The American and International Associations of Professional Farriers (AAPF/IAPF) is accepting applications for its Roy Bloom Scholarship.

The program was established to encourage farriers to pursue continuing education by attending the International Hoof-Care Summit, as well as participating AAPF/IAPF Mentoring Program. The application deadline is Oct. 15, 2020. Scholarship winners will be announced no later than Nov. 15, 2020.

The scholarship program annually recognizes two eligible farriers by providing each of them a package that includes registration, transportation and up to 4 nights lodging to the Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio. A grand prize winner will be selected from the two recipients who will also receive 3-day opportunity to work with the AAPF/IAPF mentor of his or her choice.

The scholarships will be divided into two categories: farriers with less than 5 years of experience and farriers with more than 5 years of experience. Each application will include an essay on the topic of “Why I Would Like to be a Recipient of the Roy Bloom Scholarship.” The essay should include the following considerations.

• What you hope to receive by attending the International Hoof-Care Summit.

• The impact of attending the Summit on your farrier practice.

• The benefits you have received (or hope to receive) through your involvement in the AAPF/IAPF Mentoring program.

• Additional information describing your education and experience to get to this point in your life.

The program is named for International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame member and founding AAPF board member Roy Bloom of Drummond, Wis. The owner of Bloom Forge is a popular clinician, having presented clinics in more than a score of states. He is known for his uncanny knack for delivering highly valuable shoeing ideas. His successful line of instructional videos has helped him reach an even wider audience.

For information, contact Mike Bagley, Scholarship Committee chair, at (330) 936-3298 or mbhorseshoer@yahoo.com; or Bryan Quinsey, AAPF/IAPF executive director, at (859) 533-1465 or bryan@professionalfarriers.com.