Interesting Developments in The World Farriers Association

MAJOR EUROPEAN BREAKTHROUGH

For the last eight years, the World Farriers Association (WFA) has been actively promoting the formation of a European Farriers Association (EFA). The need for such an organization was seen by WFA President Walt Taylor several years ago as a necessity to help the farriery profession to function legally and competitively within the European Union.

A meeting of representatives from western European farrier organizations was hosted by the WFA and MUSTAD HOOFCARE SA in England in August 1996. A committee was named by the WFA to study the proposal and to perform organizational functions as needed during an interim period. Should studies done by the committee show desirability and feasibility, the European Farriers Association would be launched at an appropriate time.

Several meetings and discussions of interested and affected farriers were held to explore and discuss the proposal. One meeting was held in Verona, Italy, and another at Utrecht, The Netherlands, to pursue the issue. These meeting provided insight into the needs of individual farriers in different countries, and helped formulate the way an association could help them and their own organizations. A myriad of opportunities (and problems) were found by the committee, but none formidable enough to forestall progress. As a result, the EUROPEAN FARRIERS ASSOCIATION was inaugurated officially at the annual Salon du Cheval in Paris France, December 13-14, 1997. Congratulations are in order to all the people that filled interim positions of responsibility, that shouldered the load, that flew in the face of the "naysayers" and got the job done.

The EFA will have an immediate, profound, and positive on the farriers and the profession throughout Europe. Of equal or greater significance and value are the very positive benefits that will be enjoyed by equidae and the people that own and use them!

More information and details can be obtained by contacting Denis Leveillard, 6 rue des Dolmens, Change - St. Piat, 26130 Maintenon, FRANCE.

WFA REPRESENTED AT 99th FIERACALLI IN VERONA, ITALY

WFA President Walt Taylor was the President of the Jury for the farriery contests at the annual Fieracavalli held in Verona, Italy, in early November 1996. Farrier/blacksmithing teams from France, Italy, England, Ireland, and Germany competed in the three-day individual and team competitions. The teams finished in that order.

The Fieracavalli will celebrate its 100th Birthday in November 1998. Plans are being made to invite up to ten teams from around the world to compete in this very special event. The 7 Italian Farriers Association (helped to re-start by WFA a few years ago after having been inactive since 1939) assists in the promotion and logistical support for the contests. The farriery contests are organized and supervised by the Centro Militare Veterinario, Ufficio Addestramento e Studi, Grosseto.

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