High up in the mountain city of Kremmling, Colo., alongside the Colorado River, the Rocky Mountain Farriers Association held the fourth annual Colorado Classic Clinic and Contest.

This year’s Classic featured live shoeings, both in the contest and the clinic from International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame farrier Shayne Carter of Draper, Utah. Brian Buckner, one of the organizers of the Colorado Classic, says this is one of the things that sets the event apart from many other contests.

“One thing the Colorado Classic does that I don’t think many association contests do, is the competitors don’t have to qualify for the live shoeing,” Buckner says. “We have a dude ranch that brings all of the horses we need. This year, they brought 16 horses and we shod them all.”

Forging To Stay Sharp

Competitions like the Colorado Classic are beneficial to farriers of all experience levels, Buckner says. For young farriers, competitions can serve as important practice for those working toward certification.

“I have attended and watched several certifications and one thing I’ve seen is how important learning to forge by the clock is,” Buckner says. “Attending competitions will help you practice managing the clock because that can get so many people. They might be able to do certain aspects of the skill test, but they can’t do it in a timely manner.”

For both new and experienced farriers, Buckner says competitions also help farriers to better understand the anvil and how to adjust and forge shoes for a specific…