As the only nationwide event of its kind and scale, the AFA Convention brings farriers, veterinarians, suppliers, horse owners and students together for four days of education, competition, certification, hands-on learning and networking, as well as a robust MarketPlace that includes many of the top suppliers and manufacturers in the equine industry.

Beginning on Monday, Nov. 8, our 50th Annual Convention will feature guest lecturers who are the top of their fields in the farrier, blacksmith and veterinarian professions. Including 20 hour-long session in just four days, attendees will be able to learn from renowned speakers on a variety of hoof-care related topics.

In addition to lectures, AFA Convention guests will be able to participate in hands-on learning demonstrations with our qualified certification instructors, start their journey towards farrier certification with our Examiners and Testers, visit top-of-the-line suppliers and exhibitors in our MarketPlace, network with people from all over the world, and watch the best farriers in the industry compete in our 2021 National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition.

The National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition will take place from Nov. 9 through Nov. 11, featuring over 100 farriers competing in the Open, Intermediate and 2-Person Draft Classes, and culminating in the Capewell North American Challenge Cup Live Shoeing Finals on Nov. 11 from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. It is following this competition that the members of the 2022 American Farriers Team will be named. These outstanding competitors will then represent the United States at competitions all over the world, but most notably at the International Team Horseshoeing Competition at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, England, in October 2022.

“We are excited to be returning to Arlington for our 50th year to showcase the rich history of our association in a location that has proven to be popular with our attendees and vendors. We look forward to highlighting our past success and looking toward the future during this special 50-year celebration,” said AFA executive director, Martha Jones. “We welcome anyone in the Arlington area to attend—even if it's only for just one day—to watch and learn from the top farriers and veterinarians in the world, and to better understand why using a qualified farrier matters for the welfare of your horse.”

More information on the AFA Convention, including the full schedule of speakers, events, registration and competition classes, can be found on our website.

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As the only nationwide event of its kind and scale, the AFA convention brings farriers, veterinarians, suppliers, horse owners and students together for four days of education, competition, certification, hands-on learning and networking, as well as a robust MarketPlace that includes many of the top suppliers and manufacturers in the farrier industry. And to celebrate our anniversary, this year will also include special events such as our Legends Exhibition, recognition of American Farriers Team alumni, a Forefathers of the AFA presentation, and much more!

Beginning on Tuesday, November 9, guest lecturers who are at the top of their fields in the farrier, blacksmith and veterinarian professions will present twenty hour-long sessions, allowing attendees to learn from renowned speakers on a variety of hoof-care related topics.

This year's esteemed speakers are as follows:

Amy Armentrout, DVM, MS, DACVS
Brent Barrett, DVM, CJF
Shayne Carter, CJF, MS
Blane Chapman, CJF
Dusty Franklin, CJF, ASF, AWCF
Jim Keith, CJF
Ray Legel, CJF
Dennis C. Manning, CJF
Myron McLane, CJF
Grant Moon, CJF, AWCF
Lee Olsen, CJF
Tom Petersen, CJF
Jim Poor, CJF
Patrick Reilly
Bodie Trnka, CJF
Thomas N. Trosin, CF, CTF, CJF

The National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition will take place from November 9 through November 11, featuring some of the best farriers in the nation competing in the Open, Intermediate, and 2-Person Draft Classes, and culminating in the Capewell North American Challenge Live Shoeing Finals on November 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It is following this competition that the members of the 2022 American Farriers Team and Apprentice Team will be named. These outstanding competitors will then represent the United States at numerous competitions, but most notably at the renowned International Team Horseshoeing Competition at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, England.

In addition to lectures and the competition, AFA convention guests will be able to participate in hands-on learning demonstrations with our qualified certification instructors, start or continue their journey towards farrier certification with our Examiners and Testers, visit top-of-the-line suppliers and exhibitors in our MarketPlace and network with their peers in the industry.

“It's been 18 months since our community has been able to gather together for this event, and we could not be more excited to finally be celebrating our 50 years in Arlington. From outstanding lectures to an exciting competition, and a jam-packed MarketPlace to special anniversary events, this year is shaping up to be one you do not want to miss,” said AFA/FIA Executive Director, Martha Jones. “We welcome anyone in Arlington and the surrounding areas to attend – even if it's just for one day – to watch and learn from the top farriers in the country.”

More information on the AFA convention, including the full schedule of speakers, events and competition classes, can be found here.

For registration information, including one-day passes and guest passes, please click here or call the AFA/FIA office at 859-233-7411.

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The reasons for this misconception are twofold, explained journeyman farrier Pat Broadus. 

First, racehorses coming off the track are usually at the end of their shoeing cycle, or even overdue, so those individuals tasked with taking over the horses' care do not see the feet at their best. That image of long-toed, uneven hooves is then perceived to be the fault of the farrier at the track, when in reality the horses' feet may have simply overgrown the shoes due to the time it takes to find retiring racehorses a new home.

Second, the lack of a standardized test to acquire a racetrack farrier's license has been a growing problem for several decades. As it stands in most states, all it takes to be licensed to shoe racehorses is a currently licensed farrier to vouch for the newcomer. The pitfalls of this system are easy to see, with unqualified individuals able to acquire licenses and begin caring for racehorses' feet without the necessary education to do so safely and successfully.

Licensing for racetrack farriers hasn't always been that way. 

The Journeyman Horseshoers Union, founded in 1874 as one of the oldest labor unions in the United States, initially helped farriers collaborate with the Teamsters, those driving teams of horses over long distances. The JHU developed tests for farriers, including forging custom shoes as well as exams on equine anatomy and physiology.

When the Teamsters switched from horsepower to engines, the JHU found a new home on the backstretch of the racetrack. In its heyday, the JHU required a five-year apprenticeship with a veteran racetrack farrier in order to be eligible to take the licensing exam. 

The difficulty of the test and strict requirements of the JHU meant that racetrack farriers were considered to be at the very top of their profession from the 1940s through the 1960s. 

By the 1970s however, the power of the JHU had started to decline as right-to-work laws began to grow in number. The apprenticeship requirement was decreased to three years, and continued complaining about the testing, as well as a lack of qualified examiners, eventually helped wipe out the exam altogether.

The American Farrier's Association, established in 1971, has since moved to the forefront of farriery qualifications. The AFA has developed four levels of testing for farriers, with “journeyman” the highest qualification, and in the minds of many, that has helped sporthorse farriers shift to the forefront as the “best” of their profession.

The most unique aspect of the AFA testing is the written portion of the exam, which tests a farrier's knowledge of anatomy, structure, how shoeing affects a horse's motion and stride, and different lameness issues.

“They're getting $350 to $400 to shoe show horses, so what's happened is the talent level at the racetrack has decreased,” explained Pat Broadus, who added that racetrack farriers may shoe horses for $200-$250 apiece. “The people that come out of school or have a lot of talent are drawn to show horses because they make more money. It's a better lifestyle with weekends off and you don't have to travel as much, so we're really losing a lot of talent in the younger people coming up.”

Since racetrack licensing boards do not require AFA certification for farriers seeking a license, and licensing is contingent upon the validation of other working farriers, it's been hard for racetracks to strike the right balance between ensuring a high level of competency, fulfilling the demand for horseshoers, and avoiding right-to-work lawsuits.

In 2016, The Jockey Club attempted to refine a standardized farrier's test that it hoped would be adopted nationwide, much like model rules for other aspects of racing. The standardized farrier's test was developed by the Shoeing & Hoof Care Committee of the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, chaired by prominent owner Bill Casner.

However, debate amongst trainers and currently-licensed farriers about the test's format and who the examiners would be kept the project from getting off the ground.

“For the most part, racetrack shoers stay quiet and stay in the background,” explained Pat Broadus. “Most of these guys have businesses built, and they help bring somebody else along. 

“Still, a lot of racetrackers were looking for something to validate themselves, to prove they could get things done on the big stage. It was up to them, because the test had been gone; you couldn't take a test and be validated anymore.”

Tired of hearing that racetrack farriers were not as good as their sporthorse counterparts, Broadus decided to pursue the AFA's top-level journeyman certification. In April of 2021 he became the first racetrack farrier to earn that distinction in nearly 40 years. 

Eric Gillaland was the lead examiner for several parts of Broadus' testing. 

“For him, coming from the racehorse background, is a little different from the majority of the AFA,” Gillaland said. “For the journeyman test, you have to make a bar shoe to fit a pattern. The first time he did it, he did it in aluminum, and we weren't sure about that. Everybody else does it in steel. But he did a beautiful job. He's talented enough that the second time, he just did it in steel. 

“His method was also very different on his live horseshoeing. We use plain stamp shoes, which are definitely not a racehorse thing, because there's no traction at all in those. He made templates, then walked to the truck and didn't have to walk back and forth to the horse 10 times to see if it fit. Watching him go through stuff, the efficiency that he has, most of the racetrackers probably have to be efficient to get so many young, excitable horses done each day.”

Broadus has now inspired other racetrack farriers to pursue their AFA certifications, spending multiple hours of his own time each week helping them study.

“I was a farrier for 28 years before I took the test, and I'm a much better farrier now than I was then,” Broadus said. “But at the end of the day, it's not about me. I stepped up and did it first, but if no one else does it, it doesn't mean anything. That's the reason I'm so proud of these guys going up there; they're leading the way.”

Broadus' father, Sonny, was the president of the Arkansas branch of the JHU, and was an examiner for some of the final JHU exams given in that state.

“We had a lot more quality horseshoers back then,” Sonny Broadus said. “There was no such thing as a superstar. There were just craftsmen, and everybody kind of followed their lead. 

“The trainers knew a lot more, too. Trainers would walk around the barn area while you were shoeing a horse. He might stand there for 30 minutes, talking to someone else while he watched you shoe a horse, and you might see him three or four times in a week. If he liked what he saw, he'd come back and ask you if you had room to add his horses to your schedule, and you'd work something out.”

The elder Broadus is extremely proud of his son's passion to help improve not only his own craft, but that of those around him. He hopes Pat's dedication to continuing education helps show today's trainers the importance of testing farriers.

“Every trainer should want his farrier to at least be qualified, and that's what the journeyman's test with the JHU stood for,” said Sonny Broadus. “It told you he was qualified; he's not a genius, but he's not going to hurt you, either.”

Gillaland agreed that trainers should want their farriers to be able to pass the competency exam, but acknowledged that the AFA hasn't been as proactive as it could be about educating trainers and horse owners about the certification process.

“The AFA is an excellent organization, but the downfall is it's run by volunteer farriers, and the reason we get into this is we're hands-on people,” Gillaland said. “We're not sit-downers, so to do other stuff to promote the certification, it doesn't really fall into the realm of understanding.

“It really comes down to, I think, the majority of people are not that involved in certification because their owners don't ask for it. Whoever their farrier is, that's who they think is best.”

The AFA's website does a good job explaining the different levels of certification the organization offers, and Gillaland hopes Broadus' actions help inspire trainers to begin talking to their farriers.

“If these trainers knew what was involved in studying for and taking the test, they'd start asking their farriers whether or not they were certified,” Gillaland summarized.

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“This is a very exciting time for both associations, and we have some plans that we are sure will bring the manufacturing and vendor side of the industry closer to our AFA members.  A lot of work has gone into this merger and we hope you will join us in our excitement,” said Jon Johnson, CJF, AFA President.

Although the brands and identities of the AFA and the FIA will remain unchanged, the two associations will be jointly managed to provide enhanced benefits, streamlined communications and increased education for the betterment of both groups. “We truly believe that both associations will grow, thrive and continue the positive momentum that they have already established under this agreement”, said Executive Director, Martha Jones. “I can't wait to see what we can accomplish together.”

The two associations will continue working together on the AFA annual convention, as well as on additional projects to align the organizations and provide increased benefits for their members.

“We certainly see this as groundbreaking,” said FIA President, Chuck Milne. “In fact, bringing the industry and farriers closer together is something we have all wanted to see for quite some time. I believe this agreement will directly benefit our organizations both individually and collectively, as well,” he said.

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. Learn more here.

The organization of the MarketPlace at the AFA Convention is just one facet of this vibrant and multi-dimensional organization. The FIA membership is made up of suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers of farrier-related products from around the world. If it is important to our members' businesses, it is important to the FIA. We are committed to helping our members grow their businesses with networking, education, marketing and outreach through our Business Conference, newsletter, membership directory, website and much more. Learn more here.

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