Idaho and Colorado farrier Roy Wagoner passed away Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, according to Steve Eastman, a Kenwood, Calif., farrier. Wagoner was the oldest American Farrier’s Association member at 102 years of age.

Horses were a big part of the Wagoner family. The family farm and ranch work was performed by horses with no mechanized equipment, according to the AFA’s November/December 2021 issue of No Foot, No Horse. When he was 6 years old, Wagoner was responsible for taking the horses to the blacksmith to be shod.

“As he held the family work horses for the blacksmith, he began to learn the trade that would become a lifelong passion,” according to the AFA article. “It wasn’t long before Roy was taking on most of the care for the family horses.”

After returning home from serving in the United States Army during World War II, Wagoner married his wife Peggy. The lived for a short time in California before returned to horse-drawn farming in his native Idaho. He began an apprenticeship in the 1950s with farrier Ted Furnace. In 1976, Wagoner joined the AFA as member 277. He attended his first AFA Convention in Lakewood, Colo., that year and attended all but one over the next 50 years. He became a certified farrier in 1981.

“The AFA was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Roy Wagoner, CF, at a remarkable 102 years of age,” according to a statement from the AFA. “Member 277, in 50 years Roy only missed one convention, and we are so very thankful for his contributions to our AFA story. We are keeping his family and loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”

He was involved in the Idaho Falls Junior Posse, an organization that promoted youth horsemanship. He also was active in chariot racing, racing for more than 36 years including in the World Chariot Championships in Ogden, Utah. He became the oldest American chariot racer in 2000 when he was 79.

Funeral services are pending.