how I studied. The first time I took the written at Convention, I got a 78%, one answer short of passing; I was hooked. Although I failed the next written test and the bar shoe, I realized that with work and dedication, I could pass this. I got on Todd’s Facebook study every chance I 20 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
got, began to practice my bar shoe, practiced making plain stamped shoes, and making runs in the field on horses. I signed up for Dusty Franklin’s pre-Certification at the end of March 2023 and was far enough behind that he wouldn’t let me under a horse until we went over what was expected out of my trims, not to mention my terrible fitting and shoe making. Did I mention I was 61 and had been shoeing for 23 years, raised 7 kids, had 8 grandkids and pastored a church? But that week changed me. All the people at Five-Star Horseshoeing played a huge role in staying with me and pushing me to become a CJF, to name a few: Dusty Franklin, CJF, AWCF, ASF, Craig Stark, CJF, Mike Nale, CJF, and Brad Snyder, CJF. Although I started behind, I was determined; Saturday came, I passed my bar shoe, but failed the written and horse. Next was Texas Certification, passed my written, failed my horse. After that, came Kentucky Certification, and I failed my horse. Then came the Kansas Certification, I failed again. So, I signed up for Dusty’s (Five-Star) pre-Certification again in the fall; this really pushed me over the hump, I failed my horse again that Saturday. I subsequently failed my horse the next week at Heartland Horseshoeing School where I completed my schooling in 2000. Which by the way, Chris, Kelly, and Cody Gregory were amazing, these people have been and always will be great mentors. Now with my sights set on Kentucky, I had October and November to prepare. December 15th came, my preparation and training paid off, I finally passed my horse to become a journeyman at 61 years old. By the way, you have to take ownership of everything, from study habits to your tools. All three parts of this test are designed to teach us that it’s more than just getting a passing score to get initials behind your name. Being a CJF is a lifestyle that should be evident in every horse that we shoe. We use all three parts of this test and continue to perfect it, all for the horse. I want to thank all those who were involved in helping me in my journey, too many to mention. Thanks to the this great Association for its continuing standard of education, Certifications, etc. A special thanks to my wife for encouraging, reprimanding, and loving me through this. Thanks to my mom and dad for the work ethic and integrity that they instilled in me throughout their lives. Finally, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving me the strength and wisdom to complete this. God Bless. Tell Us About Your Certification Journey Share your memories about how you overcame challenges to become a Certified Journeyman Farrier. Your story could inspire another AFA member to chase their goal of becoming a CJF. Email your article or questions to [email protected] J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 21
Farrier Article Body Work Series: NUTRITION By Katie Panos, CJF In recent years, I have had to do a deep dive into lifestyle choices and health management due to genetic chronic illnesses that were diagnosed late. My life has turned into a fine-tuned machine for me to keep shoeing horses, and some of the things I’ve learned in the past 5 years are very applicable to everyone — even those of us in the perfect picture of health. In this series I will cover strength training, limited PT tricks, massage and chiropractic, diet, and take suggestions as time goes on for other articles in this vein of selfcare and farrier soundness. Heather Beauchemin, CJF, TE, AWCF has already previously done a mental health feature, so please refer to that article on that subject. Nutrition is a difficult blanket statement subject. There are specific dietary needs for specific conditions, and this article is not intended to overrule any medical nutritional advice, rather to set up some general good dietary practices for the average person. It will come back to the less processed the food, the healthier the diet. As athletes, which farriers are, it is important to have not only calories, but quality calories and sufficient vitamins and minerals for our bodies to perform every day. A calorie is a unit of measurement for nutrition where 1 calorie is a unit of energy derived from food. Calories do not assess vitamin or mineral content, nor do they differentiate the different building blocks of food. Proteins, carbohydrates and fats are the basic building blocks of our digestible food and fiber is the indigestible backbone of our gut bacteria’s health. Each building block contributes to our health, and although the sugar lobby and the fat lobby battle each other over which is healthier, the truth is that we need quality sources of both to perform. Proteins commonly come from meat consumption, though there are protein rich plant sources like legumes. Fats come from animal fats and plant oils. Carbohydrates are sugars that can be simple or small chain or complex, like whole grain sources. We need all sources in moderation to meet nutritional needs. Ultra processed food (UPF) is 70% of what is available to Americans, but these types of food were only meant to be eaten sparingly. Processed food for the purposes of this article is anything beyond cooking, fermenting, pickling, curing, and smoking that keeps food safe for us to eat and preserve. Those processes still allow our bodies to digest the food we eat. Adding chemical preservatives outside salt, hydrogenating oils, concentrating simple sugars, chemical food dyes, etc are all processes that ultra processed foods are subjected to. These processes also make food less digestible, and those chemicals interact with the cells of the digestive system. Our food system is pretty complex, but it favors production of UPFs because it favors factory farming and large scale production of selective crops. There is a dramatic increase in digestive cancers in young Americans, and while there has been debate about the impact of UPF, the rise of UPFs as a staple of American diets certainly leads us to a correlation worth investigating. There have been many studies, many notably outside of the US, that have linked UPFs to over 30 serious health conditions including heart disease, stroke, 22 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
diabetes. Hydrogenated oils hit me hard because I don’t have quite enough digestive enzymes available to my gut due to mild Cystic Fibrosis. When I eat foods with a lot of those oils I literally feel hungover the day after, no Buffalo Wild Wings without enzyme drugs for me. Our gastrointestinal systems don’t have an enzyme that can break these oils down well, so the gut doesn’t digest them in the way it would digest expeller pressed plant oils or animal fats that are unmodified. High fructose corn syrup messes with guts that are affected by inflammatory processes, because of the sheer load of simple sugars that skew the bacterial population of a healthy gut exacerbate the inflammation. California and now New York are banning red 3, a food dye that has been shown to be adverse to health. Added nitrates often found in processed meats have been banned in Europe for years due to the extreme health risks that they pose. Additives in UPF aren’t the only problem that our large scale food system poses. As large scale farming only grows specific crops, the lack of diversity poses problems with the soil and quality of plant growth. As a result even eating fresh vegetables doesn’t yield the same calorie quality that they used to offer. Many of us are familiar with Vitamin E deficiency in horses as a result of hay fields being over harvested and under fertilized, this is the same issue. Vitamins and minerals impact on human health was established in the 1940s. Many public health initiatives directly after that work alleviated the general public’s rampant deficiencies, it’s why our cereal is fortified and there’s fluoride in public water sources. For decades medicine has banked on those initiatives providing vitamins and minerals we need and it has been widely assumed that as long as people are eating in America, they are nutritionally sufficient. We are starting to understand that this is not necessarily the case especially for those with health issues or those that are very physically active. Being deficient in vitamins and minerals for no apparent reason was the first step in diagnosis for me, but I had to beg for those tests and you have to test for each vitamin and mineral separately; there is no panel to order. It is an expensive way to do things. Common symptoms of deficiencies are fatigue, hair loss, rashes, chippy fingernails, mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, and vision changes, among others. Don’t ignore your body, make sure you follow up on these or any other changes in your body. Supplementation is a difficult topic despite knowing my vegetables might not hold everything I need. In the US there is no oversight on over the counter vitamins and minerals and getting a prescription is almost impossible, even for a diagnosed deficiency. I use a website like labdoor.com to make sure that the supplements I purchase have what they say they have in them. In addition you can overdose on some of these supplements and many of the supplements have outrageous amounts of the compound in them for daily consumption- looking at your B complexes and multivitamins. In general Vitamin A, D, E, and K need to be treated with caution. These are fat soluble vitamins and they are stored in your fat and easily accessible to your body from these stores. Vitamins D and E are more commonly lower in the general population than A and K, so I take E when the air quality is bad or when my regular screening for it as part of CF says I’m low. I take D in one pill with omega 3 fats, also as part of CF treatment. I will not touch A or K by myself because they are extremely bioactive and can be over-dosed easily. The rest of vitamins and minerals are water soluble and it is a lot harder to overdose. B-complex vitamins are important in neurological and muscular processes, Magnesium is the same. If you want to supplement for performance outside of deficiency prevention, creatine, urolithin A, CoQ10, and resveratrol are all helpful for optimal muscle health and performance. This is not a “more is better” in terms of dose, be sure you use the recommended dose if you choose to look into any of these supplements. So now that I’ve shaken your faith in our food system, I must put you back together. It is perfectly acceptable to eat UPF in moderation, especially if you have a healthy gut! We should demand better from these products and California and New York are obviously leading that charge for us, but not being perfect about a diet is actually an important part of a diet. We’re human, lets own it. If you are interested in eating less processed food, buying meat locally by the quarter, half or whole if you have a chest freezer can be a great option. CSAs or community supported agriculture are what local farms use to sell their products to the locals. You pay an upfront fee for the year and that fee goes into expenses for growing or feeding your food until harvest. We use Nathanial Bruss, CJF’s farm for beef and pork (great job Nate!), a CSA called Stearns farm for fruit and veggies in the summer, the Valleyside Creamery for a lot of dairy, and the Farm Feast grain share to get grains not sold in most grocery stores like barley, farrow, emmer, and rye that keep things interesting. My husband loves to cook (I’m extremely spoiled), so he picks something from each category and cooks. That system works pretty well for us. We got to that system gradually, doing each stage individually and learning how to incorporate it into our habits. We still have a frozen pizza once in a while, and we eat out with friends and family without pause. Making an effort in choosing to support your body nutritionally matters in any capacity that you can. 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Farrier Article Journal Club Roundup By Heather Beauchemin, CJF, TE, AWCF What is Journal Club? For those who haven’t participated in a journal club, it’s a tool that’s often used in academic settings like graduate programs and vet schools to help members get comfortable reading scientific papers. All the members receive the same paper to read and then one member leads the group in a conversation about it, covering everything from the way the study was done to what follow up studies could look like, things that make sense in the paper as well as anything that’s missing or unclear. For the last 2 years, the AFA’s Equine Research Committee has hosted its online free Journal Club that is open to all members. This way, farriers can get familiar with scientific studies so they can not only confidently read papers for themselves, but also so that they can perform hoof-related research of their own. This month’s paper was titled “Changes in growth of the hoof wall and hoof morphology in response to regular periods of trotting exercise in Standardbreds”, by B. Faramarzi, DVM PhD, J. Thomason, BSc, PhD, and W. Sears, MSc, MS. The study was trying to show whether horses that are in work grow faster and/or distort more than horses who are not working. Anecdotally (based on common experience, not scientific studies), we typically agree that horses who are working will grow more hoof because of increased blood flow, and many other structures such as plants, bones, and even lamina, have been shown to change and adapt based on the forces placed upon them. But can it be shown in horses hooves? For this study, they took 18 Standardbred horses and worked 9 of them, 4 days per week, trotting 4,200-5,600 meters, while the other 9 were turned out in a large paddock, but otherwise not exercised. All right front feet were photographed and imaged with MRI, at the beginning and end of the study (a 17-week period). In order to measure hoof growth, they rasped a groove in the hoof 1.3 cm from the coronary band and filled it with paint, then measured to that groove after growth had occurred. To measure distortion, photographs were taken from the medial, lateral, dorsal, and solar angles. MRI was used to assess hoof capsule thickness. One question Katie Panos, CJF, Co-Chair of the Equine Research Committee raised, was that while the horses were normally being photographed and MRIed on a 6-week shoeing cycle, the last cycle where the final data was gathered was taken at 5 weeks. This might have slightly changed the results in the final “before and after” comparison. It also didn’t state whether measurements were taken before or after trimming and shoeing, which is relevant information if we were to try to repeat the study. Another possible variable is the fact that while the non-working horses were mostly given hay, the working horses had to have their hay supplemented with grain to maintain their body weight, which could change the amount of hoof growth in and of itself. Some of the working group topped out at 4,200 meters per day, while others became more fit over the course of the study, and ended up working 5,600 meters. This means even among the working group there was variation in the amount of exercise performed. For cleaner data, all horses could be exercised the same amount. One strong positive in this study was the fact that they reported how they trimmed and shod the horses. Many hoof studies don’t explain what type of trimming or shoeing method they used, or use very vague terms, but this study explained it in detail, even including how they fit the shoes. An attendee who had worked with Standardbreds in the past pointed out that given the age group of the horses, they would have probably raced prior to this study. This raises the question of whether the results would have been different using a group of horses who had never been subjected to regular exercise, versus horses whose hooves have probably been recently exposed to this type of work. Another attendee 24 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
who works with Standardbreds also suggested that looking at a group of horses of the right age range to be racing, we should question why these horses were available for this study. He suggested that they may have been pulled out of training for being unsound, which could also change the results of the study. The study’s results of the s were unexpected but straightforward. They found that despite being exercised and being fed more, there was no hoof growth difference between the working group and the turnout group. Katie pointed out that it was great that they published this paper even though the result wasn’t what they thought it would be, because now researchers can read it and look at details that could be changed, providing new study ideas. For instance, was walking around in turnout enough movement to create “exercise” levels of hoof growth? Would the data have looked different if the non-working group had been on stall rest instead of being turned out? They did find differences in all aspects between the beginning and end of the study, which may be explained by the shorter shoeing schedule in the last cycle. When it came to hoof capsule shape, there was no significant difference between the exercise group and the control group. They saw a trend (i.e., slight change, but not enough to be significant) toward shape change in the exercise group. Again, they saw changes between beginning and end of the study, which might be explained by the five week shoeing cycle. Katie suggested that since they were using MRI already, it would have been interesting to measure the bone density of P3 in the exercise vs. control group. Though that wasn’t the study’s focus, since they already had the data they could use it as a separate study. Overall, this was an interesting study and although there were a few variables that could have been clarified, it is useful information and a good jumping off point for further study of hoof growth and distortion. +++ Make Your Plans to be in Chattanooga, Tennessee! November 11-15, 2024 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 25
Calendar of Events We encourage you to contact the local host of any event you were planning to attend to see if it is still taking place. The AFA does not necessarily receive notification of all event postponements and cancellations. Thank you! June 21, 2024 SWOFA Hammer In Host: Southwestern Ohio Farriers Association Location: 111 Lakeview Acres Dr., Georgetown, OH 45121 Contact: Jarrod Moran, CJF – 937-618-1910 July 18-20 RMFA Contest Host: Rocky Mountain Farriers Association Location: Red Mountain Sports Complex 2305 Central Ave., Kremmling, CO 80459 Judge: Chad Chance, CJF Contact: Ryan Maxon, CJF – ryan.a.maxon@ gmail.com, 989-621-3941 July 19-21 Farrier Fest Host: Indiana Farriers Association Location: 7247 S. Picnic Dr., Nineveh, IN 46164 Clinicians: Todd Walker, CJF, Jennifer Horn, CJF, and Jamey Carsel, CJF Contact: [email protected], 812-381-1411 July 19 SWOFA Hammer In Host: Southwestern Ohio Farriers Association Location: 4270 W. Kessler-Cowlesville Rd., West Milton, OH 45383 Contact: Thom Gabel, CJF – 937-212-9855 August 2-3 SWOFA MAFIA Contest Host: Southwestern Ohio Farriers Association Location: Miami University Equestrian Center, 4950 Oxford Trenton Rd., Oxford, OH 45056 Judge: Nigel Fennell, CJF, FE, FWCF (Hons) Contact: Nathaniel Crumley, CJF – crumley [email protected], 330-464-0664 August 9-11 OFA Clinic and Contest Host: Oregon Farriers Association Where: Del Oeste Equine Hospital 29015 W Meadview Rd. Junction City, OR 97448 Clinician: Austin Edens, CJF Contact: Charlie Sayer, CF – 541-914-6352 August 16 SWOFA Hammer In Host: Southwestern Ohio Farriers Association Location: 4870 Hanson Hill Rd., Stockport, OH 43787 Contact: Mike Augenstein, CJF – 740-525-0529 August 24 ESFA Annual Clinic Host: Empire State Farriers Association Location: Southlands Foundation 5771 Rt. 9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Clinician: Mark Schneider, CJF Contact: Tom DuBois, CJF – 845-800-3656, [email protected] August 25 ESFA Annual Contest Host: Empire State Farriers Association Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds 6596 US-9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Clinician: Mark Schneider, CJF Contact: Tom DuBois, CJF – 845-800-3656, [email protected] September 13-14 Derby City Annual Contest Host: Derby City Farriers Association Location: Stone Place Stables, 7718 Rose Island Rd., Prospect, KY 40059 Judge: Travis Smith, CJF Contact: Zeke Evans – horseshoes92@ gmail.com, (502) 645-8911 September 20 SWOFA Hammer In Host: Southwestern Ohio Farriers Association Location: 11958 Sigal Rd., Germantown, OH 45327 Contact: Jacob Burall, CF – 870-715-5370 September 20 NFS Fall Clinic Location: Northeast Farrier Supply 480 Hayden Station Rd., Windsor, CT 05095 Clinician: Dusty Franklin, CJF, ASF, AWCF Contact: Vin Giannetti – vin@northeast farrier.com, 413-348-4867 October 18 SWOFA Hammer In Host: Southwestern Ohio Farriers Association Location: 7750 Richland Rd. NE Rushville, Ohio 43150 Contact: Josh Knotts, CF – 307-763-0248 November 6 Equine Podiatry Clinic Host: Indiana Farriers Association Location: Boone County Fairgrounds 1300 E 100 S Lebanon, IN 46052 Clinician: Dr. Simon Curtis, FWCF, BSc (Hons), PhD, HonAssocRCVS Contact: indianafarriersassociation@ gmail.com 26 NO FOOT, NO HORSE J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 26
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Certification and Tester Update Schedule Craig Stark, CJF — Certification Committee Chairman, (918) 857-0771 Lucas Gilleland, CJF — Pre-Certification Committee Chairman, (678) 873-2555 Online Registration through the AFA Certification Calendar required for all Certifications June 20-21 Kentucky Certification Host: Kentucky Horseshoeing School Location: Kentucky Horseshoeing School 3612 Lexington Rd., Richmond, KY 40475 Examiner: Jacob Manning, CJF All Levels/Areas Offered ONLINE Registration Only – americanfarriers.org Contact: Sarah Taylor – [email protected], 859-575-4063 July 12-13 Nebraska Certification Host: Midwestern Farriers Association Location: Hamilton County Fair Grounds, 310 A St., Aurora, NE 68818 Examiner: Mark Thorkildson, CJF, AWCF All Levels/Areas Offered ONLINE Registration Only – americanfarriers.org Contact: Ian Bevington – 3BFarrier@gmail. com, 402-677-6008 August 16-17 Wisconsin Certification Host: Wisconsin Farriers Association Location: W11586 Czech Ave., Coloma, WI 54930 Examiner: Jennifer Horn, CJF All Levels/Areas Offered ONLINE Registration Only – americanfarriers.org Contact: Noah Yoder – noahy2006@gmail. com, 920-539-8386 September 13-14 Rhode Island Certification Host: Southern New England Farrier’s Association Location: Ocean State Equine 11 Winsor Ave., North Scituate, RI 02857 Examiner: Jacob Manning, CJF All Levels/Areas Offered ONLINE Registration Only – americanfarriers.org Contact: Garrett Maloney – stonebridge [email protected], 401-744-4981 September 20-21 Michigan Certification Host: Michigan Horseshoers Association Location: Henry Detweiler’s Shop, 8810 Nashville Hwy., Vermontville, MI 49096 Examiner: Jacob Manning, CJF All Levels/Areas Offered ONLINE Registration Only – americanfarriers.org Contact: Jennifer Horn, CJF – jhorn847@ gmail.com, (906) 440-2537 October 4-5 Indiana Certification Host: Indiana Farrier’s Association Location: Richard Gingerich 13121 N 700 W Nappanee, IN 46550 Examiner: Jacob Manning, CJF All Levels/Areas Offered ONLINE Registration Only – americanfarriers.org Contact: Troy Price, CJF – troy@troyprice horseshoeingschool.com, 260-227-0677 October 4-5 Oklahoma Certification Host: Oklahoma Farriers Association Location: Five Star Horseshoeing School 807 Johnson Rd., Minco, OK 73059 Examiner: Doug Russo, CJF, AWCF All Levels/Areas Offered ONLINE Registration Only – americanfarriers.org Contact: Craig Stark, CJF – craigstarkcjf@ yahoo.com, 918-857-0771 October 25-26 South Carolina Certification Host: South Carolina Farriers Association Location: Palmetto Equine Veterinary Services 451 Jenkins Cir., Townville, SC 29689 Examiner: Jennifer Horn, CJF All Levels/Areas Offered ONLINE Registration Only – americanfarriers.org Contact: Dusty Newby, CJF – 864-992-0020, [email protected] 28 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
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Event Wrap-Ups Georgia Professional Farriers Association Certification It was a great turnout at the AFA Certification in Georgia on May 17-18. Thank you, Eric Gilleland, CJF, TE, FE, for being our Examiner and guiding all the Testers, Provisional Testers, candidates, and taking time with everyone there. Thank you, Testers, for doing a great job with all the candidates. Congratulations to all the candidates for pushing yourself to better not only the horse but yourselves by going through this journey. Congratulations to everyone that passed either portions or the level of Certification you set out to achieve. Thank you GPFA officers for running a very smooth certification, you all catered to everyone extremely well! We held our Certification on May 17-18. Mike Poe, CJF, AWCF, did a stand-up job with his clinic and then working his butt off as our Examiner. Thank you, Oleo Acres Farrier & Blacksmith Supply, Inc., who showed up and kept everyone supplied. Thank you for your continued support. A huge thank you to Wyoming School of Horseshoeing and Terry Bison Ranch for hosting us and providing horses. You guys are top notch. Thank you to all the other Examiners and Testers who worked this weekend. We couldn’t do it without you. To all who passed any portion of the test, congratulations! To those who came up short, keep your head up and keep the forward momentum. Keep moving until you succeed. We are already planning for next year! Rocky Mountain Farriers Association Certification 30 NO FOOT, NO HORSE
Association des Maréchaux-Ferrants du Québec Certification North Dakota Certification On April 19-20, we held our Certification, organized by Frédéric Duhamel at the Écurie Élégance in Laval. The Examiner, Brad Snyder, CJF, was accompanied by Francis Dufresne-Cyr, CJF, Sara Veenstra, CJF, and Tim Koelln, CJF, as Testers. Friday started with theoretical exam. Then the Examiner and Testers judged the CF shoe boards then the CJFs forged their bar shoes. Many thanks to those who brought horses, Kenny Lafleur and Amélie Côté, and to the Elegance Stables for the horses on site. Many thanks to Dr. Frederick Beauvais who gave us his time again to ensure the safety of the event. Thanks to Elegance Stables for an amazing location. Thank you to our Examiner Brad Snyder, CJF and testers Francis, Sara, and Tim. An incredible amount of work, effort, and knowledge was put into just two short days by our candidates working towards the CF, CTF, and CJF. Congratulations to everyone and be proud of yourselves! This was a great learning experience even for those who didn’t pass certain sections. Stay motivated, continue the legacy, and hammer on! Thank you to our Testers and Examiner Justin Frank, CJF, FE, DipWCF, and to everyone who helped out to make this event possible. And thank you to Allan Voeller, CJF for letting us use his awesome shop and organizing the horses available. J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 31
2201 Regency Rd., Ste. 704 Lexington, KY 40503 P 859-233-7411 [email protected] www.americanfarriers.org Education – Certification – Communication – Innovation – Research The Official Publication of the American Farrier’s Association Event Wrap-Ups SouthWestern Ohio Farriers Association Certification Congratulations to everyone who passed aspects of the CF and CJF levels at our Certification. There was some great work turned in and also things learned to better prepare the candidates for future tests. Thanks to our Examiner, Jacob Manning, CJF and to all the Testers for their hard work! Stress and tension can be high at these Certifications, but the Examiners and Testers put all the candidates at ease with their professionalism. Thanks to all my SWOFA brothers and sisters for helping with everything! Steve Myers is our money man and he keeps track of all expenses, big thanks to him. Jacob Burall, CF, supplied the candidates with some great horses to test on. Andrew Mueller, CJF, Jacob Simoni, CJF, David Beam, CJF, and Jessica Kubiak, CF, were there doing all the little things that makes these events a success. Master brisket man Thom Gabel, CJF, came through for a delicious lunch on Saturday. Liz and Harry Love provided us with a beautiful venue to hold our Certification! Dr. Patrick Foth, DVM, was on hand all day in case any of the horses needed a little cocktail, which was very much appreciated!