The Indiana Farriers' Association

What's in it for me? Educational Clinics

Over the past two years, we've learned a lot from each other at our HammerINs and clinics. Along with our own members, we've brought in quite a few farriers and veterinarians who have shared their ideas with us. Among them were:

 Gene Ovenick -- Wild Horse Studies / The Four-Point Trim and the Equine Digit Support System
 Henry Heymering -- Club Feet and Lameness Issues
 Scott Davidson -- Reviewing Duckett's Dot, Balancing the Whole Horse, Basic Forging
 Jerry Ray Smith -- Shoeing Tips
 John Voigt -- Traction Devices
 Charlie Brown -- Shoeing Arabs, Running a Shoeing Business
 Dave Ferguson -- Farrier-Vet Protocols, Coronary Grooving the Chronic Founder
 Tracy Turner, DVM -- Vet-Farrier Protocols
 Dick Becker -- Building and Shaping Shoes
 Bill Hope, DVM -- Assisting with Radiographs
 Jan Hawkins, DVM -- Vet-Farrier Cooperation on Flexural and Angular Deformities

What's in it for me? Member Benefits

The Injured Farrier Fund -- Collectively, we pay into this fund as part of our membership dues. If you are injured, you can draw on these funds.
The IFA Newsletter -- Published bi-monthly, this newsletter brings you news of current and future events, along with articles and letters of related interest.
Membership Directory -- Published annually, the directory provides horse owners, veterinarians, farriers, and others with contact information for IFA members.
Membership Discounts -- Iron Age Footwear; 10% discount on safety footwear. Celestial Designs; the IFA official clothier
Horse Owner Packets -- Educational literature available to distribute to your clients.

What's in it for me? Professional Affiliations

As a chapter member of the American Farrier's Association, the IFA and its members are represented to the American Horse Council, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Horse Shows Association, and many other influential equine and legislative organizations. Within Indiana, we have strong ties and formal liaisons with the Indiana Horse Council, the Indiana Association of Equine Practitioners and the Hoosier Horse Fair. These relationships provide us with educational opportunities, exposure, and legislative input.

Another affiliation, which many farriers will eventually benefit from, is our arrangement with the veterinary students at Purdue University. Every other year, we participate in the Farrier Short Course co-sponsored by the AFA and the AAEP, where IFA members work with small groups of veterinary students, using dead legs and live horses to help them understand the intricacies of balance, nailing, shoe shape and removal, etc. This hands-on clinic has been invaluable in fostering respect between future equine practitioners and farriers.

What's in it for me? Golfing

That's right, golfing. Whether you play golf or not, you missed a great time at our golf scramble this summer. We didn't shoe horses, we didn't even talk about horses, we just got together and had a good time. One half of those attending had never played before. It was a blast. We also have a picnic every fall, some come and eat, some stay longer, camping and trail riding. It's a great family get-together.

What's in it for me? Future Events

The IFA coordinates a minimum of two clinics each year.

We are increasing our presence at the Hoosier Horse Fair, expanding our contest to include a focus on live shoeing as well as forging, and introducing a creative/pot-luck forging class. Live shoeing will be conducted daily, finishing up with a breed and usage shoeing demonstration on Sunday. Additionally, IFA members will be presenting six educational workshops during the HHF.

Who is the IFA? YOU

Whether you have 25 years experience or you've just purchased your tools, whether you shoe hot or cold, whether you shoe full time or part time, whether you shoe world champions or backyard ponies... the IFA is for you.

What's in it for me? Nothing...unless you join