Thirteen teams participated in the 2nd annual World Horseshoeing Classic, which ran February 24-26 in Richmond, Ky. Each day of this event featured a different shoe discipline, with the winning team taking home $10,000 in prize money.

This year’s contest challenged participants to forge draft, hunter and roadster shoes. Each four-person team was required to shoe one horse every day of the competition. Every team member had to shoe one foot of the horse. The shoes were handmade, with teams working out of coke forges.

Each competitor earned points based on trim, fit, shoemaking and overall job and finish. A time limit of 2-1/2 hours was given for each discipline.

Chris Madrid, Travis Koons, Dusty Franklin and Trey Green made up the World Championship Blacksmiths team, which placed first overall. Second place went to Iain Ritchie, James Findler, Matt Keuchler and Nathan Powell of the Calgary Stampede team.

Team CAT 6, comprised of Austin Edens, Jake Engler, Gene Leiser and Mark Milster, took third overall.

Judge Mitch Taylor awards points on trim, fit, shoemaking and overall finish.

Chris Madrid’s roadster earned him the honor of having the best shod foot, scoring 48.53 out of 50 points.

Judging the competition were Roy Bloom of Drummond, Wis., Ben Yager of Victoria, B.C., and Mitch Taylor of Richmond, Ky.

This event is unique in that spectators are offered an up-close view of the forging and shoeing work being done. As…