Hank McEwan, a Hall Of Fame farrier from Merritt, British Columbia, passed away Sunday morning.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Often referred to as the father of Canadian farriery, McEwan was a 2003 inductee of the International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, Ky.

He began his career as a cowboy shoer in the Canadian prairies in 1948. McEwan was the first instructor at the Porterville Horseshoeing School in California. In 1981, he was hired as the chief instructor of the farrier program at Kwantlen College (nowKwantlen Polytechnic University) in Langley, British Columbia. McEwan retired from teaching in 1995 with more than 700 farrier graduates to his credit.

"Hank has never sought accolades, public recognition or fame in the world of farriery," the late Canadian farrier Cindy Eldstrom toldAmerican Farriers Journal in the December 2002 issue. "He has, quite simply, just been the kind of guy who is always available to lend a hand at any horseshoeing event."

McEwan played a vital role in the development of the Canadian Farrier's Team, for which he served as manager and coach. McEwan has been involved with the Western Canadian Farrier's Association and American Farrier's Association since the inception of each.

In the March/April 2002 issue of AFJ, McEwan offered farriers advice that stands the test of time.

 "Everything's got to be balanced," he says. "Your business, your spirit and your work ethic — it's just like a horse, if it's not balanced, it's not right."