Volume 2, Issue 2 / July 2001It's Finally Here - VHA Website! The VHA web address is www.vahorseshoers.com. Please take a few moments to look it over and let us know what you think. The website has a newsletter section which contains unabridged articles from the VHA newsletter, Hammer and Tongs. The site also has a members directory, calendar of events, information about membership as well as links to other farrier related websites. The site also contains information concerning VHA membership as well as a printable membership application. If you know of someone who is interested in joining the VHA, please let them know about the site and how they can join right away. Please check the site often as updates will be made based on recent news and activities happening within the association. If you have ideas for the site or suggestions or comments, please click on the “Contact Webmaster” link at the bottom of the homepage to send an email or call Connie Hockaday directly at (540)582-5486. This is your website and your input is what makes the association continue to grow and informative.
VHA - Jim Quick Clinic For the first time, the Virginia Horseshoers Association held a two day clinic with Mr. Jim Quick from Colorado. The clinic was held on Friday and Saturday, May 4th and 5th at Oceana Stables in Virginia Beach, Virginia. What a treat!!! The clinic started at 9:00 on Friday as Mr. Quick discussed his theories and principles for shoeing. Next, we all made or shaped a front and hind shoe with toe clips while Jim went from truck to truck and made comments on our forging methods. After all the shoes were reviewed by Jim and commented upon, we went back and repeated the same forging exercises (hopefully with better results). Finally, Jim shod a horse all the way around as he discussed the previous trim job. Jim commented on why he was shoeing the way he was and why you shouldn’t leave heels too long (on shoes and on feet). He also discussed fitting clips. On Saturday, Jim trimmed a dead foot and everyone made or shaped a front shoe to fit the foot. Everyone gathered around the foot after they completed making their shoe, and one by one, the shoes were fit to the foot and commented on. Afterwards, Jim dissected and cut with a bandsaw one specimen leg and 2 hooves so all functions and disciplines of the lower leg and hoof could be discussed. After lunch, Jim shod an Arabian with setdown bar shoes while removing and explaining why the 3 degree wedge aluminum egg bars didn’t work and how and why the new shoes would. We polished off a great clinic by borrowing some horses from the stable, picking some teams and making handmades or clipping keg shoes, trimming and hot fitting feet and nailing the shoes on. All under the watchful eye of Mr. Jim Quick. Thanks to Dennis Butler, Larrane Flippin, Craig McClure and Jim Quick for everything they did that took this clinic from mediocre to extraordinary.
The Benefits of Membership You’ve heard those commercials about the benefits of ownership (e.g. credit cards), well have you actually considered the benefits of your membership in a farrier association? Being a member of the Virginia Horseshoers Association provides several benefits; meetings, clinics, the Loose Shoe magazine, accident/illness program and of course, this publication, Hammer and Tongs. In the last few years, I have realized that there are several other benefits of membership that aren’t advertised and I thought I would mention them. The accident/illness program is a terrific idea. This program provides financial support when a member is unable to work provided they are currently enrolled in the program. This program is fully funded by the members of the VHA. Providing additional financial support to those out of work is something that many members do outside of their enrollment in the accident/illness program. I have heard many times over the years about members being out of work due to broken limbs, sickness, injured fingers, hands and arms, and have heard about other members stepping up to do more. Members might shoe a horse or two and send the money to the out of work member; coordinate a clinic and have proceeds donated to that member, or just send money out right. Most recently, I have heard about members from other associations sending our out of work members financial support to help until they are back on their feet. Who of us, couldn’t use that kind of support? Of course, membership support to out of work members doesn’t just end with sending money. Our membership helps each other. I know of situations when a member has been out of work for even just a short time and other members have helped out. A farrier might have their schedule booked weeks in advance and can’t really reschedule things and can’t afford to lose all that work. So what do the members of our association do, they help out. They split the load. Several members will work together with the injured member and ensure that the scheduled appointments are taken care of. What a heartwarming sacrifice. One association member loosing a day of work to help out a fellow member. That’s what membership is all about. What about the benefit of knowing each other? Within our association, is years of experience. A knowledge base that is available for the asking. I know when I run across something I’m not sure how to handle, I can call members for advice. With an association as large as ours, why go through unfamiliar territory alone? We have all had situations where we just weren’t sure how much to take off, what type of shoe to use, how much to resect and things like that. Take the time to make the call and benefit from the knowledge of the membership. Membership does have its benefits but the rewards of membership are much greater. Fellowship within an association is vital to receiving the rewards of membership. Fellowship in any association and across associations provides a member access to wealth's of information as well as emotional and professional support. If you aren’t an active member in the association, get involved, get to know others in the membership you can call on when you need to. Attend VHA board meetings. Participate in clinics and contests, not just VHA events, but any associations events. Don't think twice about asking or learning, that’s why we joined the association, isn’t it?
A Few Words from "Mr. Hoof" After two years shoeing my own horses, I hung up my business card. Since then, reading, associating with farriers and getting under a bunch of horses has helped my a lot. My friend and farrier, Steve Feden of Palmyra Forge Horseshoeing, has unselfishly helped me and his dedication to the art represents what this business is about: caring for horses and sharing knowledge. I have a lot of learning ahead of me, but thanks to the farrier association and a friend like Steve, I look forward to improving. Some of the practical knowledge I can share with other farriers getting started concerns restraint. New farriers tend to start with horses that veteran farriers won't do - sometimes this means unruly horses. I count myself lucky not to have had any major mishaps using restraint. Sometimes unruly horses don't like restraint and may protest in a manner dangerous both to you and themselves. This may lead some farriers to conclude that restraint is better left to a trainer as horseshoeing is best left to the farrier.
2000 Clinic at Danny Ward's The Virginia Horseshoer's Association held its end of the year 2000 meeting in conjunction with a clinic at Danny Ward's. After the meeting, Danny started the clinic with a demonstration about altering and adjusting tongs. After a bit of tool making, we shod a horse. While Danny was shoeing the front feet, he warned against being over-enthusiastic when shoeing new horses. Trying too hard to correct faults by different (sometimes drastic) shoeing can result in lameness. I finished the front feet, then Scott Collier and Jock Owings trimmed the back feet. Meanwhile, Butch Hockaday made the shoes which were then finished and nailed on. After an awesome lunch, we had an auction of donated items generously supplied by the talented individuals in the VHA and our gracious supply companies. Many thanks to Mr. Ward for letting us use his facility and for the time he donates to increasing our knowledge of the trade.
VHA Tool making Clinic A tool making clinic was held on April 20 and 21, 2001 at Butch Hockaday’s shop in Spotsylvania, Virginia with clinician Shayne Carter from Utah. On the first day of the clinic, Shayne conducted a demonstration on making eye drifts, fullers, chisels, forepunches, pritchels and spring dies that would be used to make these tools. On the second day of the clinic, Shayne conducted a demonstration on hoof knives and tongs. After the demonstration, each attendee made each of the aforementioned tools. Each of these tools were made in a coal fire with a power hammer, a striker with a sledge hammer. Shayne discussed the use and management of the coal fire and covered the annealing, hardening and tempering of tools as well as grinding and buffing for knife maintenance. This was a very information and productive two day event. Those in attendance went home informed and enthused. Shayne delivered a terrific clinic, spending time with attendees well past the "forges off" time. Shayne worked with each attendee to ensure their tools were complete and functional. Special thanks is extended to Russ Hite for all his efforts and assistance prior to and during this clinic. |
