Cultural Exchange Committee

Mission:  To select, organize and supervise an international exchange of farriers between the AFA and participating national farriery associations.

Chairman:  Vern Powell, CJF

Office Liaison: 

EC Liaison:  Tom Trosin, CF

Members:  Billy Reed, CJF, Todd Walker, CJF, Austin Edens, CJF, Steve Muir, CJF, Dianne Lemmon, CJF, Steve Sermersheim, CJF, TE, AWCF and Matt Lybeck, CJF.

History:

The Edward Martin cultural exchange program, established in 1982, is one of the AFA’s longest running programs. This amazing opportunity is open to any AFA Certified or Certified Journeyman Farrier in good standing with the AFA.

There are two types of exchanges possible for applicants. The first is the traditional 3 month exchange, which runs from late June through mid September. The other is the new 2-4 week exchange. This trip is designed to accommodate farriers who are the sole income earner in a family and have financial and family commitments which make the longer time period prohibitive.  This trip is available from November through March, with the actual dates being decided by the applicant and the hosting association. It is up to the applicant to decide on the length of the trip between 2 and 4 weeks.

In each of the exchanges, candidates are hosted by a different farrier every week, staying in their homes and experiencing the cultural differences, making great new friends, contacts and learning new skills and tricks.

At this time the only destination available is the UK but this may change, as we continue to visit and coordinate with other international farrier associations.

To apply for either exchange, the first step is to download the application from the AFA website.  In addition to the form, candidates are encouraged to submit a formal resume’ and must include at least two letters of recommendation from AFA Certified Journeyman Farriers. Letters from other equine professionals, including veterinarians and farriers are also encouraged as are photographs of a candidate’s work.  While Certified Farriers are encouraged to apply and have a solid opportunity for selection, Certified Journeyman Farriers are given priority in the selection process, in part due to the laws of England allowing AFA CJF’s to ride with hosts who are not designated as “training farriers.”

The deadline for the application for the 3-month exchange is January 1st of the year applying for. The deadline for the short exchange is July 15th of the year.

American Farrier’s Association™
Cultural Exchange
4059 Iron Works Parkway, Suite 1
Lexington, KY 40511
859.233.7411
859.231.7862 (fax)
info@americanfarriers.org

:: Download:: The Cultural Exchange Participant Application