Two instructional articles, a cover photo and an in-depth editorial package covering the 35th anniversary of American Farriers Journal magazine captured top awards in the recent American Horse Publications annual editorial awards competition. From among nearly 300 equine publications headquartered in North American, 118 members entered 838 entries in this year’s competition.

Puncture Wounds

Capturing first place honors in the instructional single article category was the article entitled, “The Intricacies And Dangers Of Puncture Wounds” that appeared in the January/February, 2010, issue of AFJ. John Bradshaw, a writer and second-generation farrier from Lubbock, Texas, wrote the article that dealt with why it pays to be patient and not immediately pull a nail out of a hoof.

The judges stated that this article proves that an instructional article doesn’t have to be dull and dry and can be equally entertaining and informational.

Lazers Vs. Balance

Taking second place honors in the same instructional single article category was “Shedding Light On Balance” from the July/August 2010 issue of AFJ. Written by AFJ Managing Editor Pat Tearney, the article dealt with the effective use of laser levels in helping farriers sharpen their skills in regard to balancing the hoof.

The judges noted that clean writing and good topic selection set this article apart from the other entries. They complimented Tearney on emphasizing key points of information and smartly balancing the use of quotes with the narrative from the farrier who was using this new technique. Maine photographer and regular AFJ contributor Dusty Perin snapped the laser level photos for this article.

Hoof-Care Tools

The cover for the April 2010 issue captured honorable mention honors in the Editorial Still Photograph category. Taken by Maine photographer Dusty Perin, the photo highlighted a close-up of various farrier tools. The judges commented that the photo composition was well thought out and what could have been a boring shot instead became a vibrant close-up of the most used hoof-care tools.

35 Years Of AFJ

Capturing honorable mention honors in a category dealing with event coverage was “Celebrating 35 Years Of American Farriers Journal.” This 58-page section that appeared in the July/August 2010 issue was produced by Senior Editor/New Media Manager Jeremy McGovern.

The judges referred to this 35th anniversary editorial package as a delightful retrospective and a wonderful combination of fun and information that took place in celebrating the magazine’s 35th anniversary.

35 Years Of Valuable Footcare Tips

As part of the anniversary celebration of American Farriers Journal, the editors produced a 32-page collection of hundreds of the top tips used successfully by horseshoers over the past 35 years. To get this report for just $12.95 shipped free to you, visit www.americanfarriers.com/ff/35years.