Jay Lankford Farrier Scholarship Essay Cade Hamilton I would like to attend farrier school to learn and dive deeper into equine anatomy, physiology, pathology, and to learn the craftsmanship required to shoe horses safely and proficiently. Although my experience as an apprentice with Dee Joyce has made me confident underneath a horse, I believe shoeing school is necessary to be able to learn and make mistakes without destroying someone’s business. Attending farrier school in combination with my independent studies will make me a much more valuable apprentice. The material I will learn in farrier school will also help me to communicate better with veterinarians, which is an extremely important aspect of being a farrier and maintaining/regaining the soundness of a horse. I also plan to become a member of the American Farriers Association, and farrier school will help me to better prepare for the first level of certification, Certified Farrier. I would also like to become a Journeyman Farrier later in my career. Farrier school would also allow me to network by meeting many farriers and veterinarians who are already established in the industry. Farrier school could also potentially open up teaching opportunities for me at the same school or others. The reason I mention teaching opportunities is because of Edgar Dale's Cone of Experience. To summarize this idea, you remember 10% of what you read, and you remember 100% of what you teach. I am extremely excited to reach the point in my career in which I can teach an apprentice or at a horseshoeing school. Lastly, and most importantly, I want to go to school for the horse. At the end of the day, all that matters is the health, soundness, and comfort of the horses I work on daily. I have wanted to learn the farrier profession since the first time I saw a farrier work on a horse in late 2024. The accuracy and speed at which he worked fascinated me. Dr. Doug Butler says accuracy plus speed equals skill, and I see this to be true in my mentor. After seeing the farrier do roughly 8 shoeing cycles, Dee Joyce asked me to be his apprentice. There is no better way to describe the situation—I leaped at the opportunity to work alongside him and his son, Jesse. My experience with horses includes daily care of lesson horses and boarders, over 4 months of a horseshoeing apprenticeship, and countless trips to the veterinarian. At Barn 150 in Oak Ridge, I assist with daily feeding and maintenance on 8 or more head at a time. I also work with the trainer at barn 150, who happens to be my significant other, on horses who need special care for different conditions causing lameness. During my farrier apprenticeship, I have learned more about horses than I ever thought I would. I have learned the importance of shoe fit, shoe selection, nail placement, and more. I have learned advanced techniques such as casting the hoof, using special pads for corrective or therapeutic shoeing, and using specific shoes such as natural balances to speed up the breakover of the hoof. Although this is not directly working with horses, I also enjoy reading textbooks such as Gregory’s Textbook of Farriery and Principles of Horseshoeing P3. I have been passionate about many things in my life, but none of them come close to my love of the horse's hoof and the farrier profession. I am ready to devote my life to this trade, and I can hardly wait to work as a team with veterinarians to give horses the best shoeing possible.