With so many venue's out there to learn from now, I wonder where your interests lay....
feel free to vote then post your reason's, please......be respectful of others reason's for chooseing a certain venue. You may NOT agree with their choice, but remember we don't always agree with each other for a variety of reasons.

my 2 cents worth (smile)

Is it an association ?
AFA
Guild
BWFA
A shoeing school ?
Is it a chapter ?
Is it a clinic or lecture ?
Is it a forging contest ?
Is it a ride along with another farrier ?
Is it a book or magazine ?

Hey Bruce, I always enjoy a good clinic, but I would have to vote for the ride along. I don't get many chances because I am busy enough that it is hard, if it were possible I would do it all the time. In a ride along situation you can spend alot more time asking questions about all the little details you may not raise your hand and ask in a crowded clinic situation. If I asked all the questions that came to me during a clinic I would probably get thrown out for disrupting it. I recently did ride along with Jim Gilchrist down in Wellington FL. Jim and I had shared some horses over the years and never met in person. I learned a ton and not just about shoeing Dressage horses, when you are around people like that who are so succesful at what they do it is hard not to absorb all kinds of stuff. I would love to have the opportunity to ride along with Bob Pethick or Craig Trnka but I have picked up something useful from just about anyone I have spent time with, yourself included. Thanks again.

My favorite is not on there Bruce. A get together, a sharing of many farriers willing to learn and teach (equally). Like I've done with the members of the American Hoof Association 2 years in a row at my farm. What I did at Jaye's place this September - 13 farriers in a barn working side by side, joking, teaching, listening, praising, teasing and paying attention to each other.

Jaye's was an incredible experience and I'm looking forward to a repeat at Dan's in April.

My only sorrow is that Mr. Tom Stovall will not be attending, I love him and will miss hanging out with him. And I thought Robert Duvall was all that and a bag of chips... Tom has him beat

Kim thankyou for adding that. Obviously the list is only 10 items, but you took care of that with your post.
You also spent time with us, Vermont Farriers Assoc. at the Mitch Taylor Clinic.
We ALL had a good time, one and all....

Jim I agree, riding along is a one on one situation and can open all sorts of opportunities.
I was supposed to be in Thetford and Stratford today, but daft horses are fine and will reschedule them in a couplke of weeks.
Perhaps we might find some time to get together.?

my 2 cents worth

I agree with Kim about the informal get togethers. There's no pressure, no worship of the person doing the clinic, and everyone gets involved. Not to put down clinics, I like them to cause you can always learn something from someone who has the skill and knowledge to be asked to present a clinic. My state chapter of the AFA has been one of the best sources for me having clinics, pre certs and certs. So that goes hand in hand with the AFA being a source for me.

I'd like to do ride alongs but in the eleven years I've been in Tucson that's not happened. Some is my fault for feeling to busy, some is cause every time I've offered or asked, there was no interest. Always a ok, call me or let me know or I'll let you know but nothing happens. Just the way it is I guess.

Forging contests are new to me, but the WCB deal is great. Yes it's about shoe making, but everyone there shoes for a living to and they will share anything you want to know. That group of guys are as passionate about shoeing and shoe making as any group I've ever seen. Just like the group that went to Jaye's, the passion for the profession is wonderful and contagious. In that environment learnng is easy.

Of course I read every magazine and book I can that has to do with the industry so that is a great resource. Then there's this web site as well as others where good people share experience and info willingly. I can't imagine not having all these resources, I'd still be cold shoeing with St. Croix plains setting all fronts to 53* and hinds to 55*, rasping excess down to the shoes. I'd be a iron hanging hack, instead I've improved, learned, gained experience, and have begun down the path to be a farrier. I don't want to be the guy who learned for a year or two and then did the same work for 25 more years and because of these things listed in your poll, I won't be.

I would have to quote Rick Burton and say "It Depends" BECAUSE all the choices are good ones. The Assn route is OK, but sometimes the emphasis is too strong in certain directions, IMO. I appreciate these forums because it gets other peoples experiences and points of view where one can read it and absorb the info at their own speed. Sometimes at a Clinic, one can get overwhelmed and miss key points. It is hard not to like Handson type clinics tho, these are when guys/gals can help each other in constructive environments.:cool:

I'd have to say "all of the above". And I alwasy try to remember that I can always learn someething, even if its something I wouldn't do, or somewhere I wouldn't go again.

I have to admit that I really enjoy being a clinician because not only do I have to be on top of my game, but its just down right rewarding to know that others think enough of what I know to ask me to share it with them. And, an added benefit for me is that I always learn things from the people who attend the clinick. Its a two way street and a win-win situation for me and I hope it has been the same for those who have had me as their clinician.

Rick

i agree with every thing that has been said but would like to add that i also learn from my mistakes. well ok ,most of them
chris

The computer is a fanastic resource these days. In a couple of hours you can see and hear more than you can in thousands of miles and years of travel...and I really hate to travel.

Aside from that I enjoy the "informal" get togethers or hammer-ins and getting together with other farriers to work. I wish there were more oportunity to do it.

All the other options have their use and place.

the trouble with a lot of folk is they search sites until they find one that agrees with themselves , although i do agree it can be a very good source for information if used correctly
chris

How about, learning from mistakes made ?

Bruce, as you so aptly point out, most folks have a learning method that best suits them on a personal level.

While all of the venues listed have value, I tend more toward reference material in textbook format, step-by-step video or internet photographs and explanations.

These media formats offer me the largest volume of information in a single resource and provide detail that I can assimilate at my own pace.

The clinics, ride-alongs and other interactive opportunities provide the place to put that knowledge to work or practice and help me develop and improve motor skills and application techniques and variations.

Feedback and open discussion on this forum has been invaluable and opened a lot of doors to additional learning opportunities.

Still, for me personally, it all started with a book, a horse and a need.

I used to think I knew a thing or two about horses. Now that I've been at it a lifetime, I'm pretty sure a thing or two is about all I knew.

Cheers,
Mark

I guess for me, I am a hands on kind of person, I have to feel it, see it , and put it to practical use. I can read all kinds -of - good ideas, but if it doesn't work in the field, it is useless.

I think it's really hard to choose one as it is not possible that we will get to learn everything from one point. Then also I think ride along with another farrier gives you the greatest opportunity as you can talk to him face to face and can clearly describe what problems you are having and can get the solutions.

I think your best shot is Riding with somebody that is good
and willing to show you things