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NAFBAE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

Fresh back from the American Farriers Association (AFA) conference in Portland, Oregon, I can confirm that Portland is a very long way - the journey took 24hrs door-to-door from Blackburn, Lancashire. Josh Ramsey, an American farrier who came to the UK last year on the exchange scheme, drove from Dallas, Texas, to Portland, a distance of 3000 miles, a journey that took him 60 hours. I felt that maybe I’d had the easy part sitting on a plane.
The atmosphere at the Convention is great, with the competitions and the lectures being well supported by American and overseas visitors. Mike Miller’s CJF FWCF presentation on ‘The Mirage of the Natural Foot’ was interesting. His new book investigates some of the commonly held beliefs about barefoot trimming.
Our British competitors at the event did well, including Farriery Craft Committee members Sarah Mary Brown and Jonathan Nunn. It was great to see Ben Ebrey qualifying for the shoeing round even though it was his first time at the Convention; jetlag didn’t seem to slow him down too much. Looks as though all those clinics with Grant Moon at the Staffordshire branch are paying off. The competition was hard fought, with the winner finally being Billy Crothers. Well done! Senior judge Jim Blurton gave a speech at the evening presentation, saying how close the competition had been. EFFA President and NAFBAE Past-President David Gulley caught the competition bug too, and took part in the Senior Vern Hornquist Shoemaking class.
Despite the busy trip, Jason Gajsczak and Paul Collins found time to visit Mt Hood to try skiing for the first time, tutored by that great Yorkshire ski instructor Steven Beane. Sam Head showed us his snowboarding skills - many thanks to Chuck Jones one of last year’s exchange guys for organising the skiing.
Lancashire and Cheshire Secretary Jon Mather and Past-President Huw Dyer went shooting with a group of AFA members, where Huw gave them a demonstration of his shooting skills.
Chuck Jones and Josh Ramsey gave a talk at the presentation dinner about their UK exchange and mentioned the ways in which NAFBAE members had gone out their way to host them or help them at the various competitions they’d been to, including the Royal Show. It was great to hear their slant on UK farriery. After attending the exchange committee meeting chaired by Vern Powell, I can confirm Scott Enmon CJF will arrive around the beginning of July as this year’s American exchange student. He really was a great candidate, and he is looking forward to coming to the UK and seeing the standard we have to offer. Anybody wishing to host him should contact Amanda at Head Office. I have hosted for five years now, and it’s really interesting to spend time with these North American farriers.
Many thanks to the AFA and Past-President Dick Fanguy CJF and current President Eric Nygaard CJF for the invitation to the Convention. While talking to Dick about his time in office, he made it clear that the AFA was moving forward and had made changes within its organisation to help with this. One of our discussions was that NAFBAE members receive online access to the AFA magazine, ‘The Professional Farrier’, and AFA members will have similar access to ‘Forge’ magazine. Charles Mann and Danvers Child CJF the two publishers will no doubt burn the ‘IT’ midnight oil to make this happen.
Back to things at home, the mock diploma exams proved their worth. Everyone who attended the event passed the theory examination and 92 per cent passed the practical. Well done to everybody who made the day such a stunning success, and a pat on the back for NAFBAE. We are in the process of organising a repeat event so those approaching exams should book early. If you are in a lower block but wish to attend to watch and don’t mind helping, please contact Head Office.
Next month’s Farriery Focus (May 8) is becoming a monster event. The competition at the event is called the ‘The Champion of Champions', and is sponsored by Mustad, with a charity first prize of £5K. Grant Moon is working hard to get all the World Champions competing at this event. So far 12 have confirmed they will compete. This one-off event is FREE to all and Many AFA Convention members said they would be flying across the pond to watch.
Farriery Focus has a full house of lectures and demonstration’s with Jim Ferrie and Haydn Price the latest people to confirm and the market place growing all the time. Look out for details in Forge and on the Forge website and the new Facebook site. The event is CPD registered with four points available for everyone who attends. But, be under no illusion, NAFBAE is on the hunt for new members and will be running a special promotional membership price on the day. As I’ve stated before members are the Association’s lifeblood. I know you’re all ‘going to get round to joining’, but our membership girls will be there on the day to help you get your card out and take advantage of the membership offer and be represented by the best association in the business. Come and have a great day on May 8 at Farriery Focus Day, Stoneleigh and join the farriery professionals.
Nafbae finished?
I don’t think so; we’re just getting started!
Join NAFBAE the voice of the working farrier!

Craig D'Arcy

Below: A selection of images of our President Craig D'Arcy