CraftsmanEldon Boyington, CJF

By Darcy Howard, Production Animal Consultation

North of Ruleton, Kansas, you will find a true treasure, not only to the equine world, but to his clients, friends and family. Mr. Eldon Boyington, CJF (Certified Journeyman Farrier) is described by his wife, Joy, as “quiet, humble and a silent strength”. I would agree after spending a delightful evening with this couple. What I thought would be an article on a horseshoeing award developed into much more. However, let us start with the award.

In March 2020, Eldon, accompanied by his daughter Kat, competed at the American Farrier’s Association 49th Annual Convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He won the Vern Hornquist Memorial Class for ages 60 years and up. Eldon turns 72 this year. The judge was last year’s winner and he chose the very difficult sideweight hind shoe to be forged from 9 inches of 3/8” x 1” iron. The competitors were given one hour to make this shoe with only their forge, anvil and vise. Eldon explained that “a sideweight shoe is a corrective shoe as a horse’s foot will travel toward the weight.” Next year the 50th Annual AFA Convention will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Eldon will choose the type of shoe and be the judge for this class. Eldon has some ideas for the shoe but is not going to share them!

Eldon Boyington has been trimming and shoeing horses since he was twelve years old. His dad shoed horses around the Colby and Brewster area and got Eldon started with ponies. He graduated up to nailing on shoes for larger horses at age 14. Eldon has shod everything from drafts to miniature horses including rodeo, pleasure, feedlot, ranch, race, backyard pet and gaited horses. When asked if he preferred a certain type of horse, Eldon indicated, “I don’t treat any horse any different; a horse is the same