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American Farriers Journal

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September/October 2018

Volume: 44

Edition: 6

American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.

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Table Of Contents

Table Of Contents

Frankly Speaking: Professionalism Doesn’t Cost Much

By Jeremy McGovern posted on September 3, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices

In every Farrier Business Practices Survey that we have conducted (including the upcoming 2018 edition), more than 90% of working farriers have at least one backyard horse client. Because of this, backyard horses are called the backbone of the industry.
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Briefings: September/October 2018

September 3, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Diseases, Safety & Healthcare, Shoeing

The cost of keeping a horse continues to increase, but farrier services are not the most pressing concern for horse owners, according to the 2018 American Horse Publications Equine Industry Survey, sponsored by Zoetis.
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Reader Commentary: September/October 2018

September 4, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Education

Explanations Further Education There’s one point that I feel was overlooked in “Help Your Backyard Horse Practice Thrive With These Business Tips” from the July/August 2018 issue.
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Vet Group Withdraws Farrier Exemption Shift

Industry’s reaction prompts AVMA to drop proposed change

By Jeff Cota posted on September 4, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices

A controversial proposal to eliminate the farriery exemption from the Model Veterinary Practice Act (MVPA) has been shelved by an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) working group.
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Shoeing For A Living

Colorado Farrier Embraces Learning Opportunities to Benefit Horses

Steve Foxworth incorporates a mindset of learning and growth in his life and hoof-care practice

By Jeff Cota posted on September 4, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Failure is not an option, or so we’ve been told. If you ask Steve Foxworth, though, failure not only is an option, it’s embraced. You see, there are more learning opportunities in failure than there are in success.
Read More

What Causes Supporting Limb Laminitis?

Improving circulation in loaded foot is the key to avoiding disease

By Katie Navarra posted on September 5, 2018 | Posted in Anatomy, Diseases, Lamenesses

Barbaro was expected to break the Triple Crown drought in 2006 by becoming the first colt to claim the illustrious title in nearly 3 decades. He handily won the Kentucky Derby and was the favorite to win the Preakness Stakes.
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How to Treat Hoof Abscesses

Farriers and veterinarians often deal with abscesses. Here is some practical advice for understanding and treating these

By Stephen O’Grady posted on September 5, 2018

Hoof abscesses are probably the most common cause of acute severe lameness in horses encountered by veterinarians and farriers. A hoof abscess can be defined as a localized accumulation of purulent exudate located between the germinal and keratinized layers of the epithelium, most commonly subsolar (beneath the sole) or submural (beneath the hoof wall).
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How is Your Hoof Care Affecting the Inside of the Equine Foot?

Identifying traumatized internal structures can help prevent and intervene on pathology

By Stuart Muir posted on September 5, 2018 | Posted in Anatomy, Diseases, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

The art of farriery has been in practice for hundreds of years. The trademark of a highly skilled farrier during this period has been precision fit and a polished finish, coupled with meticulous care and pride.
Read More

Trimming, Shoeing Backyard Horses Critical To Farrier Success

While trimming and shoeing backyard horses is a great way to get started in the business, this part of the footcare market still represents a large portion of income for many veteran farriers

By Frank Lessiter posted on September 6, 2018 | Posted in Anatomy, Diseases, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

Working with backyard horses represents the “bread and butter” of many farrier businesses. In fact, data from the 2016 American Farriers Journal “Farrier Business Practices Survey” indicates 92% of all farriers work with a number of backyard horse owners.
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The Importance of Regular Shoeing

Waiting just a few weeks will result in costly long-term health problems

By Kirsty Leśniak posted on September 6, 2018 | Posted in Shoeing, Trimming

When considering “the importance of regular shoeing,” attention is often placed on the issue of “shoeing.” However, regardless of whether a shoe is involved, the regularity of the intervention can be the deciding factor in the long-term success of the farriery effort.
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How Reading the Horse Can Make Your Job Easier

Reading a horse’s body language can help you understand what frame of mind it’s in — and give you a guideline for approaching the horse.

By Heather Smith Thomas posted on September 6, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices, Education, Safety & Healthcare

Many farriers starting out in the business today may not have much experience with horses. They might not realize the importance of reading a horse to understand its frame of mind before they pick up a leg to start working on the foot — especially if it’s a new horse they haven’t worked with before.
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From the AFJ Archives: September/October 2018

By Doug Butler posted on September 7, 2018 | Posted in Clients, Education, Diseases, Safety & Healthcare

This article started as a paper that was written by Jeff Douglas, one of my students at Northwest Missouri State University. I added to it, modified it and then we published it. Later, I published it as a 20-page booklet in 1988, and again in 1993 as a 30-page booklet and then a 32-page booklet.
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British Columbia Farriers Pursuing Regulation

Groups team up to change veterinary supervision law

By Jeff Cota posted on September 7, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices

While American farriers have dodged a bid to eliminate the farrier exemption from the Model Veterinary Practice Act, their colleagues to the north find themselves in a difficult predicament.
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Advice On A Multi-Farrier Business

Three horseshoers share their insight on managing a multi-farrier practice

September 8, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices

There is no exact road map for converting a business to a multi-farrier practice. Figuring out that first step should be done after careful preparation. One of the most helpful resources is the experience of farriers who have already gone through this process.
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What Does A Barrel Horse Need To Succeed?

Appropriate hoof care will help provide the confidence a barrel horse needs

By Jeff Cota posted on September 8, 2018 | Posted in Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Trimming

Every barrel-racing client has a singular personality. Each one will want something different from a farrier, and often what is valued most will vary from horse to horse. Lindsay Harold Bouquillon is the kind of client whom farriers wish they had more of in their shoeing book. The Oxford, Conn., barrel racer is a horsewoman who has been riding most of her life.
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Skill And Practicality Meet For Concave Challenge

For this year’s Summit Mail-In Forging Exercise, this concave shoe with clips and stud holes will test you with plenty of elements

By Craig Trnka posted on September 8, 2018 | Posted in Education, Forging

A frequent criticism of contest shoes is that they often lack practical use in everyday shoeing. Although I will argue that the lessons learned in making any shoe are transferable to your work, this criticism remains.

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Don’t Panic When Encountering Milky Frog Fluid

Plugged ducts can result in white discharge during trimming

By Heather Smith Thomas posted on September 9, 2018 | Posted in Anatomy, Trimming

The frog is the softest part of the hoof, even though it is made up of the same fibrous material as the rest of the external foot. It’s softer and more pliable because it contains oil glands and more moisture than the hoof horn and sole. In moist conditions, the frog might be nearly 50% water, by weight.
Read More

Shop Talk: September/October 2018

September 9, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

The Texas Professional Farriers Association and the Oklahoma Farriers Association are holding the second annual drawing to benefit their Injured and Disabled Farriers Funds. A fully stocked Stonewell Bodies Middi Horseshoeing trailer worth more than $20,000 is the grand prize.
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Research Journal: September/October 2018

The information, ideas and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the United States Department of Agriculture.

By Albert Kane posted on September 10, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

Soaking Hay For Ponies Many studies have examined the effects of soaking hay, specifically on the hay itself, but this randomized crossover experiment examined the effects of feeding regular hay, soaked hay (soaked in water for 14 hours, followed by 30 minutes to drain) and haylage on the insulin and glucose responses in 12 ponies — six with normal insulin/glucose metabolism and six with insulin dysregulation.
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Final Say

Work Wisely Today For The Unknown Future

By Dick Fanguy posted on September 10, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices

A few years ago, my bad back ended my ability to get under horses. I still help other farriers shoe horses, but I don’t get under them anymore. My back was not injured from horses. It was ruined by crawling in and out of trucks to get what I needed — from having an inefficient rig.
Read More
Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Shoeing For A Living

Colorado Farrier Embraces Learning Opportunities to Benefit Horses

Steve Foxworth incorporates a mindset of learning and growth in his life and hoof-care practice

By Jeff Cota posted on September 4, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Failure is not an option, or so we’ve been told. If you ask Steve Foxworth, though, failure not only is an option, it’s embraced. You see, there are more learning opportunities in failure than there are in success.
Read More

How is Your Hoof Care Affecting the Inside of the Equine Foot?

Identifying traumatized internal structures can help prevent and intervene on pathology

By Stuart Muir posted on September 5, 2018 | Posted in Anatomy, Diseases, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

The art of farriery has been in practice for hundreds of years. The trademark of a highly skilled farrier during this period has been precision fit and a polished finish, coupled with meticulous care and pride.
Read More

Don’t Panic When Encountering Milky Frog Fluid

Plugged ducts can result in white discharge during trimming

By Heather Smith Thomas posted on September 9, 2018 | Posted in Anatomy, Trimming

The frog is the softest part of the hoof, even though it is made up of the same fibrous material as the rest of the external foot. It’s softer and more pliable because it contains oil glands and more moisture than the hoof horn and sole. In moist conditions, the frog might be nearly 50% water, by weight.
Read More
Digital Edition

Digital Edition

For Digital Subscribers: Login To Your Digital Flipbook Of The September/October 2018 Issue

September 10, 2018

Now view magazine-like digital flipbooks on your desktop and tablet. Starting in 2015 issues, included for FREE with your Digital or Premium subscription, view the magazine on your laptop, tablet, and mobile device. You need to be logged in to view.
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Online Extras
Online Extras
Online Extras September/October 2018

September 11, 2018

Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

Lexington, Ky., farrier Stuart Muir discusses when to use direct and indirect glue-on shoes.

Farriers share their techniques for dodging common backyard foot problems that tend to occur with clients who are novice owners.

Get more insight on building a multi-farrier practice from Wellington, Fla., farrier James Gilchrist.

Find out why a Colorado horse owner drives 5 hours to have Steve Foxworth shoe his horse.

Read More

THIS MONTH'S DIGITAL SPONSORS:

Current Issue

American Farriers Journal

American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.

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Plenty of Hoof-Care Growth in 50 Years

Celebrating 2 Decades of Extraordinary Hoof-Care Learning

Butler’s Insights Hold Strong

Current Issue

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Special Report For Equine Veterinarians

American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.

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Must Read Free Eguides

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Remembering Red Renchin with Mark Ellis: Part 3

In this episode, Mark Ellis, a Wisconsin farrier who learned the ropes with Renchin, recalls Red’s relationships with area veterinarians, his legacy and the second career as American Farriers Journal’s technical editor.

Events

Michigan Horseshoers Association 55th Annual Clinic

Date: 01/02/25

Location: Lansing, MI

The Michigan Horseshoers Association will host its 55th annual clinic Jan. 2-4, 2025 in East Lansing, Mich.

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American Farriers Journal

September/October 2018

Table Of Contents

Featured Articles

Digital Edition

Online Extras

THIS MONTH'S DIGITAL SPONSORS:

Top Articles

Current Issue

Current Issue

Must Read Free Eguides

Videos

Events