Volume 6, Issue 1 / February 2005

VHA General Membership Meeting

     The VHA held its annual general membership meeting at Cismont Manor in Keswick, Virginia on December 4th. This years clinician was Certified Journeyman Farrier Mark Milster of Dibble, Oklahoma. Mark conducted a hands on clinic to 10 fortunate members of the VHA on December 3rd. Mark demonstrated the forging of hand made fronts, hinds and bar shoes. Mark then assisted each of the attendees with the forging of their own front, hind and bar shoe.

     During the general membership meeting, Butch Hockaday presented a recap of the VHA events held in 2004. Butch also announced plans for contests and clinics for 2005 to include such items as an AFA certification, a winter clinic with Bob Marshall, a spring clinic with Shayne Carter and a hoof and leg dissection clinic.

     Mike Spitzer announced that he had been approached by personnel involved with the Albemarle County Fair and indicated that they expressed interest in having a contest during their Agricultural Fair. Mike offered to pursue this opportunity and contact Butch with additional details.

     The specimen shoes made by Mark during the clinic were auctioned at the conclusion of the general membership meeting with the proceeds going into the membership account.

     The VHA would like to thank Johnson Farrier Supply of Charlottesville and Mid Atlantic Farrier Supply of Aldie for their attendance and their donation to cover lunch and drinks for the general membership meeting. The VHA would like to thank David Watson for all his efforts in coordinating this clinic and meeting. The VHA would also like to thank Cismont Manor for hosting this event.

Have You Heard This Lately?

♦  That's not how they did it on that horseshoeing show.
♦  If he didn't kick like that, I'd trim him myself.
♦  Can you make it after 6, or on the weekend?
♦  I can't believe he bit you, he never does that!
♦  Did that hurt?
♦  I know he is hard to shoe, but he is so good on the trails.
♦  Isn't it neat how he can stand on just two feet?
♦  Now that you finished the trim, can we go ahead and put front shoes on also?
♦  My last farrier wouldn't do the horse, they gave me your number.
♦  You sure earned your money on that one!
♦  It doesn't look like he is leaning to me.
♦  Hello, this message is for the farrier. You did my horse this time last year and I need   to make another appointment.
♦  I don't know why the shoes didn't stay on, it's only been 12 weeks.

AFA Announces "Five Anvil" Program

     The AFA has developed a new program to encourage the participation of Chapters in AFA activities. The program is designed to promote the AFA to Chapter memberships and to recognize and reward the efforts of the Chapters.
 
     The AFA is prepared to offer incentives for those Chapters that achieve success in this program. Chapters will be recognized at the AFA Annual Convention as either One, Two, Three, Four or Five Anvil Chapters. Five Anvil Chapters will also receive a complimentary "clinic" from the AFA. The clinic will include the clinician fee as well as travel and lodging for the clinician. Chapters must complete the "Anvil" requirements within a one-year period. The five Anvil opportunities are in the areas of Education, Certification, Communication, Innovation, and Research.

To receive the Education Anvil, the Chapter must accomplish 2 of the following 5 items:
a. sponsor and host a Pre-Certification Workshop
b. sponsor and host a Horse Owners Clinic
c. participate in an AAEP/AFA Vet - Farrier Short Course
d. participate in a designated AFA Trade Show
e. have a chapter booth at a trade show or local horse fair/show

To receive the Certification Anvil, the Chapter must accomplish 2 of the following 4 items:
a. sponsor and host an AFA Certification for all areas, all levels
b. minimum of 10% of Chapter membership be either AFA Certified Farrier or Certified Journeyman Farrier
c. minimum of 1% of Chapter membership be recognized as Certified Journeyman Farrier
d. minimum of 20% of chapter membership take a certification test

To receive the Communication Anvil, the Chapter must accomplish 3 of the following 6 items:
a. produce and mail a Chapter newsletter
b. hold at least 3 meetings a year (membership meeting included)
c. 10% of Chapter membership attend the AFA Annual Convention
d. participate at the Mid-Year Board of Directors Meeting
e. participate at the Annual Convention Board of Directors Meeting
f. develop and maintain a website or produce a newsletter for area horseowners

To receive the Innovation Anvil, the Chapter must accomplish 2 of the following 6 items:
a. increase Chapter membership by 20%
b. hold an annual Chapter membership drive meeting
c. have non-AFA Chapter members become AFA members by 2%
d. contribute to Chapter's own farrier injury fund
e. participate at the AFA's Annual Convention "Chapter Alley"
f. sponsor a competition or clinic

To receive the Research Anvil, the Chapter must accomplish 1 of the following 4 items:
a. contribute money to the AFA's Equine Research Fund
b. participate in the AFA's Research Competition
c. keep Chapter members current regarding practices of horseshoeing
d. submit and achieve an idea to the AFA that would be considered as an item for research

This sounds like a hugh endeavor but the VHA can easily satisfy the requirements for four of the five Anvil programs. The VHA however needs your assistance in achieving the Education Anvil. If you have any ideas on how the VHA can achieve the Education Anvil, contact Butch Hockaday at 540-582-5486. The reward of receiving a complimentary "clinic" is too good to pass up!

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