By Brenna Angel
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-955703.mp3
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Hundreds of horseshoe makers from all over the world are in Lexington this week for the annual convention of the American Farrier's Association. At the heart of the meeting was a world class competition.
The challenge was on for 20 farriers Thursday afternoon in the AFA's live horse shoeing competition at the Kentucky Horse Park. Bryan Osborne of Richmond was one of the qualifiers.
"It's fun. Every day you day you get to go to a barn and shoe horses' feet. It's great."
With a time limit of 60 minutes, competitors had to hammer out a shoe, apply it to the foot of a horse, and make a specimen shoe. Ian Allison served as a competition judge. The Englishman says farriers serve an important role in the horse industry.
"If you build on a house on bad footings, it won't stay up for long, and horses are just the same. If they're on bad footing and not fit properly and trimmed properly, then they won't last. They'll be lame and you won't be able to do the job that they're made for."
Winners will be announced at a banquet Friday night. The top finishers earn a spot on the American Farrier's Team.