When you flip the calendar to July, you are probably hitting your peak shoeing period. Unlike the rest of the population, you aren’t counting down the days to a summer vacation on a sandy beach — you are focused on business. And as you labor in the summer heat, with the appointment book overflowing and clients constantly calling you, recognition is the last thing on your mind.

Although the only accolades you ever hope for arrive in swift payments and recommendations from your clients, we don’t want shoers to be overlooked. For the 11th year in a row, American Farriers Journal is proud to sponsor National Farriers Week. From July 12 to 18, this celebration is a time for the public to take notice of the hard work and dedication that farriers exhibit on a daily basis. “Being a farrier goes far beyond normal hoof care,” says Frank Lessiter, editor and publisher of American Farriers Journal. “Through National Farriers Week, we want to remind the equine community — especially horse owners — that horseshoers do so much more than normal trimmings and shoeing, all while sacrificing their bodies and often in less than ideal circumstances.”

In anticipation of National Farriers Week, the AFJ staff has issued press releases to dozens of general horse publications to help everyone understand the many hats worn by horseshoers. Through these alerts, we tried to bring the farrier to the forefront of horse owners’ minds. We’ve encouraged horse owners to submit stories that celebrate their…