After 10 years of forging various shoes ranging from the simple to the complicated, the Calgary Mail-In Forging Exercise shifted gears this year. This year’s exercise encouraged American Farriers Journal readers to sharpen their forging skills by producing a pair of bolt tongs from 3/4-inch bar stock.

The new challenge didn’t phase the winner of this year’s exercise. Mark Lieser is no stranger to this valuable stay-at-home educational opportunity, having captured several top placings in this event over the past 7 years.

The Weslaco, Texas, farrier forged two complete pairs of tongs and three partial pairs before being satisfied enough with one to mail it to Calgary for evaluation. “The only problem I encountered was leaving enough material in the boss jaw area,” he says.

Lieser has been shoeing for 9 years and works mainly with backyard horses along with horses performing in roping, barrel, dressage and hunter disciplines.

“The Calgary Mail-In Forging Exercise is always a good forging exercise,” says Lieser. “Being able to see where you match up with others around the world is why I like to be part of the Calgary Mail-In Forging Exercise. It has really helped me develop my forging skills.”

There were a dozen entries in this year’s Mail-In Forging Exercise from nine states, Ontario and Brazil.

Co-sponsored by Calgary’s World Championship Blacksmith Competition and American Farriers Journal, this educational event is a valuable way to gain forging experience. Most importantly, the forging work can be done in your own shop before having…