The 2013 OFA Convention

The 2013 OFA Convention was paired with the Can-Am in Orangeville this past week.  I was asked to head up the Canada Cup which was also the Canadian Farrier Team Trials.  The first couple of days were quite cold and snowy but the competition went along very smoothly thanks to a great team of help and volunteers and my wife Arlene.
We've included some of pictures of the competition which had contestants from Vancouver right across Canada to New Brunswick.
We are so proud to announce that Travis Buck qualified as a new member of the C.F.T. with Randy Brassard, Tom Barnett, Aaron Steeves and Dan Corkery.
Thanks again to all our sponsors, volunteers and visitors that made this a special event!
A very special thanks to James Findler for taking the time to come and judge
this event!

World Horseshoeing Classic - Kentucky 2013

Just returned from the World Horseshoeing Classic held in Lexington Kentucky. What a fantastic competition with 15 teams from around the world.  Many having past and present world  champions.
Leo Chapman, Randy Brassard, Travis Buck and myself were sponsored by The Edge, a great supplement we promote.  The competition consisted of shoeing 3 different types of shoeing styles...Roadster, draft and hunter shoeing.  We have some pictures that give a better idea of the competition.  A great venue that was really about learning to raise the bar on shoeing quality and skill sets.  Thanks again to my team mates and to all who made this classic a reality and a big thanks to our sponsor "The Edge".  Check out their website www.theedgeup.ca

Lexington Warm Up - "Team Edge"

First thing Sunday morning Leo chapman,Travis and I headed to Blue Mountain to have a practice session with Randy Brassard ,for the up coming competition in Lexington,Kentucky in February. Randy had a very nice horse we shod with roadster shoes ,which is one of three different types of horseshoeing that we will do there.

Clinic at System Fencing in Rockwood, Ontario

This weekend has been a really busy time for us. Saturday found us at System Fencing in Rockwood doing a clinic on getting more out of keg shoes using forging techniques that we use forging handmade shoes . We demonstrated jump welding bars Into regular shoes and different uses of creasing such as widening branches as well as cutting out sections to narrow branches. 25 people attended and Travis and I hope we shared something they can take to work Monday . 

Michigan Horseshoeing Convention/Competition 2013

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Travis and I just returned from the University of Michigan where we were competing and attending the annual Michigan Horseshoers association convention and competition.

Jim Quick was the judge clinician and did a great job demoing and having a power point presentation on evaluating balance and how to better achieve that in our every day shoeing.  

With Mike Smith, Travis and I won the three man live shoeing draft class which awarded each of us with a beautiful silver trophy buckle.  Travis also won a trophy for the Eagle Eye class.  They also had an awesome presentation regarding stem cell applications that will be very exciting in the next few years. 

Sometimes its a bit inconvenient to travel and attend these types of venues, but I feel what we learn is a major tool in better serving our equine cliental.  

Travis’ placing....1st in journeyman class

                          1st in the eagle eye

                          1st in three man live draft shoe class

                          2nd in the draft shoe forging class with me

                          3rd in live shoeing

Doug’s placing..1st in AFA qualifier 

                          1st in three man live draft shoe class

                          2nd in draft shoe forging class w/Travis

                          2nd in live shoeing

                          2nd in specialty forging class (forging 3 corrective shoes)

A special thanks to our hosts in Michigan and the the judge Jim Quick!