Andy McConnell

Andy McConnell, Master Farrier, Toolmaker,  Weatherford, Texas

Andy has 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.