This year marks the 50th anniversary (and 32nd year at Lessiter Media) of American Farriers Journal covering the farrier trade. We’re asking hoof-care professionals for a few words to include in a “From the Audience” section of our coverage – in the December edition.

International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer and American Farrier's Association founder Walt Taylor, CF, of Albuquerque, N.M., shares his thoughts on the milestones of farriery over the past half-century.

Besides the existence of the American Farrier’s Association as a structured organization since 1971, there has been nothing else as important to the renaissance of footcare and farriery as the American Farriers Journal.

The two organizations, working in concert with each other, have fostered the well-being we enjoy today. By and large, the work we do now is light-years ahead of what it was 50 years ago, and as different now compared to then as the proverbial “chalk and cheese.”

There is no question that the time was right for birth and robust youth of both enterprises. Those of us who were fortunate enough to be part of this growth and development enjoy an advantage over those whose careers began later. Not only have we had the opportunity to share with and lead others in learning and skills development, we developed and shared a whole new dimension of learning and practicing this facet of equine care and welfare.

It sounds trite, but the best is yet to come. We have hardly scratched the surface of the wealth of knowledge, understanding, skills, and technology that are “out there” for us as hoof-care specialists, and for the betterment of the life and working ability of all equidae.

My day is long past, but my trust and optimism are not limited by mortal years. By continuing to share our resources, skills, knowledge, and sense of cooperation with all our colleagues, another 50 years will find us in another world, so to speak. I’d like to be around to see that!

Those at the start of their career as farriers will see that and benefit from the previous 100 years of sharing and caring. I hope that all of today’s practitioners will appreciate where we have been, where we are now, and where we will be in 50 years if they continue to be open to the change and challenges that are sure to come.

Thanks for the work the AFJ team has done to further the cause! I appreciate your taking the time and effort to memorialize the occasion.