The Jay Lankford Farrier Scholarship seeks to honor the memory of North Carolina farrier Jay Lankford by supporting students who share his passion for working with horses, says the scholarship page on bold.org. Lankford passed away December 23, 2024. He was a blacksmith, leathersmith, cowboy and muleman who shod horses until he was 80 and is remembered for his knowledge, grace and humble generosity.
“The most important title to me and many people was that Jay was a good friend,” says North Carolina veterinarian Jim Meeker, who started the scholarship. “Therefore, it is with great honor that I am starting this Scholarship Fund for Farrier Students. The Jay W. Lankford Memorial Farrier Scholarship Fund will be used for individuals that reside in North Carolina, Virginia or South Carolina. Students that have a desire to attend a farrier school of their choice can submit an application for review and approval. The scholarship money amount will be determined once the fund has been active for 3 months. All scholarship money will be paid directly to the school that has approved the student's enrollment.”
Eligible schools include: East Coast Horseshoeing School, Kentucky Horseshoeing School, Lookout Mountain School of Horseshoeing, Hocking College or Troy Price Horseshoeing School. Applicants must explain why they want to attend farrier school, how long they’ve wanted to learn about the profession and what experience they have with horses.
On April 30, 2026, three farriers were awarded $3,000 each in Jay Lankford Memorial Scholarships. These include North Carolina farriers Cade Hamilton of Kentucky Horseshoeing School, Natalie Lake of East Coast Horseshoeing School and Ian Castro of East Coast Horseshoeing School.
