Aiming to improve its equine footcare education, the University of Illinois’ College of Veterinary Medicine acquired MiddleFork Forge and Midwest Horseshoeing School in mid February.

Steve Sermersheim, owner of MiddleFork Forge and co-owner of Midwest Horseshoeing School with Diego Almeida, joined the College of Veterinary Medicine faculty. Almeida will continue to manage instruction for the school as a program coordinator with the college’s Office of Public Engagement. The college also will retain MiddleFork Forge apprentices Ian Zollers and Jessica Byrne. The farrier practice has been renamed Middlefork Forge at Illinois.

“This transition will ensure an exceptional learning experience,” Sermersheim says, “whether you are a horse owner learning how to care for your own animals or someone preparing to join the farrier profession.”

The farrier school, which will continue operating at its Divernon, Ill., location, includes courses that range from 2- and 4-week classes for horse owners, as well as a 20-week course for those preparing for a career in farriery.

Trio Pitch In To Benefit Injured Farriers

The Texas Professional Farriers Association (TPFA), Oklahoma Farriers Association (OFA) and Stonewell Bodies are raffling a new trailer that is worth more than $20,000.

Tickets are $20 a piece. Proceeds will go toward the associations’ respective disability/injured farriers funds.

“This project is for a great cause,” says Dick Fanguy, national sales representative for Stonewell Bodies. “To my knowledge, no other association has ever done anything on this scale. You are looking at a heck of a rig and we did…