Albuquerque, N.M., farrier and founder of the American Farrier’s Association Walt Taylor passed away Dec. 15, 2025. He was 92.
A memorial will be from 1-6 p.m. Sept. 19, 2026, at 7112 Pan American E FWY NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.
The first shoeing work for this Colorado native took place on a dude ranch in 1948. He later attended what is now Colorado State University, where he received a B.S. degree before going full-time into the farrier business.
In 1971, Taylor founded the American Farrier’s Assn. (AFA) and served as its president for 15 years. He founded the AFA convention, which has been attended by thousands of farriers from around the world, organized the farrier industry trade show and created an organization of farrier educators in North America.
“In 1979 at Fresno, California, almost everything came together in a Convention that the AFA could be truly proud of, for that time and for the future,” says Taylor in an article on Convention history. “Reuel Darling was the local Coordinator, and he brought together lectures and lecturers of renown – including Dr. Marv Beeman, DVM, roundtable discussions by trainers and farriers, and the first public discussion of licensing versus certification of farriers. The Convention was rounded out by a trade show worthy of the name; contests that included the first North American Challenge Cup Futurity; formation of the first North American Horseshoeing Team led by Bob Marshall of Canada to compete at the Irish Horse Board contests in Dublin, Ireland; and a banquet to provide a social get-together and a time for prize giving and recognition of people that had made significant contributions to the AFA during the year. This was a launching pad into the future.”
“Anyone who shoes horses owes Walt a debt of gratitude, whether they knew him or not…” –Lee Green, Yucaipa, Calif.
Taylor traveled extensively in the U.S. and around the world on behalf of farriers as head of the AFA. He also established formal AFA liaison with the American Assn. of Equine Practitioners, American Horse Council, American Horse Shows Assn. and farrier organizations in Britain and Japan.
In 1984, Taylor organized the World Farriers Assn. (WFA) with U.S., British and Japanese farriers. He served as president from 1985 onward, and membership includes scores of individuals, organizations of farrier groups around the world.
In 1989, Taylor gave up his full-time farriery practice to start the Working Together for Equines program in conjunction with the International League for the Protection of Horses. The organization “worked with ministers and departments of government, non-governmental organizations (including several international equine welfare charities), colleges and universities, racing commissions and authorities and local municipal officials to develop and sustain indigenous training and horse-husbandry programs. Work was done in many states of Mexico, several islands in the Caribbean, the Middle East, Greece, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, India, the Republic of South Africa, Turkey and Latvia,” says the World Farriers Assoc.
In December 1993, Taylor was inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame for his contributions to the industry. Read Taylor's full Hall of Fame induction here. The AFA also established the Walt Taylor Award for dedication to the farrier industry in 2016. Past winners can be found here.
Courtesy of the American Farrier's Association
Memories of Walt
Taylor left an indelible mark on the farrier industry.
“Walt’s legacy within our profession is truly unparalleled. His vision, leadership and lifelong dedication helped shape the farrier industry and the Association we are today. His impact will be felt for generations to come,” says the AFA on Facebook.
Hall of Fame farrier Lee Green says, “Walt spent his life making horseshoeing better for all. I believe he has done more for the profession, worldwide, than anyone else. Anyone who shoes horses owes Walt a debt of gratitude, whether they knew him or not. I will forever treasure my friendship of over 50 years with him.”
“He was honest and genuine and had a real interest in people,” says Ogden, Iowa, farrier Doug Russo on Facebook. “He was humble but forthright and would say what he thought was true, no matter what. Some people didn’t like that, but it's those traits that gave him the strength, courage, patience and foresight to create the greatest farrier association in the world. Sometimes the two of us disagreed, but it was respectful, and we remained close friends. I will forever cherish the time I had with Walt and pledge to carry on his legacy.”
Walt Taylor, Sharon Hohbert and Bob Schantz at one of Lee Green’s annual Shoein’ Shop clinics.
“Walt gave me history lesson after history lesson,” says Craig Trnka on the World Championship Blacksmiths Facebook page. “We would spend hours [talking] about the inception and the vision of the AFA. The tough sledding of getting things going when there were really no guidelines of policy to go by.
“Walt was liked and disliked by many, but to make a beginning is going to make people upset, but Walt kept pushing forward! One thing is for sure, Walt was never going away, just kept pushing. Walt was the one who really came up with the idea for the WCB. When I was president, he said, Craig, you really need to make a competitor's chapter in the AFA, and that would help stop the strife that existed in-house with people who liked to compete and those who didn't see the importance of it. He said the Farrier Industry Association was an association that facilitated the marketplace for the AFA. A competitor's association could work in a similar way.
“Walt also had a vision for a brick-and-mortar building for the AFA, and I could see just like he could see it. A place where we hang our history on our walls. Walt had vision! A lot of vision. The years I got to spend with Walt on that executive committee were inspiring. To see a man be such a great custodian of our trade! What a great man to dedicate his life to our passion. I have been blessed to have been in the company of some great custodians of our trade, and he was definitely one of them.”
“His vision, leadership and lifelong dedication helped shape the farrier industry…” –American Farrier's Association
“Walt was an incredible human force of kindness and civility. I and the trade I love owe him a debt of gratitude. Condolences to all who share his connection,” says Iowa farrier Alan Dryg on Facebook.
“I’m very thankful to have known him well and for all the many years of effort he put into our farrier trade, helping to make it what it is today. It’s hard to imagine [just] how many farriers who have benefited from his unfailing efforts to make the knowledge of our trade accessible worldwide,” says Hawaii farrier Ted Shanks on Facebook.
Taylor was featured on several podcasts, including an American Farriers Journal podcast titled A Conversation with Walt Taylor, The Hoof of the Horse podcast with Hall of Fame farrier Simon Curtis and the Farrier Focus podcast with Doug Butler.
