If there's a World Cup of farrier competitions, it's the international team competition held each August at the Royal Showgrounds at Stoneleigh, England.
Hosted each year by the National Association of Farriers, Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers in England, the team competition has traditionally been an all -out battle between England and Wales...with the other countries showing up and doing their very best to beat the Brits (and Welsh) at their own game.
Wales, for instance, fielded a team on which were three former Calgary world champions--Billy Crothers, Richard Ellis and James Blurton, plus veteran Andy Martin. That could be a little intimidating!
This year the US team, sent abroad by the American Farrier's Association, finished a very credible fourth overall, behind England, Wales and Ireland. I believe this is the highest finish ever for the USA and a round of applause is definitely in order. (Please correct me if I am mistaken.)
Team members were slated to have been Billy Reed, Conrad Trow, Travis Koons, and reigning Calgary world champion Bill Poor.
Details are sketchy at this point and more will be posted soon!
Click here to return to our main home page at hoofcare.com
