Registration is now open for the American Farriers Team Trials.
Twenty entries are available to compete for five spots on the team. The first of two competitions will be Nov. 7-8, 2025, at Five Star Horseshoeing School in Minco, Okla. The second will be at the National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition at the American Farrier’s Association Convention, which is from March 16-20, 2026, in Little Rock, Ark.
The contest is conducted in rounds at provided stations. Each station includes a coke forge, an anvil with a stand and a vise. Points are awarded in each class. The top 10 finishers in each class receive points, with first place being awarded 10 points and 10th place receiving 1 point.
The trial has four shoeing classes over 2 days. Competitors have two classes a day of shoeing one foot with a specified shoe and turning in a specimen shoe. Competitors may have a striker/fireman in each class. Judges are Tom Petersen, CJF, and Lamar Weaver, CJF.
Day 1
Class 1: 60 minutes
- Shoe a foot with a ¾ fullered shoe with specified clip(s)
- Specimen: Dutch Rocker Front
Class 2: 60 minutes
- Shoe a foot with a ¾ fullered shoe with specified clip(s)
- Specimen: Draft Spavin Shoe
Day 2
Class 3: 55 minutes
- Shoe a foot with a plain stamped shoe with specified clip(s)
- Specimen: Omnidirectional Bar Shoe
Class 4: 55 minutes
- Shoe a foot with a plain stamped shoe with specified clip(s)
- Specimen: Deep-Seated Bar Shoe
Download the rules, format, as well as the specimen shoes and measurements here.
The team trials are $450 a person. National Forging & Horseshoeing Competition fees remain the same. Register here until Sept. 30, 2025.
For information, contact Travis Smith at tsmithcjf@gmail.com or call (717) 226-1374.
