Ambrose Gordon, a farrier from Kerrville, Texas, located just outside of San Antonio, regularly does therapeutic shoeing work with veterinarian and boarded equine surgeon David Dutton from Hill Country Equine Clinic in Borney, Tex.

Judging anything can be extremely difficult because of all the factors and variables involved. There are the unseen aspects of judging horseshoeing contests that play a big part in the placing of the competitors.

When Danny Ward discusses horseshoeing, it soon becomes obvious that his keen sense of observation and active imagination are more important to his success than any of the tools in his shoeing box or stowed behind the doors of his shoeing rig.

For the first time in the 6-year history of the mail-in forging exercise, the top shoe was forged by an overseas farrier. This lateral bar shoe with a masselotte clip was forged by Lars Andersen of Herning, Denmark.

The longer I shoe, the more value I place on the establishment of professional working relationships with veterinarians.

After pounding out shoe after shoe, you may think your forging skills are pretty darned good.