American Farriers Journal thanks the many farriers who dedicate their time, skills and commitment to the equine industry. This year marks the 27th annual Farriers Week — a time we set aside to celebrate your professional contributions. We invited everyone in the equine community to share tributes of their farriers, recognizing their mentorship or service to hoof care. We’ve highlighted a few of those submissions here. More tributes can be found on our website in “Farriers Spotlight,” which launches July 6.

Honoring & Elevating the Trade

Jim Apple, APF-I, is not only a skilled craftsman, clinician and educator — he is a mentor, a servant to the profession and a living example of humility in leadership.

Jim is a mentor. Not because he claims to know more than anyone else but because of the way he shows up — dedicated, passionate, creative and accepting of all people. He embodies the very spirit of Farriers Week — not just honoring the trade but elevating it.

— Joshua Speer, AF-I, Richland, Mo.

Proud of Her Farrier

I’m immensely proud of my farrier/daughter. She’s created her business, built her clientele and developed an incredible reputation for making horses sound through great, consistent, accurate trims.

She regularly posts before and after pictures and seeing the results is awesome but even better are the words of appreciation from the owners who’ve gone years without seeing relief for their equine friends until they found Rory…