The American and International Associations of Professional Farriers (AAPF/IAPF) have awarded four scholarships to attend the 2019 International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Michael Diehl, AF, of Turlock, Calif., and Meredith Martin, APF-I, of Scottsville, Va., are the recipients of the 2019 Roy Bloom Scholarship. The recipients of the 2019 Frank Gravlee Scholarship are Jaret Pullen of Charlotte, Vt., and Nicholas Schodlbauer of Cushing, Okla. 

As part of each grant, the winners will receive full-expense-paid travel from their homes to Cincinnati. Their Summit registration costs also covered, as well as their hotel expenses for the duration of their stay.

To be eligible for the Roy Bloom Scholarship, the following requirements must be met: 

• Being current member of the AAPF/IAPF.

• Being willing and able to attend the AAPF Annual General Membership meeting at the International Hoof-Care Summit.

• Having never attended the International Hoof-Care Summit.

• Submitting an application that included an essay on the subject: “Why I Would Like to be a Recipient of the Roy Bloom Scholarship.”

• The applicant’s mentor also must also submit a letter of recommendation for the applicant.

The Roy Bloom Scholarship was founded in 2013 by James Gilchrist and others. Today, the scholarship is sponsored by Dr. Frank Reilly of West Chester, Pa., with the help of donations from friends of Roy Bloom and the AAPF/IAPF. The program is named for International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame member and founding AAPF board member Roy Bloom of Drummond, Wis. The goal of the scholarship program is to encourage learning farriers to pursue their continuing education by attending the International Hoof-Care Summit, as well as participating in the AAPF mentoring program.

To be eligible for the Frank Gravlee Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Being a current veterinary student or have graduated within the past 2 years of a North American equine veterinarian college or university.
  • Having never attended the International Hoof-Care Summit.
  • Being willing and able to attend the AAPF/IAPF Annual General Membership meeting at the International Hoof-Care Summit.
  • Submitting an application and a brief résumé.
  • Including an essay addressing “Why I Would Like to be a Recipient of the Frank Gravlee Scholarship.” 
  • A professor or employer/supervisor of the applicant must also submit a letter of recommendation on the applicant’s behalf.

The Frank Gravlee Scholarship was founded in 2017, honoring the life of Dr. Frank Gravlee who invented Farrier’s Formula, which led to the founding of Life Data Labs. In 2017, Gravlee was recognized by the AAPF/IAPF with the “American Farriers JournalRobert ‘Red’ Renchin Leadership Award.” Gravlee is a member of the International Equine Veterinarian Hall Of Fame. Reilly both founded and is sponsoring this scholarship.

All four scholarship recipients will be introduced to the AAPF/IAPF membership on Jan. 23, 2019 at the annual AAPF/IAPF meeting.