On the spring weekend of April 6-8, 30 farriers congregated at the farm of Ron and Dr. Bibi Freer in Columbus to exchange ideas, discuss techniques and learn from a master of their trade.
Grant Moon, six-time international blacksmithing champion and renowned clinician traveled from his home in England to share his expertise. This was the first-ever clinic, funded by the popular monthly “Farrier Jam Sessions” also held on the Freer farm.
“I now can speak more ‘farrierese,’ as I have learned many new terms, and I also understand the challenges of the job more deeply,” Dr. Freer said. “I saw the our farrier community strengthen throughout the weekend as guys who did not know each other well prior to the clinic exchanged phone numbers and email addresses.”
An equine veterinarian, Freer started the Farrier Jams to foster open communication, cooperation, education and understanding between farriers and their veterinarian colleagues. In addition to the blacksmiths, local veterinarians Dr. Thann Boyum and Dr. Sean Eastman are regular attendees at the jams, and were also participants in the Grant Moon Clinic. They, Dr. Freer, Anna Dalton and Tara and Rick Herrerro all provided horses to be studied and shod during the clinic.
Moon kicked off the weekend with a Power Point presentation held at the Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center, followed by a shoeing demonstration at the Freer farm. Among other topics, he discussed the most common hoof problems farriers encounter such as dealing with high/low conformation, long toes with under-run heels and horses that travel too closely behind.