Thirty-year-old Bill Poor of Conroe, TX, was declared the World Champion Blacksmith on Stampede Park in Calgary, AB, at the conclusion of the top five final. The final event on July 8 wrapped up five-days of competition sponsored by long-time event partner Mustad.

“It’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever had,” said an emotional Poor. “I’ve been coming (to the World Championships) since I was 17.”

“It’s everything. This is the World Championship. It’s a dream come true.”
continue reading "Texan tops Blacksmiths’ Championships"

by Susan Jaeger

So, you’ve heard about the “natural” horse and the “barefoot” trim, but are pretty sure that your horse has to be shod, right?

After all, the last time his shoes were pulled off, he could hardly walk across the driveway. What about the quarter crack you’ve been trying to grow out for two years?

Besides, his walls are pretty thin and flinty and your farrier tells you he has a touch of white line disease. His stride is a little short lately, too; maybe he has a sore back, or could it be the start of navicular syndrome?

Barefoot! No way! Not my horse … or could he?
continue reading "My horse, Barefoot? You bet!"

by Marcia King

Most of us had a childhood that involved children’s horse books and the wonderful, romantic images they conjured up: a magnificent horse – most likely a black stallion – galloping free, au natural, nostrils flaring, legs charging, and tail flowing.

It’s hard to set aside that dreamy fantasy and, as adults, particularly in this era of “natural is better,” we may be tempted to make our horses as natural as possible too, by letting them run barefoot as, surely, nature intended.

The problem is, horses aren’t quite the originals that Mother Nature developed, not since man began breeding for select traits and inadvertently introduced a few undesirable traits, too – some of which include conformation and feet that cannot tolerate being barefoot.

Plus, the natural horse didn’t spend time carrying a rider around a schooling ring, over jumping courses, on trails, or any number of other mounted or driving activities that can cause excessive hoof wear.

Barefoot? Yes, but …
continue reading "The Barefoot Horse: Romance vs. Reality"

by Cyndi Rowat

Five days of world calibre horseshoeing competition wrapped up at the 27th annual World Champion Blacksmiths’ competition held during the Stampede Stock Show, July 5 to 9, 2006.

Through a series of intense forging and shoeing challenges, the field of 56 competitors from 13 countries was narrowed down to the final ten.

Billy Crothers of Wales led the contest coming into the semi-finals ahead of Steven Beane of England. The semi-final brought together the top-ten contestants to shoe the front feet of a horse in order to qualify for an opportunity to compete in the final five and a chance at the $10,000 champion prize money provided by event partner Mustad.
continue reading "Farriers Test their Fitness"

The annual Blacksmithing Competition was held June 18, 2006 at historic Bar U Ranch.

Judged by a panel of their peers, first place went to the team of Daniel Lybbert and Colain Duret. Second place went to Sean Elliott and Ross Crawford, and Marshall and Kevin Iles took home third.

Jackpot money was awarded to those top three teams and handmade silver buckles were also presented to the first place team.

The Bar U also featured a Father’s Day brunch and a horse packing demonstration that attracted many local visitors.

To find out more about upcoming events at Bar U Ranch (located just south of Longview, AB) call toll-free: 1-800-568-4996

All of the members of the Canadian Farrier Team, which will compete at the Calgary Stampede World Blacksmithing Championships in Calgary this July 2006, are from Western Canada with three of the five from Olds College.

Team members this year are team captain Bruce Hague from BC, Adam Degenstein (Olds College Advanced Farrier Science 2003) also from BC, Colain Duret (Olds College 2004) from Calgary, and Blair Bartlett from BC. The team alternate and team manager is Olds College Advanced Farrier Science program coordinator, Dean Sinclair.

“We’re really proud that all the team members are from Western Canada and that three of them are from Olds College,” said Sinclair.
continue reading "Canada’s Farrier Team forged at Olds College (2006)"