Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Allen Recognized In Shoeing

On March 23 and 24 the Arkansas State Championship Forging and Horshoeing held its annual farrier shoeing contest hosted by McVay Farrier Supply in Sheridan.

Jackie Allen of Emmet received recogniton and won as the 1996 Arkansas State Champion for Division I.

Competing in the championship contest were farriers from Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri.

Allen began apprenticeship under the late Kevin Kropf from Mineral Springs in 1990. He received training for two years before Kropf's death.

Allen states that his "short-term training knowledge under Kropf made a great impact on his horseshoeing and he will always be grateful for techniques that was learned." He also states that the competition was a great experience, but the learning experience is an ongoing competition that never ends.

This is a trade that Allen feels needs to be taken very seriously by each farrier, for many who own these fine animals, whether they are working or showing horses, all have special needs that a dedicated shoer strives for in perfection.