Blacksmith Creating a Horseshoe
Blacksmiths and farriers are just as relevant to the world today as they were in the western days of old.
After all, someone out there has to make the shoes that horses have to wear, and there is always metalwork that needs to be made or repaired quickly where it may be unreasonable to have to outsource manufacturing or creation elsewhere.
These days, bellows and forges fuelled by coal have been replaced with acetylene torches, plasma cutters, electric welders, and other modern equipment, and the hammering and shaping of metals is considered more of a fine art than it is a trade.
That said, there are those who still hold to the old ways and constantly seek opportunities to improve and hone their craft, and an excellent place to do so and to show off their talents at the same time is at the World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition, being held between July 7-11 at the Big Top at Stampede Park.
Hot Shoeing a Horse
Every year, the world’s top craftsmen in this time-honoured profession give their all in front of thousands of spectators in what has become known as the “Olympics of Blacksmithing”, both educating and entertaining the public with their skills and abilities.
In what is considered one of the most prestigious events of its kind, the Calgary Stampede will host a series of forging, horseshoeing and team events, which will see competitors earn points in an attempt to earn a spot as one of the Top Ten finalists and for a chance to win a share of over $35,000 in prize money and awards being offered.
There’ll be six tonnes of coke (fuel made from coal), 1,300 linear feet of steel bar stock and $35,000 in prize money, but only one 2010 World Champion Blacksmith as those 10 finalists square off on Sunday, July 11, 2010 under the Big Top.
Like with many world competitions that involve trades, participants also use opportunities such as this to learn from each other. Contestants come from all over the world and bring the techniques that have made them successful in their respective countries and use them in competition. It is not uncommon to see contestants sharing their skills with one another, then head back home to refine them only to bring them back at next year’s competition making them better and stronger competitors than they were a year before. This ensures that the quality of competition increases every year, and that innovation and improvement in technique is passed along across the globe and to future generations. That is the true value of competitions such as this one.
As a spectator, you’ll be able to see these participants at work using traditional equipment and using traditional methods. If you’re a life-long urbanite like me, there aren’t very many opportunities to see skills such as these showcased, let alone in a competition-based format in the city. The roar of the fires, the pounding of the iron and the sparks as they fly, the sizzle as the hot rods are cooled in water; these are all sights and sounds that most people never get to experience in their lifetimes.
So if you’re trying to plan your Stampede in advance, why not drop by the World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition and check it out for a while? It’s an interesting experience, and one whose scope and uniqueness cannot easily be found anywhere in the city except at the Stampede.
Tags: Spotlight
