May 2006
Published by
SNEFA
Southern New England Farrier’s Association
Donna Watson-Editor
Farrier Schools Meet in Oklahoma City; Educators’ Alliance Formed
A two-day meeting held August 19-20, 2005 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has spawned the newest farrier-related organization.
The “American Farriers Education Council” (AFEC) is a coalition of some of the leading independent farrier schools in the United States.
Many pundits on the sidelines of farrier politics thought that when Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School owner Reggie Kester called a meeting of school owners and instructors, the result would be a massive attack on the American Farrier’s Association, whose task force on education and registration in early 2005 was highly critical of the farrier education system in the U.S.
Instead, the reports from Oklahoma are optimistic and encouraging. “This is the best thing that could have happened,” beamed Doug Butler PhD, FWCF, author of Principles of Horseshoeing III, the textbook used at most farrier schools around the world. “It brought these people together for the first time in years and they are working together for the benefit of education. I am very excited.”
According to Dr. Butler, 16 farrier schools were represented; a total of about 25 school owners and instructors were in attendance.
AFEC certainly did vent its frustration over recent negative publicity, but most instructors are long-time members and supporters of the American Farrier’s Association and are hoping for improvement in relations following the AFA’s mid-year Board of Directors meeting in Omaha in early September; it will include an open forum for policy-related comments from the membership on farrier education and licensing. AFEC’s frustration is outlined in a list of 16 resolutions related to AFA politics and makes clear the AFEC stand that blanket criticism of farrier education will not go unanswered.
According to Chris Gregory FWCF of Heartland Horseshoeing School in Missouri, there are 47 farrier schools in the US. Hoofcare & Lameness has identified 24 private schools and 11 college/university-affiliated schools that offer courses aimed at complete beginners. Our criteria was that a school be “brick and mortar” and teach a residential horseshoeing course. Other schools teach only advanced courses or short seminars as enrichment for working farriers; still others teach night courses for horse owners who wish to learn to care for their own horses. We also found two schools that teach horseshoeing by distance learning (aka “correspondence course” in the pre-Internet days). In the fall of 2005, two new farrier schools will open in the USA that will teach new ideas in farrier science, such as barefoot hoofcare, hoof boots, and plastic horseshoes.
Officers of the new association are Reggie Kester (Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School) President; Bob Smith (Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School) Vice President and Spokesperson; and Susie Goode (Tucson School of Horseshoeing) Secretary-Treasurer.
Among the accomplishments of the group, in addition to the formation of the association and the hashing out of a list of resolutions related to AFA politics, were the resolution that member schools would adopt the use of a standardized curriculum based on the new edition of Butler’s textbook. He will work with AFEC to create testing modules to monitor students’ progress through the lessons in the book. No doubt different schools will interpret the curriculum differently, but the overall skills taught will be somewhat uniform.
Another key development is the addition of continuing education events to attract graduates back to their alma mater farrier schools for upgrading of skills or certification levels on an annual basis. For more information, please contact Bob Smith: or call 916 366 6064. Hoofcare & Lameness Journal was not present at the meeting so I can’t answer your questions. For more on the “pro” side of farrier licensing, please contact your local chapter of the American Farrier’s Association, or visit www.americanfarriers.org.
--Fran Jurga
This and the following article were taken from Fran’s Hoofcare and Lameness web site www.hoofcare.com
Strasser Court Case: Laminitis Care Requires a Veterinarian
It seems like we have a lot of news from the UK lately. One of the more interesting cases is the way in which a Strasser trimmer was recently prosecuted and found guilty for the care she gave a foundered horse that she took in for therapy. The case is a bit complicated, and Dr. Strasser herself apparently testified on and defended her laminitis treatment protocol. In the end, the trimmer was not found guilty of charges related to the hoof trimming itself, but for her failure to seek veterinary help. Details from Fran Jurga¹s interview with the trimmer in Hoofcare 80.
AFA Membership
Renewal Rates
The AFA Executive Committee has approved an extension of one year for the current membership fee of $105. Members who pay for 2006 before July 1, 2006, were already eligible to renew for the old rate. Now members can also renew for 2007 at the rate of $105 if payment is sent on or before July 1, 2006. A mail notice of this offer is included in the annual AFA Membership Directory update mailing which was sent to all members on May 8th. Members who have already sent in a $150 dues payment have the option of applying the extra $45 for an additional year of membership by paying the balance of $60, or they may request a refund of their overpayment. If you have questions about the new dues policy, please contact Ashley in the AFA office, 859-233-7411
DICK HAM
FUND
If any of you have apprentices of three years or less that are interested in applying for the Dick Ham Memorial Apprenticeship, call me (978.343.2754) and I’ll send you the application. They have to be returned to me no later than Sept. 1st, 2005. See you in September. For more information please contact
Garth Bodkin at: 978-343-2754
SNEFA
OFFICERS and BOARD of DIRECTORS
President – Sean McClure 508-797-0023
Vice President – John Blombach 978-874-2806
Treasurer – Glenn Eglington 978-297-2004
Secretary – Jim Zieger 508-498-5912
BOD – Deb Ash 603-924-9044
BOD – Donna Watson 978-386-5857
BOD-Mike Licata 603-329-5792
Newsletter-Donna Watson 978-386-5857
President’s Report
SSincerely,
SSean McClure
508-797-0023
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May 2006
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May 2006
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May 2006
Events Calendar
6/18/06- AFA Certification- Mintvale Forge Farrier Education Center, Cambridge, MD Examiner: Pat Burton, CJF.All Levels, All Areas Contact: Dave Ferguson, CJF, TE; 410-221-0220; Note: Eligible for 8 hours AFA Continuing Education
7\16\06- AFA Certification -Mintvale Forge Farrier Education Center, Cambridge, MD Examiner: Dusty Franklin, CJF All Levels, All Areas Contact: Dave Ferguson, CJF, TE; 410-221-0220; Note: Eligible for 8 hours AFA Continuing Education
8/11/06 Clinic Mount Sidney, VA Clinician: Bob Mederos, CJF Sponsored by Virginia Horseshoers Association Contact: Mike Spitzer, CJF; 540-234-9581; *Eligible for 8 hours AFA Continuing Education
8/12/06 Contest Fisherville, VA Clinician: Bob Mederos, CJF Sponsored by Virginia Horseshoers Association Contact: Mike Spitzer, CJF; 540-234-9581; *Eligible for 8 hours AFA Continuing Education
8/26–27/06-28th Annual Empire State Farriers Association Clinic & Contest -Rhinebeck, NY Clinician/Judge: Bob Pethick, CJF Sponsored by Delta Horseshoe Co., Inc.; Delta Hoof Care; Empire State Farriers Association Contact: Taylor Keenan; 845-489-0954; **Eligible for 12 hours (6 hours per day) AFA Certification Continuing Education
09/06/06 – General Meeting –8:00 PM – Littleton VFW - Featured Speaker – Dr. Brett Gabby, DVM
Topic: Treating angular and flexural limb deformities.
Happy Hour 7:30-8:00 PM
SEPT-OCT – SNEFA FALL CLINIC –“SHOEING FIT FOR A WARMBLOOD”
TRADE SHOW/COMPETITION – TBA
10/04/06 – General Meeting –8:00 PM – Littleton VFW - Featured Speaker – TBA
Getting the most out of Acrylics and Hoof Repair Material/ Hoof Packing
Happy Hour 7:30-8:00 PM
10/14+15/06 -AFA Certification – NH Grant Myhre Equine Clinic – Rochester, NH Examiner: Andrew Elsbree, CJF All Levels, All Areas Contact: Jim Smith, CJF; 603-312-1748; **Eligible for 6 hours AFA Certification Continuing Education
10/16/06 – SNEFA CERTIFICATION – JIM SMITH, Myhre Equine Center, Rochester, NH
11/4/06- SHOE Fall Clinic & BBQ – NC New Salem Stable, New Salem, NC Sponsored by Southeastern Horseshoers on Education Contact: Patty Reed; 704-385-9352**Eligible for 6 hours AFA Certification Continuing Education
New Policy
A new policy is going into effect after this newletter. If you don’t have the number 06 after your name on the newletter’s mailing address label this will be your last newsletter. You have not renewed your membership in the Southern New England Farriers Association. Unless of course you renew now!! Membership application is on next page.
Dues are $50.00/year beginning the 1st of September
Name:______
Business Name:______
Address:______
City:______State:______
Zipcode:______
Country:______
Business Phone:______Home Phone:______
Fax:______E-Mail Address:______
Send SNEFA membership dues to:
John Blombach
P.O. Box 740
Westminster, MA. 01473
Southern New England Farrier’s Association
Code Of Ethics
We, the members of the Southern New England Farrier’s Association, accept the responsibility to practice our profession according to the highest ethical standards.
Therefore we pledge:
To always provide a quality, effective hoof care service to our clients.
To continually improve our skills through education and professional development activities.
To scrupulously adhere to safe and applicable standards of hoof care.
To treat all fellow farriers with respect.
To conduct both our professional and personal lives in a manner to reflect credit on the profession and to set an example of self-discipline for all farriers.
Encourage fellow farriers and other farrier associations to support and uphold these principles, and to question and resist those practices which may undermine or defeat them.
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May 2006
ADVERTISING IS BEING ACCEPTED
for the EAGLE newsletter Rates:
Full-page advertisement
$150/ insertion
Half page advertisement
$85/insertion
Cardsize $45/insertion
Call Donna @
978-386-5857 or e-mail
For Sale
1995 6 horse aluminum skin trailer, 22 ft on floor w/ 4 ft dressing room, wall swings open for more floor space. 7’6” tall, 8 ft wide, side and rear load, great condition, asking $8,500. OBO, I've had it since new. For more info call Jerry Trapani @1-917-355-5225
Support Our Sponsors:R.Steele dba Horseshoes Unlimited
is offering members of S.N.E.F.A. and other farrier organizations a 20% discount on all R.Steele, Horseshoes Unlimited, RayGuang,and Unlimited products purchased directly from Horseshoes Unlimited.
The entire list of those products can be viewed at www.horseshoesunlimited.com,or www.bestbuyhorseshoes.com. or call 1 800 356 7776 for information. The 20% discount will only apply to the products manufactured by Ray Steele not to other brands.
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The official news publication of the Southern New England Farriers Association
American Farriers Association Chapter #7
"Written By Farriers For Farriers"
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May 2006
Spring has finally sprung !
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C/O DONNA WATSON
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