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American Farriers Journal

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March 2021

Volume: 47
Edition: 2

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

  • Table Of Contents

    Table Of Contents

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    Frankly Speaking: Farrier Tools Tell Stories

    By Jeremy McGovern posted on March 5, 2021

    Adam Fahr's article on tuning a punch in the March issue of American Farriers Journal is a reminder of how tough farriers are on their tools, as well as the need for maintaining them. A well-crafted and maintained tool repays your investment many times over.


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    Briefings: March 2021

    March 5, 2021

    Cleaning the Coal Forge without Dirtying the Shop

    If you have a coke-fueled forge in your home shop, remember it needs to be cleaned from time to time.


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    What's This?

    Toe the Lines

    March 2021
    March 5, 2021 | Posted in Education, Equipment
    Traction is integral for many horses to do their jobs effectively and efficiently, but what about the farriers who are working on these shoes?
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    Shoeing For A Living

    Shoeing Sport Horses with Ty Garner

    Shoeing top performance horses requires creative solutions and pursuing solid basics
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on March 6, 2021
    Although he is based in North Florida, Ty Garner’s work isn’t fully localized — he travels to follow his clients on the circuit, taking him through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. On this “Shoeing for a Living Day,” he shows how his daily approach relies on the basics, but also thinking how best to keep horses in the show ring.
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    Tips for Tuning Punches

    Arkansas farrier and American Farriers Team member Adam Fahr explains his approach to maintaining this critical tool
    By Adam Fahr posted on March 6, 2021 | Posted in Equipment, Forging, Shoeing, Products
    If you are a horseshoer, you may have found that sometimes you wreck your tools. Proper maintenance will enable some tools to last longer and work better. In the case of the punch, the key is to not let it deteriorate too much before you redress it. Ideally, you won’t let it get to the point where it mushrooms out — although that certainly happens.
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    Congratulations to the 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees

    Horseshoer/educator and veterinarian researcher are selected by their peers for top honors
    By American Farriers Journal Staff posted on March 7, 2021 | Posted in Anatomy, Business Practices, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Lamenesses, Shoeing

    The International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame was established in 1992 to honor farriers around the world who have made significant contributions to the profession. The International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame was established in 1997 to honor veterinarians who have contributed to the knowledge and recognition of proper hoof care for horses. Current Hall of Fame members vote on inductees each year. A link to the nomination form can be found at AmericanFarriers.com/0321.


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    How Horseshoe Modifications Change Pressure Distribution at the Hoof’s Weight-Bearing Surface

    Research suggests compromises to counteract unintended side effects of therapeutic applications
    By Jenny Hagen posted on March 7, 2021 | Posted in Shoeing
    Today’s veterinarians and farriers are confronted with a huge variety of orthopedic horseshoes that either have been developed over long periods or are modernly fashioned. The application of orthopedic horseshoes traditionally has been a therapeutic option to treat certain hoof disorders and other causes of lameness, so that knowledge about their effects on the hoof remains important.
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    Liability Can Ruin a Farrier Business

    Understanding the different legal issues that might arise enables horseshoers to protect their practice
    By Todd Santoro posted on March 8, 2021 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Education, Safety & Healthcare

    Society’s general understanding of the law is often shaped by what we see on television or in movies. The storylines depicted typically start with a search for the truth and end with a sense of justice served. In the real world, the law is not nearly as black and white; in fact, much more often, it’s shades of gray. 


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    Badass Rigs & Trailers

    Farrier Rig Stands the Test of Time

    Everything is within reach in the 20-year-old set up designed by a Phoenix-based shoer
    By Kristen Kubisiak posted on March 10, 2021 | Posted in Equipment

    If you take pride in your trailer, you tell the world you take pride in your work. That’s a lesson Eric Billingsley has learned over his nearly 30-year shoeing career.


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    A Sound Farrier Needs Proper Fitting Shoes

    Incorrectly sized footgear fails to support your back, hips and joints
    By Dr. Patricia Bona posted on March 10, 2021 | Posted in Safety & Healthcare

    Few professions can compare the physical strength and prowess needed to stay physically sound as a farrier. You bend, lift and twist all day, often with your head at the level of your hips. All the while you are handling and being handled by a sizable animal with a mind of its own and under environmental variables of temperature, footing and lighting, as well as a third person, if you have a handler. The last thing you need is to have your feet weigh you down and trip you up.


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    Should Farriers Avoid Removing the Periople?

    The membrane protects the hoof, but it could be at risk for infection
    By Jeff Cota posted on March 10, 2021 | Posted in Trimming

    When  asking a farrier about his or her philosophy on any number of hoof-care  tasks — trimming protocol, shoe fit, even shoe or nail choice — the  answers are largely unpredictable because they vary widely. However,  when asking farriers how they regard the periople, they fall into one of  two camps — those who avoid it and those who remove it.


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    Research Journal: March 2021

    “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 March 11, 2021 | Posted in Anatomy, Disciplines & Breeds, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing
    A 2-year prospective survey examined  the rate of euthanasia and factors associated with euthanasia among 1,070 horses and ponies in Great Britain. This analysis was part of a larger study of laminitis that enrolled owners of healthy animals who  responded via a web-based survey. Most respondents owned one to three animals for an average of about 7 years. Native pony breeds were most common and while most owners (60%) reported their animals were in ideal body condition, a third of the animals enrolled had a previous history of laminitis.
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  • Featured Articles

    Featured Articles

    0856_Nikon-Garner_Card_1.jpg
    Shoeing For A Living

    Shoeing Sport Horses with Ty Garner

    Shoeing top performance horses requires creative solutions and pursuing solid basics
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on March 6, 2021
    Although he is based in North Florida, Ty Garner’s work isn’t fully localized — he travels to follow his clients on the circuit, taking him through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. On this “Shoeing for a Living Day,” he shows how his daily approach relies on the basics, but also thinking how best to keep horses in the show ring.
    Read More
  • Digital Edition

    Digital Edition

  • Online Extras

    Online Extras

    Online Extras March 2021

    March 12, 2021
    • Make the Summit Mail-In Shoe Watch International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame member Craig Trnka make the 2021 competition shoe.
    • Anticipate Legal Problems Todd Santoro offers tips to stay out of court in his Farrier Business Success Academy presentation.
    • Tips for Tuning a Punch Watch American Farriers Team member Adam Fahr of Paragould, Ark., demonstrate how he tunes a punch.
    • Badass Rig: Eric Billingsley The Phoenix-based farrier shares how he set up his 4-Star converted trailer to stand the test of time in this video.

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Videos

Remembering Red Renchin with Mark Ellis: Part 3

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.

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Events

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Top Directory Listings
Life Data Labs

Life Data Labs Inc

Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
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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.
Smart Pak

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.
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