Anvils on wheels, horses on loading docks, and a fleet of oversized pickup trucks from nearly every state in the union were evidence that the farriers had come to town. Close to 1,000 farriers, friends, and trade show exhibitors jammed the Rochester Convention Center in Rochester, N.Y., Feb. 24-28, for the world’s largest single gathering of the hard-hammering professionals–the annual American Farrier’s Association Convention (AFA).

At the center of the convention was the star-quality presence of Edward Martin, FWCF, a senior farrier from Scotland who has influenced many American farriers. Already the recipient of the Member of the British Empire (MBE) honor from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, as well as being the first blacksmith in 400 years to be named Supreme Master of his craft, 79-year-old Martin received awards from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman and the New York State Agriculture Department, as well as countless testimonials from AFA members at a formal reception in his honor.

In his first address to the AFA membership, new executive director Bryan Quinsey announced that the organization would immediately re-prioritize its mission, with education as the primary function. A new web site, www.nofootnohorse.com, will be an information resource for the horse-owning public provided by the AFA. The AFA also offers a voluntary four-level certification program for member and non-member farriers.

A long list of lectures was offered, ranging from business skills and muscle therapy for farriers’ own bodies to veterinarians’ use of shock wave therapy for suspensory ligament damage and how chiropractic affects horses’ feet. More than 100 booths filled a trade show bursting with high-tech hoof products and materials