Over the weekend of February 25-27, the World Champion Blacksmiths (WCB) organization held their World Horseshoeing Classic at the Kentucky Horseshoeing School. The school is a fairly new and impressive facility located just south of Lexington Kentucky. There were 8 teams competing with 4 farriers on each team. They came from states all over the US from California to New Hampshire, from Idaho to extreme southern Texas, and from many of the states in between. There was a team representing Canada and also a team from Wales in Great Britain. The 3 judges were also from afar with one who is from Ireland and currently lives in Vancover Canada, one from South Africa who currently lives and practices his craft in the Louisville, Ky. area, and a third judge from Payson, Utah. The teams were competing for a winner take all prize of $10,000 to the winning team. The photos presented here were all taken on Friday when the teams were shoeing draft horses. The horses for the day were provided by Jonesie who brought several of his Percherons over from Bardstown and by Mike Downs who brought a couple of his Belgians in from Olympia in Eastern Kentucky. The teams were also going to be shoeing Roadsters on Saturday and Hunters on Sunday.
Each team member had to identify to the judges the horse's hoof that was to be their responsibility. They were provided with pieces of bar stock and each member of the team had to trim the hoof, build and fit a shoe, and finally, nail the shoe onto the hoof. The teams were given 2.5 hours to complete their task. The judges in their white lab coats were required to examine the results at several points along the way.
First place on this draft horse day (and overall winner of the $10,000 for the 3 day event) went to the team from Wales made up of Billy Crothers, James Blurton, Andy Martin and Mark Evans. Winners on day 2 were Team Canada and day 3 went to the Misfits of Team WCB.
The farrier trade is not limited to just men, but it can be very hard, physically demanding work.
Click the links below to start a slideshow of photos from this event!
Draft Horse Photos.com - Home Page