About our Volunteer Board of Directors

Kerry Zuest, Master Farrier. Graduated from Oklahoma Horseshoeing School in 1986. She has over 38 years experience in the Farrier Industry.

Kerry Founded Farrier Trainers America in December 2022 and currently serves as Board President, CEO and Trainer at Farrier Trainers America. She earned her Journeyman credential in Washington State in 1992 and has been an avid competitor, competition judge and clinician in the United States and Ireland. She served as a board member of WSFA for 9 years. Served a year on the (AFA) equine research committee. Served as (AFA) certification committee chairman for the West Coast while teaching Pre- certification clinics across the country. She has published several shoeing related articles. She has worked with veterinarians, trainers and horse owners on many lameness cases and procedures. She has trained, coached and mentored over 100 students including foreign exchange students . Kerry competed at Calgary Stampede world championship competition, Alberta Canada on several occasions and was on two separate draft shoeing teams. She is an avid horse rider and trainer and has been around horses since she was a young girl living in England. She is an accomplished Blacksmith and an award winning Hand Forged Metal Artist. Kerry was born in Queensland, Australia and now lives in Northern Arizona.

Dan Bradley, Master Farrier since 1974 and Master Tool Maker with over 49 years in the Farrier Industry.

Dan currently serves as the Vice President and Chairman / Senior Member, Board of Directors and Trainer at Farrier Trainers America. Dan's career path includes achieving his AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier (CJF) status in 1985, Board of Directors for the Western States Farrier Association, Member AFA Research Committee and served four terms as President of the Farrier Industry Association. Dan was elected to the International Horseshoers- Veterinarians Hall of Fame and is a Member of the AFA's Anvil 21 Club. Dan served as the company representative for GE Forge & Tool for 28 years. Dan is known for being generous with his time, knowledge and skills. He has been a highly respected clinician and educator for the majority of his long career.  He has been a contributing author on two volumes of works by Dr Simon Curtis. Dan has been a key participant at conventions, Hoof Care Summits, University events, Farrier Associations and Retailers Clinics. Known to some of us as "The Aluminum King"... Dan currently lives in Jefferson, Texas. 

Andy McConnell, Master Farrier and Tool Maker for over 27 years in the Farrier Industry with experience and education worldwide.

He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors and is a trainer at Farrier Trainers America. After leaving college, he travelled to Australia, then the United Kingdom (five years later) where he trained as a farrier before relocating back to the United States. He has overcome many challenges with ADD and testing anxiety. He is dedicated to helping those who struggle with such challenges. He considers confidentiality a key part of his training program and puts an emphasis on providing a "safe place" for his students to face their personal struggle and overcome anything that is holding them back from success. As a mentor, his main goal  is to help students reach their potential in a positive learning environment. He strives to  be a problem solver and gives back what he has learned and been given from his mentors, some of whom are very well respected in our industry for over 50 years. He believes that " no training goal is too small." Andy has worked on all breeds and types of horses and has applied many therapeutic shoeing solutions. He has been to Calgary Stampede, Alberta Canada three times to compete in the world championships competition.  He is an avid tool maker and repairs tools. Andy presently lives in Weatherford, Texas.

Yasha Aharon, from Haifa Israel, has been a farrier for over 10 years. He became a Master Farrier  in 2021. 

He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors and is a Trainer at Farrier Trainers America.  He works on all breeds and types of equines, though he began his equine career as a trainer of reining horses. He was drawn to farrier work and encouraged by his mentors in Israel. Doron Jerushalme, Avi Saba and Ariel Makovitzki. At Ariels' suggestion he attended a clinic hosted by the Israeli Farriers Association with Wayne Preece FWCF. It inspired him to change careers and become a full time farrier.  He went on to work in Europe before immigrating to the United States. He is very skilled with horse handling and therapeutic techniques as well as corrective trimming and shoeing. He has worked as an apprentice under Jeramiah Harris in Arizona, and credits him with encouraging him to attain his CJF. He has worked  in Texas with Blaine Chapman where they shod horses at the 6666 Ranch. Yasha began his advanced training with Kerry Zuest in 2020 and achieved his CJF in 2021. He has gone on to run his own highly successful business. He has  a true dedication to current goal which is  to help the next generation of horseshoers so they can continue to help horses. Yasha currently lives in Arizona.