In its newsletter, the American Farrier’s Association (AFA) announced the results of the 2025 American Farriers Team (AFT) trials. Judges include Bozeman, Mont., farrier Tom Petersen and Earleville, Md., farrier Lamar Weaver. Over 20 competitors participated in the first of two trials 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 takes place March 16-20, 2026, in Little Rock, Ark.
Minnesota farrier Bodie Trnka took home the overall win with 345.3 points, followed by New York farrier Ben Mangan in second with 344.3 points, Texas farrier and 2025 AFT member Sawyer Spradling in third with 343.3 points and Missouri farrier and 2025 AFT team manager Travis Smith in fourth with 335.9 points.
For AFT points, the top four point earners were Spradling (343.3 points), Smith (335.9 points), 2025 AFT apprentice team member Aaron Warner (335 points) and Mississippi farrier Sam Howard (333.3 points).
“It was a tough battle for points, and there are several guys right on their heels, so Convention is shaping up to be quite an intense competition,” the November 9, 2025, AFA newsletter says.
Trnka, with his striker Mike Miller, won class 1, a dutch rocker front, with 86.7 points. Spradling, with his striker Mark Milster, won class 2, a draft spavin shoe, with 86.4 points. Texas farrier Jake Yinguez, with his striker Daniel Russo, won class 3, an omnidirectional bar shoe, with 86 points. Mangan, with Smith as his striker, won class 4, a deep-seated bar shoe, with 89.6 points.
The best shod foot award went to Mangan for his work in class 4.
