Faq

How do I join World Championship Blacksmiths?
Joining is simple. Fill out our membership application, posted under the Members Tab on our website, and listed under Membership Information. You may download the form, fill it out, and then return it to us via fax or mail. If you have questions regarding the application, feel free to contact us by phone at 641-660-3888 or by email at champion@worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com.

How will the competition circuit be structured?
World Championship Blacksmiths will host 5 regional qualifiers around the US in 2007. A truck and trailer will be used to haul and set up 10 identical units (coke forges, anvils on stands, vises, fire tools and water buckets). The competition will be done in go rounds of 10. If fifty competitors show up we will host 5 go rounds. Each contest will have 3 classes that consist of shoeing a foot with a specimen, a two person class and a forging class. If 63 competitors show up the 1st place competitor gets 63 points and the last place competitor gets 1 point. The points carry over throughout the whole year and the top forty competitors make the championships. The National Championship will be worth double point so add to the excitement. We will allocate 15 spots for foreign competitors to compete at the National Championship in order to maintain International involvement. Foreign competitors will not be able to win the National Championship unless they have competed at Regionals and accumulated the necessary points.

How were the competition sites selected?
Five regional competitions have been slated for 2007. The number of competitions and locations were focused around the competitor. With too many competitions, the competitors would not be able to attend the majority. The competitions were spread out over the calendar year and geographically. The first competition held in Bossier City, Louisiana on April 20th and 21st will give members time to get back from the convention, regroup, and get some horses shod before going back out on the road. The second contest is slated for Durango, Colorado in conjunction with the Four Corners contest on the first weekend of June. The third contest held in Dillon, Montana on the first weekend of September allows competitors to hit the busy shoeing of summer hard between June and September. The fourth contest will be held in conjunction with Equine Affair in West Springfield, Massachusetts i n early November. Equine Affaire boasts a huge horse owner crowd and is really excited about having us and using some of our competitors as lecturers as well. The fifth and final contest will be held at the Olympic horse park in Atlanta, Georgia on the second weekend of January 2008.

Will World Championship Blacksmiths be hosting competitions only at the Open Division level?
No - we will be including competitors at all levels through a ranking system. This system will designate each competitor a rank between 1 and 4 depending on experience. Competitors of every rank will be competing side by side and forging off of the same shoe list. For each particular class, individuals will be competing for prizes with competitors of their designated rank. However, in terms of the points individuals accumulate toward the overall season, each individual will be competing against competitors of all rankings for the chance to compete in the National Championship. Our philosophy is built around taking all the competitors striving for excellence to the next level. A world champion competitor is continually trying to increase in skill and raise the notch! An up and coming competitor is also striving to increase his or her skills and reach the next level - in that sense, every competitor is at the same place with the same end goal…striving for excellence!!! You won't find a better opportunity to work side by side highly skilled, successful farriers who believe in helping other farriers who have the same goals! This is what World Championship Blacksmiths is all about.

If I am not an active competitor, should I consider joining World Championship Blacksmiths?
Absolutely. If you are a farrier striving for excellence, you will reap the benefits of what World Championship Blacksmiths has to offer. You will receive a free pass to our Super Clinic - with 10 well know blacksmith champions. This benefit alone is worth more than the membership fee itself. The SUPER Clinic will be a jam packed educational opportunity - the line up of farriers is unreal - Shayne Carter, CJF; Billy Crothers, AWCF; Austin Edens, CJF; Jim Keith, CJF; Mark Milster, CJF; Jim Poor, CJF; Jim Quick, CJF; Jason Smith, CJF; The American Farrier's Team, and last but not least, our very own Craig Trnka, CJF. The educational value of our competitions will be incredible. The competition will be set up in go rounds of 10. If fifty competitors show up we will host 5 go rounds. This kind of set up allows individuals to watch four go rounds and compete one - it's like four clinics in every class in addition to competing - or five clinics in every class for those participating as spectators. At every competition, members will be allowed to attend a hands-on clinic held the day before each competition. It will be a practice session for the competitors as well as a hands on clinic for members with rotating champion farriers. You will also receive discounts on exclusive tools, clothing, and WCB merchandise. We have many members who are not actively competing. Some are retired but believe in the benefits of being involved in competition. Others are working toward eventually competing and want to be involved, learn, prepare, and build relationships. Still others don't actually plan to compete personally but believe in the benefits of being involved in the competition arena - the education, excitement, exposure, and experience.

Where will the National Championship be held?
The National Championship location has not been announced. World Championship Blacksmiths hopes to work in conjunction with the American Farrier's Association's National Convention. The AFA Rules Committee and Executive Committee are currently reviewing a high level overview presented by World Championship Blacksmiths on a potential partnership between the two organizations.

Is World Championship Blacksmiths in competition with the American Farrier?
No. World Championship Blacksmiths is a chapter of the AFA. The farriers on our management team are all members of the AFA. Our CEO was the former President of the AFA for four years. Our Chief Logistics Officer was the former Board of Directors representative for 2 years serving with the AFA's Executive Committee.