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American Farriers Journal

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May/June 2019

Volume: 45

Edition: 4

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

Farriery Relies on Mentoring Others

By Frank Lessiter posted on May 10, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices, Education, Forging, Shoeing, Trimming

A few weeks ago, a young farrier posted a message on Facebook seeking advice on how to expand his hoof-care knowledge. While his apprenticeship was going well, he wanted to learn about other areas of equine footcare that weren’t a specialty for the veteran farrier with whom he is working.
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Briefings: May/June 2019

May 10, 2019 | Posted in Anatomy, Disciplines & Breeds, Nutrition, Safety & Healthcare, Shoeing

Despite not having hands, horses can be described as being left-handed, right-handed or ambidextrous. This can also be referred to as sidedness or laterality.
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What's This? Now Entering Sandal Season

May 11, 2019 | Posted in Education, Equipment, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Long before the widespread practice of nailing metal horseshoes onto hooves, horsemen used hipposandals that closely resembled what people were wearing on their own feet in the thousands of years before the Common Era.
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Reader Commentary: May/June 2019

May 11, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Trimming

The golden ratio, also known as divine proportion and golden mean, is 1.618 and commonly found in nature while looking through the microscope, telescope and throughout the universe.
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Strategies for Shoeing with Concave Stock

Hall of Fame farrier Bob Marshall shares proven forging tips

By Bob Marshall, RSS posted on May 12, 2019 | Posted in Forging, Shoeing

There is no doubt that farriers who hand-make shoes enjoy a fantastic advantage.
Read More

Shoeing For A Living

Shoeing Performance Horses in Oldham County, Kentucky

Kentucky Farrier Conrad Trow credits his success to dictating how his practice should operate.

By Jeremy McGovern posted on May 12, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Shoeing, Trimming

Conrad Trow’s farrier practice is based in Oldham County, northwest of Louisville, Ky. When people talk about horses in the Bluegrass State, Lexington may often receive the attention, but Trow says that Oldham County is a hidden gem for the farriers that work there. Why? There are plenty of quality horses in a concentrated area.
Read More

Evaluating for Trimming and Shoeing Plans

Hall of Fame farrier Grant Moon reviews the thought process that should result in a proper trimming and shoeing plan for the horses he works with.

By Jeremy McGovern posted on May 12, 2019 | Posted in Shoeing, Trimming

Gimmicks and fads never last. What will always remain is a process of thought based in the basics of farriery.
Read More

Beware of Potential Post-operation Infections

Routine castration leads to a laminitic event in a Thoroughbred racehorse

By Katie Navarra posted on May 13, 2019 | Posted in Diseases, Lamenesses

Why should a farrier be concerned about a routine castration? A post-operation complication from castration, or any other procedure, has the potential to trigger an inflammatory cascade.
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Enter a New Era of Business Management

Use apps and software to put your farrier practice ahead of the times.

By Chelsea Moskow posted on May 13, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices

The face of business management is changing with the birth of new technology over the last decade. Although many farriers still use old-fashioned pen and paper for billing and scheduling clients, a growing number are turning to apps and software to help their business run more smoothly.
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Evidence-based Farriery is Revolutionizing Hoof Care

Scientific study is measuring the effectiveness of anecdotal traditions

By Yogi Sharp posted on May 14, 2019 | Posted in Education

“No Foot, No Horse.” What does that mean? Originally, it came from the cavalry. A soldier needed the hoof of his deceased horse in order to receive a new one. Today, however, the expression has come to emphasize the importance of caring for our horses’ hooves.
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The Pros and Cons of Top Dressing the Foot

Farriers discuss the benefits, potential problems and value

By Ron Perszewski posted on May 14, 2019 | Posted in Trimming

Farriers agree on the definition of top dressing as the practice of rasping the top side of the hoof to remove any flares or other distortions before shaping the shoe and putting it on. Not all agree, though, that it’s the right thing to do.
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Sport Horse Presents Tough, Unresolved Case

Presented with a horse not responding to hoof-care, farrier Stuart Muir tries different footcare strategies to achieve soundness

By Stuart Muir posted on May 15, 2019 | Posted in Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

As farriers, when we are managing therapeutic cases, we like to see our work benefit the horse so that it can return to the same capacity that it was previously working in. Of course, that isn’t always the case and despite our best efforts, many horses won’t return to their previous levels of performance — or at all.
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Practice is the Key to Forging Proficiency

Improving your chances in certification and horseshoeing competitions takes time and repetition

By Jeff Cota posted on May 15, 2019 | Posted in Education

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, man, practice. Although it’s an old joke, there’s plenty of wisdom that can be applied to any situation — including farriery. Participating in certifications, credentialing and forging competitions are great ways of improving your skills, but to do well, you still have to practice.
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Strategies to Manage Thin-Soled Horses

Thin soles can occur for a number of reasons, but a good management plan can help these horses remain active and comfortable

By Katie Navarra posted on May 16, 2019 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Thin-soled horses can be a challenge. Thin soles chronically plague some horses, likely an inherited trait, while others can experience an acute case as the result of the environment, a recent trimming or as a side effect of another foot pathology, such as laminitis.
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New Tax Laws Hitting Supply Shops’ Bottom Lines

State-specific internet tax regulations are increasing competition, but costing more time and money

By Laura Handke posted on May 16, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices, Equipment

The 1992 United States Supreme Court case of Quill Corp. vs. North Dakota set the precedent for online sales tax collection, ruling that unless a company held a physical presence within a state, no sales taxes could be exacted on merchandise sold into the state.
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Overcome “Bad” Horses in Your Hoof-Care Practice

Gaining trust and nurturing your relationships with horses will make your job easier

By Heather Smith Thomas posted on May 17, 2019 | Posted in Education, Safety & Healthcare

Every farrier at one time or another comes across a horse that’s difficult to work with — or has a reputation of being difficult. There might be some horses that you would prefer not to have to deal with, but you realize that it’s in your best interest to go ahead and do them.
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Challenging Common Shoeing Beliefs

Scientific investigation on shoe placement and other topics of farriery continue to affect widely-held theories

By Mark Caldwell posted on May 17, 2019 | Posted in Shoeing, Trimming

Shoeing horses has often been termed a “necessary evil.” Certainly, it is not natural, but neither is the domesticated life most horses must endure. Domestication results in a separation of the horse from the natural environment and lifestyle which directed its evolution.
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Shop Talk: May/June 2019

May 18, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices, Education, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Trimming

Santa Anita Changing Rules in the Wake of Dozens of Equine Deaths Santa Anita Park has come under increased scrutiny after 23 horses have died since Dec. 23, 2018. There were 20 total deaths during Santa Anita’s 122 racing days in 2017, according to the Jockey Club.
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Research Journal: May/June 2019

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 May 18, 2019 | Posted in Anatomy, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Diseases

Ontario Racehorse Deaths This descriptive study examined the frequency of racehorse deaths in Ontario, Canada, from 2003 through 2015. In 2003, the Ontario Racing Commission created a reporting system to record all deaths of Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse and Standardbred racehorses that occurred within 60 days of racing or entering a race or timed work. Owners are required to report all deaths that occur regardless of the cause or where the death occurred.
Read More
Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Strategies for Shoeing with Concave Stock

Hall of Fame farrier Bob Marshall shares proven forging tips

By Bob Marshall, RSS posted on May 12, 2019 | Posted in Forging, Shoeing

There is no doubt that farriers who hand-make shoes enjoy a fantastic advantage.
Read More

Shoeing For A Living

Shoeing Performance Horses in Oldham County, Kentucky

Kentucky Farrier Conrad Trow credits his success to dictating how his practice should operate.

By Jeremy McGovern posted on May 12, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Shoeing, Trimming

Conrad Trow’s farrier practice is based in Oldham County, northwest of Louisville, Ky. When people talk about horses in the Bluegrass State, Lexington may often receive the attention, but Trow says that Oldham County is a hidden gem for the farriers that work there. Why? There are plenty of quality horses in a concentrated area.
Read More

Evaluating for Trimming and Shoeing Plans

Hall of Fame farrier Grant Moon reviews the thought process that should result in a proper trimming and shoeing plan for the horses he works with.

By Jeremy McGovern posted on May 12, 2019 | Posted in Shoeing, Trimming

Gimmicks and fads never last. What will always remain is a process of thought based in the basics of farriery.
Read More
Digital Edition

Digital Edition

For Digital Subscribers: Login To Your Digital Flipbook Of The May/June 2019

May 10, 2019

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: May/June 2019

May 7, 2019

Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

Gain more insight from Hall of Fame farrier Grant Moon on the thought process that can help improve your trimming and shoeing plan.

Watch and read more forging tips from International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame member Bob Marshall.

See more of Kentucky farrier Conrad Trow’s work with Thoroughbreds in videos from our day with him.

Watch videos from this case study that show the horse’s progress and illustrate challenges that Stuart Muir encountered.

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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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5 Lessons & Insights from Farriers Who Shoe for a Living

When Should the Equine Hoof & Pastern Angle Line Up?

Iron Sharpens Iron in the Scenic City

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

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

Hoof Care on Parade

Greg Martin, CJF, of Boerne, Texas, takes the unique approach of marketing his hoof-care practice with a Christmas parade float in Boerne and Comfort, Texas. The award-winning float boasts a variety of surprising features.

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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Top Directory Listings

Life Data Labs Inc

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Kawell USA

Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.

SmartPak

From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.

American Farriers Journal

May/June 2019

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