I am Writing this in regards to a recent letter published in Professional Farrier Magazine, titled “What’s in a name” as I am not a member of the AFA and I do not have an outlet like Professional Farrier Magazine, to get my side of the story out I have chosen to post this on any and all websites frequented by people in the equine community, so that they can see for themselves how the AFA and some of its members choose to conduct themselves while calling others unprofessional.
It appears that Mr. Reardon is only giving half of the story in regards to the name change of the AFA chapter here in Missouri. Mr. Reardon has stated several times that he and the members of his organization were disappointed in the unprofessional manner in which this situation was handled, as Mr. Reardon has chosen not to return my letters, or phone calls so that this could be settled in a rational adult like manner, I will provide the details, that he has conveniently omitted.
How it all started...........
After talking with and meeting several farriers in our area all of whom expressed an interest in having a local farrier organization, I decided to start one. I chose the name Missouri Farriers Association, it just seemed like an easy logical choice for a name.
In what I feel was a professional manner, I did a search of the internet to see if the domain name had been registered, it had not been registered, I purchased the domain name, at the same time I searched the Missouri Secretary of State website for the MOFA name it was not registered, again I took the opportunity to purchase and register the name.
It was at our third meeting that a new member asked me how we could use the name Missouri Farriers Association, as there was an AFA chapter already using that name within the state, I was given Mr. Reardons contact information from this member.
I promptly contacted Mr. Reardon by phone on the following Monday morning to make him aware of the situation and to see what could be worked out , the response I received from Mr. Reardon went as follows :” Well you are going to have one hell of a lawsuit on your hands from the AFA.” Mr Reardon stated that this was a chapter of the AFA and was set up in accordance with the AFA bylaws and that I would need to contact the AFA president Dave Ferguson.
I contacted Mr. Ferguson and explained the situation, Mr. Ferguson ’s first reaction was “It looks like our chapter will have to change its name” I explained to Mr. Ferguson as I had to Mr. Reardon that I was not looking for a confrontation and I felt that this situation could be handled with out the cost or time that a lawsuit would require. Mr Ferguson and I discussed the possibility of Mr. Reardon purchasing the MOFA name from our organization for the cost of the registration fee’s.
I heard nothing back from either Mr. Reardon or Mr. Ferguson for several months concerning the situation. I was then handed a copy of the Missouri Professional Farriers Newsletter in which Mr. Reardon stated, “We are all frustrated by the unprofessional manner in which this was undertaken” then Mr. Reardon goes on to state, “You can help by telling other farriers, clients, industry contacts and people interested in attending a horseshoeing school what has transpired and the manner in which it was done”
This brings us up too the current letter in the Sept/Oct issue of Professional Farrier Magazine, in which I am once again accused of having acted in an unprofessional manner. Upon reading the letter I contacted Mr. Matt Gilis the managing editor of the magazine, and explained the situation in detail, I then asked if Professional Farrier would run my side of the story if I provided the do***entation that I have, Mr Gillis stated that he was willing to do just that but he thought it would be better if I contacted Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Nolan first, I called both of them and left messages asking that they return my call, it has been a week now and I have heard nothing from either of them.
Now I really don’t care if Mr. Reardon and the AFA wants to say things about myself or about MOFA but I highly resent the fact that Mr. Reardon insists on dragging the name of our school into this situation, and continues too bad mouth the school, (which is run by an AFA CJF with 42 yrs of shoeing experience and a Masters degree in equine science with an emphasis on horseshoeing, ) I am and will consider this another attack by the AFA on the private school sector and as I told Mr. Ferguson in an earlier letter I will take whatever action is needed to protect the school. If anyone would like copies of the information (letters etc...) that I have pertaining to how this situation was handled please feel free to email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. And I will be happy to pass the information along.