The third, and last leg of the 2014 Southeastern Triple Crown was held in Ocala, Fla. The contest, judged by Travis Koons, drew 23 competitors.

Hosted by the Florida State Farriers Association, the final leg of the three-part competition marks the end of the third annual Southeastern Triple Crown, which was first organized by Eric Gilleland, president of the Georgia Professional Farriers Association; Phillip Box, president of the Alabama Professional Farriers Association; and Robbie Hunziker, vice president of the Florida State Farriers Association.

Hunziker says the group began the competition to help each association grow and to draw farriers to their individual competitions. “Each of the three legs of the competition runs as its own contest. At the end of the third leg, we accumulate the points to have an overall winner. Farriers can compete in just one leg or in all three to win the Triple Crown.

“We really wanted to draw farriers to all three of the contests to help the associations grow. It’s easier to grow with others than it is to grow by yourself,” says Hunziker.

This statement holds true for the competitors as well. Hunziker says that when you have farriers who compete in all three legs of the competition, going against the same people over and over again, relationships are built and friendships are made.

“When you have everyone come together in one big group, it’s like one big clinic where everyone helps each other,” he says.

The Southeastern Triple Crown is a tough…