When it comes to expanding your shoemaking skills, nothing beats what you can learn by being part of this year’s Calgary Stampede Mail-In Forging Exercise.

By forging a split-wedge bar shoe in your shop, you’ll learn many new forging techniques skills, see how you compare with other farriers from around the world and receive a written evaluation on how your shoe was scored by Calgary judges Grant Moon of Fillongley, England, and Bob Marshall from Mission, British Columbia.

This annual educational event is co-sponsored by American Farriers Journal and the World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition that is held each July during the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta. Details on forging this shoe are found in the Jan./Feb.. 2004, issue of American Farriers Journal and on the American Farriers Journal Web site.

Last year’s Mail-In Forging Exercise drew 109 participants from nine countries. Besides comparing their forging skills with other entrants from around the world, they split $32,601 in farrier products donated by suppliers. Over the past 4 years, 313 participants have earned a total of $119,469.91 in farrier products from suppliers.

For this year’s exercise, you’ll receive $153.15 in valuable shoeing supplies simply by having your shoe arrive in Calgary before the June 15 deadline. In addition, the top 25 finishers will split an additional $16,966.30 in valuable shoeing suppliers. A complete list of farrier products…