American Farrier’s Association (AFA) President Craig Trnka, CJF has recently announced the appointment of a new task force to survey the farrier schools in North America. The mission of the Farrier Schools Survey Task Force will be to survey all farrier schools in North America to document the quality of instruction, the qualifications of instructors, the curriculum, physical facilities, cost of tuition, admission requirements, student success/retention rates, and other related information.

Members of the Task Force include:

• Nathan Allen, CJF (Tucumcari, N.M.); Division Chair, Mesalands Community College


• Rick Burten, CJF (Champaign, Ill.); Owner, Tinkers Dam Forge


• Ralph Casey, BWFA CMF (LaFayette, Ga.); President, Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association


• Ronald Kramedjian (Lynnville, Tenn.); Owner, Ron’s Farrier Service


• Kenneth Lyon, CJF (Ramona, Calif.); Owner, Sierra South Horseshoeing School


• Andrew Parks, Vet MB (Athens, Ga.); Professor & Department Head, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine


• Steve Richardson, CJF (Elizabeth, Colo.); Owner, Colorado Farrier Service


• Bob Smith, CF (Sacramento, Calif.); Owner, Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School


• Mark Taylor (Mt. Eden, Ky.); Director of Development, Kentucky Horseshoeing School


• Jim Zieger (Monson, Mass.); Farrier

Richardson will serve as the Chairman and Taylor will serve as the Secretary of the Task Force.

Ex-officio members of the task force include Craig Trnka, CJF (president of the AFA) and Bryan Quinsey (executive director of the AFA)