“American Farriers Journal has connected farriers from all corners of the globe and profoundly impacted the careers of many, mine included,” says Derek Poupard, an International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer. Image: Derek Poupard

Editor’s Note: American Farriers Journal is celebrating its 50th anniversary and we’re reflecting on the relationships and partnerships we’ve forged, the milestones and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. In the famed Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” protagonist George Bailey gets to see, via a dramatic intervention by an angel named Clarence Oddbody, what the world might have been like had he never been born. International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer Derek Poupard shares his thoughts on what the farrier industry would be like if AFJ never existed.

When I was shoeing horses in South Africa during the early 1990s, I was introduced to the American Farriers Journal. That moment changed the entire course of my life.

The Journal quickly became my most vital source of farrier education, opening doors and inspiring me to pursue opportunities in the U.S., Dubai and the United Kingdom — where I had the privilege to work with some of the best racehorses in the world.

Without question, the American Farriers Journal has been a unifying force in our industry. It has connected farriers from all corners of the globe and profoundly impacted the careers of many, including me.

I would not be the farrier I am today without it. Thank you, Frank Lessiter, for your unwavering dedication and lasting contribution to our profession.