The American and International Associations of Professional Farriers (AAPF/IAPF) are pleased to announce an agreement to provide emergency farrier services for the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 (WEG) at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C.

As part of a memorandum of agreement, the AAPF/IAPF will initiate a “team” approach to the event by providing the necessary shoes, nails, tools, and other equipment to the various participating international farriers with the ultimate goal of providing sound and healthy hoof-care for all competitors. In addition, the AAPF/IAPF shall:

• Provide an appropriate number of professional farriers, based upon the disciplines competing each day, at each venue.
• Provide appropriate equipment (shoes, nails, tools, and other equipment) at the event and be strategically located throughout the facility to service the various venues.
• Identify and provide professional farriers who have demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and knowledge for each venue.
• Require that every AAPF/IAPF professional farrier is dressed in an appropriate uniform, distinguishing him/her as an authorized representative of the event.

The AAPF/IAPF Board of Directors has identified Dave Farley, CF, APF-I, of Coshocton, Ohio, and Loxahatchee, Fla.; and James Gilchrist, APF, of Wellington, Fla.; as co-coordinators for the event. They will be working with the organizers to determine the number of farriers necessary for each venue, as well as identifying equipment providers who can be on-site to provide shoes, nails, tools, and other equipment as needed. They have also agreed to notify the various teams coming from around the globe of their willingness to provide equipment to them.

“James and I are eager to use our experiences as farriers at previous World Equestrian Games, Olympics, and other internationally recognized horse shows, to provide the highest quality of hoof-care to all international teams competing at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, N.C.,” Dave Farley said.

The FEI World Equestrian Games is conducted every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle. It is one of the largest events on the global sporting calendar, combining eight equestrian World Championship caliber events in a pre-determined location. The FEI disciplines — jumping, dressage and para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting, and reining — are all included on the competition schedule, while equestrian-focused demonstrations and exhibitions will also be hosted throughout the duration of the event.

“The health and well-being of our competitors is paramount. Teaming with world-class farriers is integral to ensuring that our equine athletes receive outstanding hoof care. We are pleased that the American Association of Professional Farriers/International Association of Professional Farriers will be providing emergency farriery at the 2018 World Equestrian Games at Tryon International Equestrian Center,” said Michael Stone, president of Tryon/WEG 2018 LLC.

The 2018 edition of the FEI World Equestrian Games will take place over 13 days from Sept. 11-23, 2018, at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C.

About American Association of Professional Farriers

The American & International Associations of Professional Farriers are non-profit trade organizations created in 2012 to represent the interests of professional farriers and others involved in the farrier industry. The primary objectives of the new associations are continuing education, member support and serving as a hoof-care reference for horse owners. The AAPF/IAPF is headquartered in Shelbyville, Ky.

About FEI World Equestrian Games

The FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), which are administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the worldwide governing body of equestrian sport, is the major international championship event for the eight core equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage and para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining. The 2018 WEG has the potential to be the largest sporting event in North Carolina history with over $400 million dollars of projected economic impact and 500,000 spectators over the 14-day event in September 2018.