FARRIERY FOCUS - NABFAE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2010

9 May 2010 - NAFBAE Farriery Focus Video Now Available -
courtesy of Forge Magazine

 

 

8 May 2010 - Champion of Champions 2010 - Paul Robinson (N. Ireland) - winner of £5000 for his chosen charity - the Neonatal Unit in Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock

More than 300 farriers attended the first Farrier Focus event at Stoneleigh this weekend. The event was NAFBAE’s showcase day that offered a mixture of lectures – the event was free to attend. Within the lecture programme, Haydn Price and Jim Ferrie gave two approaches to the coffin joint and Simon Curtis discussed club feet in foals; Colin Goldsworthy talked about his experiences trimming donkey feet at The Donkey Sanctuary. Professor John Reilly asked farriers whether they use the internet to search for farriery research and described the importance of evidence-based science. He hoped that a digest of research information would become available.

Running alongside was a series of demonstrations by Steven Beane (front and hind threequarter fullered), Grant Moon (aluminium bar shoe), Craig Trnka (Huw Dyer (complete knife, tool and rasp sharpening) and Jim Blurton. The shoes made were auctioned for charity during the event dinner. The event was supported by a trade fair that, in turn, was very well supported by the farriers. It was a highly successful day and there are plans to hold the event again in 2011.

A unique event – Champion of Champions – saw 12 of the World Blacksmith Champions from Calgary compete together. Paul Robinson (2008 champion) was crowned the champion of champions and was delighted to receive £5000 for his chosen charity – the Neonatal Unit of the Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, who cared for his daughter who was born there in December 2009.

On Sunday morning NAFBAE members had the opportunity to watch Dave Duckett, Bob Marshall and Grant Moon – the dream team – working at the anvil.