CALGARY – For the last 15 years blacksmiths have travelled from as far away as Australia to pound and bend iron at the Calgary Stampede.
To be a blacksmith takes more than a strong back. It takes finesse and control to produce a quality product while working over a brazier that gets as hot as 370 C.
Each year crowds fill the stands to watch the best farriers in the world compete. Classes include speed forging where a shoe must be made in 15 minutes, fitting and shoeing horses, or creative forging where they can demonstrate their artistic abilities with a length of metal in 30 minutes.
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For first-time contestant Kathleen Verley of Bishop, Ca. it’s an opportunity to compete with some of the best farriers in the world. One of five women to enter the four-day competition this year, Verley works full time in the east Sierra mountains shoeing horses for local ranchers. She also fits shoes for work horses and hunter jumpers.
Many of the classes are timed events. Verley says it’s technique that shines over brawn, but when racing against the clock: “You need a lot of endurance.”
Shoeing competition
As an added twist this year, four American women teamed up for the team draft horse shoeing competition. The four worked in relay or simultaneously to shoe a heavy horse. Each team member had to trim a foot, forge the shoe for that foot, nail on the shoe and finish the foot.
Overall champion for 1994 was Grant Moon of the Isle of Man. He has been a Calgary champion six out of the last seven years. Richard Ellis of Wales was named rookie of the year.
This year’s 59 contestants travelled from 15 countries to enter a possible eight categories. First prize was $10,000, a silver belt buckle and a bronze statue.
