Volume 3, Issue 1 / April 2002

VHA General Membership Meeting

The Virginia Horseshoers Association held its General Membership meeting on Saturday, September 22, 2001 at Danny Ward's shop in Martinsville, VA. Discussions were held during the meeting about the success of clinics and contests held in 2001 as well as planned activities for 2002.

Every effort will be made to have a Winter clinic, a tool making clinic, the
Orange County Fair Contest as well as the possibility of an ornamental blacksmithing clinic. The next board meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 12th in Virginia Beach, VA after the AFA written portion of the certification testing.

Results of the 2001 elections for Officers and Directors of the VHA were announced during the meeting. Commencing January 1, 2002, Butch Hockaday will be President; Russ Hite, Vice President; Judy Hite, Secretary/Treasurer; with Dennis Butler, Scott Collier, Tamson Howard, Mark Ingram, Jock Owings and Billy Wood making up the Board of Directors. 

During the meeting, Danny Ward announced that he was able to send a very nice donation to St. Judes and the Make A Wish Foundation from the donations received from the NCHA/Danny Ward 2000 Eastern Farrier Conference. Danny also had some terrific news. Starting in February 2002, he will re-open his farrier school for 8 or 9 weeks classes.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Pat Connor was presented with a plaque from the VHA in recognizing his efforts and contributions to the VHA. Pat is a prior Board member and has always been involved and concerned about the success of the VHA. Pat has always been willing to assist other farriers and has been gracious enough to share his knowledge and experience with others during clinics, contests and certifications. Thanks for all your hard work Pat.

After the board meeting, Danny Ward demonstrated the use of Equithane Superfast Adhesive. Danny trimmed a horse and used the adhesive to glue on shoes. Farriers, Pat Connor, Scott Collier and John Kern assisted Danny. Danny also demonstrated and discussed the application of wooden shoes for short term applications. A representative from Vettec (Equithane) gave an informative and lengthy discussion of the uses and application of Equithane products.

The VHA would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU to Danny Ward for allowing us the opportunity to once again conduct our meeting at his facility and for his time and efforts as our clinician.

Thoughts from the President!

Let me begin by saying that I am looking forward to serving as your President to the best of my ability and hope I may be of service to the VHA. I would like to spend a few moments discussing clinics, contests and educational seminars within the VHA.

These events are one or two day sessions that allow the VHA the opportunity to bring someone in to conduct educational discussions, present practical and useful techniques, deliver new ideas, challenge our knowledge while allowing for fellowship within our association and throughout other associations. These events take lots of time to put together. Logistics for clinicians, judges, discussion ideas and demonstrations, contest requirements, announcements, materials, fees and food are just some of the topics that require coordination in order to put on a successful event. Host members spend months preparing for these events. 

I would like to personally thank those members who have dedicated themselves to ensuring that the VHA offers educational and informative clinics and contests. I would also like to commend their efforts and recognize their sacrifices and say that I am thankful that they are a member of the VHA.

If any member has a suggestion or recommendation for a clinic or contest, please contact any board member and let them know your thoughts. If you know of someplace to have an event, pass that along as well. This is your association so please let the board know how we may better serve the membership. We are in the process of planning for the Year End Meeting and coordinating ideas for 2003, so if you have a suggestion, please pass it along.

AFA 31st Annual Convention

The American Farriers Association held its Annual Convention in Lexington, Kentucky from March 4th to March 9th. This convention provided new and important information for the farrier as well as a wonderful opportunity to fellowship with other farriers from around the world. This convention, held in the "Horse Capital of the World", included forging contests, committee meetings, draft team and live shoeing contests, hands on clinics, rig contests and American Farriers Gold and Silver Team demonstrations. 

During the convention there were also many educational lectures presented by such renowned individuals as Mitch Taylor, Dr. Tracy Turner, Bob Parks, Roy Bloom, Andrew Elsbree, Steve Stephenson, Tom Parris, Dave Harvey, Bob Menker and Richard Becker. These presenters discussed topics on biomechanics and dissection of the lower leg, palmar heel pain, shoeing Arabian show horses, getting the most of your tools, certification, more profit with more time off, and shoeing drafts with stocks. 

The marketplace offered suppliers and farriers the opportunity to discuss new products and distribute samples. Start making plans now to attend the 2003 AFA Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Watch for future copies of the American Farriers Journal for information on how to obtain videos of the contests and lectures held during the 2002 convention.

 How Do You Have Fun with a Sledge Hammer?
Attend a Jim Poor Clinic

Fun, informative, exciting! It has to be a Jim Poor clinic!!! The VHA held their winter clinic this year at the home of Jennifer and Russ Hite in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Jim and Kathleen Poor were the clinicians for this two-day event. Jim and Kathleen did a super job delivering a very informative clinic. On the first day, Jim and Kathleen shod a horse and held a discussion on trimming and shoeing. The remainder of the day and the following day were spent on forging exercises. 

Jim and Kathleen would demonstrate a project and the attendees would pair up by drawing names to attempt the project just demonstrated. Tongs, pritchels, hoof knives and throwing axes were among the projects completed by the attendees. Each time a new project was started, the attendees would draw for new partners. This gave everybody the chance to work with someone else and experience striking. Each demonstration was informative and fun. While the projects were being made, Jim and Kathleen spent their time working with the teams and answering questions. The tools and shoes made during this two day event assists everyday forge work. 

The VHA would like to thank Jim and Kathleen for an excellent job. We hope to have them back soon.. The VHA would also like to thank Russ Hite and his entire family for all their efforts to ensure the success of the winter clinic. If the opportunity presents itself to attend a Jim Poor clinic in the future, don't miss out, you'll never regret it.

AFA Pre-Certification Clinic

The Virginia Horseshoers Association held an American Farriers Association pre-certification clinic on March 23, 2002. Pat Connor, an active AFA and VHA member, Certified Journeyman farrier and approved AFA Tester was gracious enough to spend his time assisting those preparing to take there Certified and Journeyman certification test(s). The clinic was held at Pat's shop in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Pat demonstrated his tried and true techniques to satisfy the requirements for passing the practical portion of both the Certified and Journeyman tests. 

Pat discussed hoof preparation, shoe preparation, shoe fit, nailing, clinching and foot finish. Pat also discussed the requirements for the journeyman handmade shoes by discussing measuring bar stock, required toe and quarter clips, shoe finish and nail placement. Pat emphasized the requirements for balance, leveling and expansion for both levels of testing. Pat also went into great detail about the requirements for the shoe board. He discussed clips, squared, rolled and rocker toes, extended heels, the bar shoe, traction devices, trailers and nail holes. Pat also discussed the requirements for the Journeyman bar shoe to include fitting a pattern, welding, fullering and nail placement. If that wasn't enough, Pat also provided valuable insight into taking the written portions of both tests. Each attendee left the clinic with a tremendous amount of information and learned effective and useful techniques that will not only aid their AFA testing but significantly impact their everyday shoeing. The VHA would like to thank Pat for all his continued efforts and Mike Adams of Virginia Farrier Supply for donating the keg shoes used during the clinic.

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