Volume 5, Issue 1 / April 2004

VHA Ornamental Blacksmithing Clinic
by John Kern

     On December 7th, 8 hearty VHA members braved the winter elements to participate in an artistic blacksmithing clinic at Clay Hill Forge in Charlottesville.

     Dale Morse, blacksmithing clinician, spent the morning demonstrating many different types of forged leaves with requests to re-demonstrate the technique, from the enthusiastic farriers in attendance. The leaves were welded to stems and subsequently to branches to form an ornamental design. These same welding techniques are utilized to form a bar shoe.

     After lunch, Dale proceeded with an open forum that included forming tendons, rivets, bands, scrolling, bumping and welding of heavy stock for ornamental iron gates.

     Dale concluded the clinic by demonstrating how to make the necessary tools (punches, chisels and fullers) he utilizes for his iron projects.

     Clinics provided through the VHA are demonstrations. If interest evolves, Dale does have clinics available where you actively participate and apply the techniques he discusses. If you would like to register for a clinic offered by Dale, you may contact him at 434-244-7833 or e-mail at vulkanschmiede@yahoo.com.

     A special thank you to Melinda Collier and Cathy Kern for providing lunch.

2004 AFA Convention Report

     The AFA Convention was held in Rochester, NY from February 24th to February 28th. There were approximately 1,300 attendees (including registered farriers, guests, Farrier Industry Association members and their guests). The convention schedule included meetings, contests, a marketplace, lectures, panel discussions, labs, hands on clinics, AFA Team demonstrations, a reception, auction and banquet. The AFA newsletter, Foot Notes, will contain a review of the convention and a full report will be presented in the March/April issue of Professional Farrier. Next years' convention will be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee from the 23rd to the 26th of February 2005. The VHA would like to thank John Kern for attending the Board of Directors meeting and for serving as the VHA representative at this years' convention.

2004 American Farrier's Association Award Winners:

Administration Award - Lisa Knipp; Longmont, Colorado
Jim Linzy Outstanding Clinician Award - Bob Marshall, Mission, British Columbia, Canada
Outstanding Educator Award - Chris Gregory, CJG, FWCF; Lamar, Missouri
Edward Martin Humanitarian Award - Craig Trnka, CJF; Edgewood, New Mexico
Journalism Award - Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF; La Porte, Colorado
Walt Taylor Award - Eric Nygaard, CJF; Sarasota, Florida
Association Newsletter Award - San Diego County Farrier's Association, Kevin Boyer, Editor

2004 American Farrier's Team:

1. Austin Edens, CJF; Llano, Texas***2. John McNerney, CJF; Platteville, Colorado
3. Dick Becker, CJF; Lapeer, Michigan***4. Hank Highfield, CJF; Indianapolis, Indiana
Alternate: Todd Walker, CJF; Georgetown, Texas

Horseshoes Mean More Than Luck at Convention

     Austin Edens reared back with his hammer and, using a mighty and precise stroke, pounded the living daylights out of a small steel bar a mere 1 inch wide. Then the burly Texan did it again. And again. And again in rapid succession. The bar, still glowing orange from the heat, was being reshaped into a horseshoe. A crowd, recognizing one of the most skilled farriers in the United States, gathered to study Edens' quick and powerful style. The backdrop for his impressive display wasn't a farm or rural setting, but downtown Rochester.

     The American Farriers Association is holding its 33rd annual convention this week at the Riverside Convention Center. About 1,200 farriers - people who specialize in horseshoes - are in town to participate in competitions, educational seminars and a trade show. The gathering, which runs through Saturday and is not open to the general public, has attracted farriers and businesses from every state and numerous countries, including Japan, Sweden, Australia, Holland, France, Germany, Iceland and Mexico. Even "Miss Rodeo America" of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association - Darci Robertson of Santa Cruz, Calif. - is here promoting "the Western way of life." "The convention for farriers is the equivalent of going to Disneyland for little kids," said Craig Trnka, president of the association and a farrier from Edgewood, N.M. Danvers Child, a farrier and the editor of Professional Farrier magazine agreed. "I don't think it gets any bigger than this," he said.

     Officials said the convention is being held in Rochester partly because the Convention Center and the Rochester Fire Department are willing to work with them on the contest, which uses forges. Participants also enjoyed a convention that was held here a few years ago, they said.

The association estimates that there are 30,000 professional and amateur farriers in the United States. The vast majority are men, with Danvers estimating that only 10 percent are women. Sheena Wenzel, a farrier from Wausaukee, Wis., said that's changing as the industry expands. It is growing, experts say, as the recreational horse industry continues to grow. There are about 6.9 million horses in the United States, according to the American Horse Council of Washington, D.C., and the number of recreational horses is increasing.

     One of the highlights of the convention is the National Championship Forging and Shoeing Competition, which helps determine which four farriers represent the United States at the world championship event at the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada. Edens is the U.S. team captain and is the current world champion. "This is the biggest test in the United States," said farrier Don Gustafson of Palo Alto, Calif. Seventy-six farriers are competing this week, not only for the chance to be on that U.S. team, but also for a share of $25,000 in prize money. The contestants take the sport seriously. Jim Quick of Longmont, Colo., who won the Capewell North American Challenge Cup last year, practiced two hours a day for six months. Eight farriers even came from Japan to participate in the contest. They want to learn different working styles and to gain experience, said Sammy Osamu Aoki of Tochigi, Japan. The actual competition is split over several events. Thursday's contests didn't involve horses, but today's will. The competition is loud and intense. Farriers' hammers clang loudly. Sparks fly off the horseshoes as they scrape them with wire brushes. And about 70 propane forges burn at 1,500 degrees or, as farrier Jason Harmeson of Alpine, Calif., said, "Hot enough to turn steel ugly." "It obviously can be nerve-racking," said contestant Sam Gooding of Midland, Texas.

     The farriers are required to make different horseshoes within a certain time period. A panel of three judges grades the horseshoes on criteria such as shape, quality, finish and how well the nails fit in the holes. What does it take to be a good farrier? Strong arms, definitely. "Physically, it's one of the most demanding jobs you can do," Marmeson said. But it also requires a lot of skill. Farriers said the biggest misconception about the profession is that they are dumb. "Farrier used to mean a strong back and a weak mind," Trnka said. "It's transformed into an intellectual art and science." Bryan Quinsey, executive director of the association, added: "We're not just about nailing a horseshoe on a horse's foot."

     This article appeared in the Friday, February 27th, 2004 edition of the Rochester newspaper Democrat and Chronicle and was written by staff writer Rick Armon.

     Printed with permission of the Democrat and Chronicle

Another Outstanding Bob Marshall Clinic

     On January 30th through February 1st, the VHA held a forging and shoeing clinic featuring Bob Marshall. This was 3 days packed full of information. On the first day, we discussed, measured and photographed the effects on legs of wedge pads, egg bars and long heel shoes. The results were surprising and dramatic. Look for Bobs' article concerning this exercise in Professional Farrier soon.

     One of the first demonstrations Bob performed was a new way to forge heels on a shoe. This process is much easier and faster than any other method we have used in the past. For me, learning this new technique was worth the entire price of the clinic. Each participate made shoes under Bob*s supervision from flat or concave stock. Some of the shoes made were roadsters, caulk and wedges, plain stamped and draft shoes. Some techniques we practiced were bumping, clipping, drawing, fullering and heel caulks. Each participants* shoes showed noticeable improvement by the end of the clinic.

     Bob and Russ Hite paired up for a striking demonstration in which they made some beautiful scotch heel draft shoes. Bob shod a front and hind foot in his style and had participants make shoes for the other feet. Bob spoke of the importance of accurate measurements for shoe making and fitting and his methods for it. There is no way one can remember everything you see at a clinic but Bob is such a great teacher with simple methods that most of it sticks with you. Bob doesn*t come to this part of the country very often so when he does you should make sure to see him. Thanks to Russ and Jennifer Hite for hosting this clinic and doing all the work that comes with it.
 

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