It has been just plain hot lately. Shoeing has been very busy as well. Last weekend I completed my second of three provisional testings in order to become an AFA Approved Tester. I have been learning so much about the the world of shoeing. working with other farriers from all over the country and helping candidates work through the process of the test has helped me evaluate my work with a more detailed eye.

            With the work going crazy and the early heat we have been having makes for some very long days. It has been very good though. Horses feet seem like that they are holding up better now than they were earlier in the summer and spring months. Farriers in our area have been needing to replace shoes often but it seems like that is easing up.

  Until next time keep cool and ride safe

Jeff

For the past three weeks I have attended, participated, or organized a farrier clinic. I will be home the next weekend and then off to two more functions the next two weekends.

 Let’s start with the first one I attended on April 17th. Monetta Farrier Specialties in Monetta SC hosted a clinic with Mike Wildenstein CJF,FWCF.  Mike is the head farrier at Cornell University. He had a great power point presentation of the work he sees at the university and showed us how important it is to veiw the whole horse in order to shoe it correctly.

  The next weekend, April 24th I went up to Leatherwood NC for a clinic with the NCHA. I was the speaker for the morning session. I did a demonstration on shoeing to the AFA Certification and my work was scored by a few of the AFA testers present (I passed). After the horse was done we did some work on what to look for in the certified shoe display. When lunch was over, they brought out some horses for some guys interested in getting certified to do some mock runs with AFA testers and myself scoreing them and showing them what to look for in order to pass.

 SHOE had a big double header weekend. On Friday night we had a great limb dissection class with over 50 people in attendance. On May 1st we had a fun day at the horseowner cilnic and forging contest. All I have to say is that I am glad it is now Sunday and I am kicking back today. At the sametime though, I am excited about what I have learned and the friends I got to see and new ones that I made.

The phone has been ringing off the hook lately which means there has been some late nights getting home. The weather was threatening last night but we still had the Hammer In. I only had one here last night(two including me), but we still had fun. SHOE is having a contest next month at our spring clinic for horseowner and farrier, so I was practicing for that. I will post a picture of one of the contest shoes. This shoe is called a “caulk and feather” shoe. I believe it is used on driving horses. It is a rear shoe. The caulk is on the outside and the feathered heel is on the inside. The feathered heel is wedged as tall as the caulk. It is a fun shoe to make because it incorporates just about every aspect of forging, except welding. Until next time hope everyone has a great spring and stays safe.

We had the first of many weeks to come of warm temperatures. It does, however, feels good to have sunny skies and the smell of spring. This coming week will be real busy. There are plenty of horses to shoe plus the Hammer In this Thursday. The fliers are getting out for the clinic in May. This will be a great event. As I get older, I get more and more passionate about shoeing horses. I learn more everyday now than ever. We have a great network of farriers in this area who are working very hard to keep ourselves educated to keep horses going longer. A farrier measures success by how long he or she can keep horses living sound, happy lives. Well until next time be safe.

Well it is that time of year. Weather is getting warmer,flies are coming out and horses are shedding like mad. This is also a busy time for farrier clinics as well. There is a lot going on in the next few months. Me and a couple buddies are heading up to NC Tool this weekend for their yearly open house and clinic. These are always fun,see friends,learn stuff and eat great food. Along with attending clinics I will be participating in a farrier clinic with the NCHA in Leatherwood NC on April 24th.  After passing the AFA Journeyman test, I thought I was done with the certification process,wrong! I was notified the other day that my name was added to the provisional tester list. Becoming an AFA tester is another long process. I have to go to three testings and learn how to score candidates as I get evaluated. I will be attending my first test as a provisional tester in May. I am looking forward to this new challenge in my career. That’s all I have have as far as an update. Please keep checking back from time to time. I will be adding new pictures as well

Jeff

We had our Hammer In tonight. Six Farriers were here to exchange ideas and help each other. I had to shoe my daughter’s horse while some worked on shoe boards for the AFA certification. AFA certification is a very important part of our industry. It pushes farriers to educate themselves and recieve confidence in their skills. I feel honored to have Doug Morgan,Nathan Campbell,Randy Baker,Brian Baire and Tim Worden here tonight. The next Hammer In will be the second Thursday night in March. Thanks guys for coming tonight, I really enjoyed having you here. There are more photos on the Anvil Concepts Facebook page.

Last night we attended the SHOE awards banquet. Every year we recognize folks in the equine community for their efforts in help horses and horse people. As always when there is an event such as this, alot of emotions come out. Certainly this banquet was no different. Our local industry lost a close friend and family member. Mr. Ben Pierce of Pierce Farrier Supply passed away this year. He was allways there for SHOE when we needed it. Several awards last night were in honor of him and presented to his family. This event is very special with lots of laughs and tears. Coming up next is a hammer in here at my house this Thursday.

Jeff

I was invited to speak at Western Union Elementary School for their Mathathon yesterday. The object was to show the students how I use math in my everyday work. I brought my dead hoof model and a handmade shoe I built for that hoof. I shared with them the different formulas we use to figure out how much steel we cut for that particular hoof. I hope the hoof didn’t freak any of the kids out causing nightmares but it would have been hard to bring a who horse in the classroom. They rotated the classes out every 20 minutes or so. I have no idea of how many students I saw in the 3 hours I was there. Of course with this being an elementary school, I had some great questions(you can only imagine). Tonight my wife and I are going to the SHOE awards banquet. It will be a good time, with the whole equine community represented there. I will post about it tomorrow. Until then stay safe and dry.

Jeff

Although it is the weekend and the weather is nasty, thank goodness I did not have to shoe horses. I did work, however. I finished working on setting up my email for this site using Google services. I also set my calender using Google as well. I can now sync by Blackberry via the internet anywhere and anytime. I was somewhat nervous about dropping my phone in a bucket of water or whatever happens to cell phones without a good visual back up. This allows me to have one. I have received a bunch of emails from clients this weekend about the website and had several compliments. Thank you all for this.  I will be seeing you all soon.

Jeff

Since passing the AFA CJF, I have been busy talking to area farriers. I have scheduled a Hammer In here at my shop. Anybody who is searching to get certified, this will be a great event. I will have other certified farriers here to assist anyone who wants it. I look foward to farrier events because the sharing of ideas and the telling of stories makes for a fun time.