ALASKAN FAMILY SUCCESSFUL IN LOWER 48

The Coker family began their equestrian experi­ence here in Alaska. Darrel and Sandy encouraged their daughter Cammie and her interest in horses. Cammie showed both Quarter Horses and Arabians successfully here in Alaska. She was serious about continuing her life with horses and when the opportunity came to go to the lower 48, she went.

The Cokers had one of their mares bred to Padrons Psyche and the result was a beautiful bay colt - Psymadre' This spring Psymadre' was shown at Scottsdale and won the Two Year Old Colt Class. Competition was tough with 54 in the class but he was first on all three of the judge's cards. He also was named the Jr. Champion Colt and Reserve Grand Champion Stallion.

Psymadre' is now standing in Arizona under Cammie's watchful eye. He will only be bred to a limited number of mares for an introductory fee of $2,000.00. Plans for his '98 show season include showing at Scotts­dale, the Canadian Nationals and U.S. Nationals.

The Cokers have purchased a place in Arizona, but still have business interests here that will bring them back to Alaska on occasion.

At right: Psymadre' (Padrons Psyche x Tomorrows Dream) a `95 bay stallion, bred and owned by the Cokers.

The AFA began a tradition of convention com­petitions in 1977 when it held its first three contests at Lakewood, Colorado. Competitions at the 1997 Albuquerque convention included live shoeing in the North American Challenge Cup, along with forging contests for steel hunter shoes, a timed 'Eagle Eye' contest, the Mustad specialty forging contest and a Draft Horseshoes contest. Among them, contestants made 664 shoes.

Eighty-seven farriers chose to test for AFA certification at the convention. The examination is a three-part process, consisting of a written exam, making model shoes, and, finally, shoeing an actual horse. Candidates can take any or all parts of the appropriate exam. There are three levels; AFA In­tern, AFA Certified Farrier and AFA Journeyman Farrier. Only after three years practice as a certified farrier can one apply for Journeyman status. At the convention, twenty-three farriers jointed the CJF ranks.

The 1998 AFA Convention is slated for the Convention Center in Rochester, New York. The 1998 convention focuses on practical horseshoeing. With true twenty-first century technology, closed cir­cuit TV will make the competitions available all over the center.

The American Farriers Association is dedicated to education, innovation and communication among far­riers across the globe. The American Farriers Associ­ation is a 2,500 member organization with members for the USA, Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Africa and Japan. For AFA member ship information, contact the American Farriers Associa­tion, 4059 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511, Telephone: 606-233-7411, FAX 606-231-7662,