Between the speakers and competitions at the American Farrier’s Association (AFA) convention held March 5-9 in Lexington, Ky., there is another constant — the Hands-On Clinic.

For 11 years, the Hands-On Clinic has been providing farriers with an opportunity to work one-on-one with a colleague in order to learn new shoeing techniques, styles or just to see another farrier in action. This year in Lexington should be no different.

“It’s a great way for farriers to work with other competitors or guys who have been at this for a long time,” says Bobby Menker of Findlay, Ohio, who is running the Hands-On Clinic for the first time, but has participated many times in the past. 

This year’s clinic will take place Wednesday, March 6, around noon, immediately following the forging competition. Farriers can sign up for as many sessions as they want and will meet with instructors for a half-hour time block.

“You can sharpen your forging skills,” Menker adds. “Or, you can work on pulling clips, modifying pre-made shoes, practice making shoes or do some aluminum welding. Really, you can work on whatever you want.”

Familiar Faces 

While Menker, an AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier, isn’t completely sure who will be instructing, he ensures farriers that they will see many of the same faces they’ve seen in the past. 

“I’ve talked to Roy Bloom, so he should be there,” Menker says of the Drummond…