A willingness to share ideas with fellow hoof-care professionals is among the industry's biggest accomplishments over the past 5 decades.

1975 

  • Florida farrier Henry Heymering publishes first American Farriers Journal (AFJ), an 8–12-page publication mailed quarterly.

1980

  • Massachusetts publisher Dean Laux purchases AFJ.

1981

  • First four-color cover & four-color ad (Mustad).

1982

  • AFJ expands to 6 issues per year.

1992

  • Lessiter Media, a family-owned publishing business in Brookfield, Wis., acquires AFJ.
  • International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame is introduced by AFJ and the Kentucky Derby Museum. (It now includes 166 inductees from 34 states and 11 countries.)

1997

  • International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame program is introduced by AFJ, today representing 73 inductees from 27 states and 11 countries.

1998

  • AFJ launches National Farriers Week to encourage horse owners, riders and trainers to express a thank you to the specialists in hoof care. A “Farriers Spotlight” was added in 2012, allowing horseshoers to draw attention to their specialized footcare skills.

1999

  • AFJ and the Calgary Stampede’s World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition began co-sponsoring a mail-in forging exercise that showcased the forging talents of farriers around the world. Some years, more than 125 farriers from numerous countries demonstrated their forging talents in this mail-in shoe-making exercise, forging selected shoes, such as a lateral straight bar shoe with a masselotte clip.

2000

  • 25th AFJ anniversary celebrated with special historical issue.

2002

  • AFJ introduces “Farrier Classic” series of 9 reprinted historical books from the 1800s and early 1900s. Over the years, AFJ has produced 13 books dealing with many aspects of hoof care.

2004

  • AFJ expands to 8 issues with its Product Showcase Guide.
  • AFJ launches first annual International Hoof-Care Summit (IHCS) in Cincinnati, Ohio.

2006

  • Launched the first in the highly popular “Farrier Tips” series.

2008

  • Rising Shoeing Star program honors outstanding shoers starting successful careers 3 years after graduation from North America’s more than 60 horseshoeing schools. (Today, it includes 54 inductees.)

2009

  • Launched annual How to Get Started in Hoof Care — A Career Guide for the New Farrier.
  • Relaunched AFJ website on an all-new, user-friendly platform.
  • Launched AFJ-TV, which today includes more than 626 videos with more than 3.7 million lifetime views.
  • 4-part series on “soring” concerns captures international writing honors among leading worldwide trade media.

2012 

  • Launched Online Hoof-Care Classroom program focusing on farrier business and hoof-care strategies delivered by today’s foremost professionals.

2013

  • Introduced Spanish edition of How to Get Started in Hoof Care — A Career Guide for the New Farrier.

2015

  • AFJ introduces the IHCS Mail-In Forging Exercise.
  • A more mobile-friendly platform launched for the AFJ website along with other viewer-friendly additions.
  • Launched downloadable AFJ eGuides that provide valuable cutting-edge information to improve shoeing skills, knowledge & business practices.

2016

  • Launched AFJ farrier podcast series to provide farriers with more learning during their barn-to-barn drives.

2017

  • Launch twice-monthly AFJ Facts & Figures web segment, designed to improve management of a farrier business.

2018

  • AFJ led an industry-wide campaign to petition the American Veterinary Medical Association to retain its farrier exemption in the Model Veterinary Practice Act. The exemption remains to this day.
  • International Hoof-Care Summit draws a record crowd of 1,285 farriers, equine vets and suppliers from 22 countries.
  • Introduction of twice-a-month Hoof Nutrition Intelligence report aimed at adding to the education of footcare professionals in feeding the hoof.

2021

  • The 18th annual IHCS is held virtually due to worldwide COVID restrictions.

2023

  • AFJ celebrates the International Hoof-Care Summit’s 20th anniversary with “Hammers & Heroes” farrier tool auction honoring military veterans. American Farrier’s Association and International Association of Professional Farriers injured farrier funds received proceeds.

2024

  • Farrier Supply Shop of the Year program launched.
  • “Best Dog of the Year” and Farrier Beard” awards launched with entries from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, South Africa and the U.S.
  • AFJ’s practical trimming and shoeing videos posted on YouTube for world-wide viewing reach 617 mark.
  • Since 1993, AFJ has produced 60 in-depth reports on specific footcare concerns to meet the needs of farriers and equine vets.

2025

  • 22nd annual International Hoof-Care Summit moves to Kansas City, Mo., the first time it’s not held in Cincinnati.