Keep it simple. It’s a popular adage, particularly among farriers. Ironically enough, keeping it simple isn’t really simple at all. Simplicity is the result of organization, tough choices and hard work. Yet, once it’s achieved, the rewards are plentiful.
If you go to a Jim Quick clinic expecting him to dictate how you should shoe a horse, you’re at the wrong clinic. Instead, the Niwot, Colo., farrier says his purpose is to not give instructions to tell other farriers how to shoe, but to share his thoughts on how he does the job. Quick did just that at Bruce Daniels Memorial Clinic in early April when he suggested points of consideration regarding medial-lateral balance.
Keratomas are small, benign tumors usually found between the stratum internum and the coffin bone. In rare cases, it has been seen on the dorsal aspect of the coffin bone.
On March 29, Hank McEwan of Merritt, British Columbia, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of horseshoeing and farrier students. He often is referred to as the father of Canadian farriery and was one of the founding members of the Western Canadian Farrier’s Association (WCFA) and the American Farrier’s Association.
A commonly encountered anomaly when the front feet of the horse are compared is the occurrence of two differently shaped and sized front feet, which can be defined as so-called “uneven” feet. Frequently the smaller hoof will be quite differently shaped from its partner, with more growth height occurring at the heels and converging compression marks occurring midway on the anterior hoof wall.
A Bloomington, Calif., farrier recently tried a treatment on a canker case that demonstrated promising results — but also some of the frustrating aspects of dealing with the hoof problem.
A visit to Indiana farrier Tom Willoughby’s shop gives insight to how practicing ornamental blacksmithing can translate to forging skills with horseshoes
More so than any predecessor, Facebook has connected people who have never met in person or likely ever will. One person who has thousands of friends, many of whom he has yet to shake hands with, is Crown Point, Ind., farrier Tom Willoughby.
Farriers work hard year-round to provide quality hoof care for horses worldwide. Although we hope appreciation is shown all year long, each year we set aside a week dedicated to honoring your work. The 17th annual National Farriers Week, sponsored by American Farriers Journal, will take place from July 5-11, 2015.
A farrier until the end, the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame member will be remembered by many for his dedication to his peers and the industry
May 8, 2015
International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame farrier Joe Kutz of St. Louis, Mo., passed away on March 17. After a long horseshoeing career that began in 1943, Kutz always stressed the importance of doing what you love.
I use tactile senses constantly while shoeing. If just trimming, I feel the contour of the hoof wall while working on the bottom of hoof. This saves me from checking repeatedly by eye. I don’t skip the eye reference, but this cuts down on the repeated switching of positions.
The strong association between sheared heels and a spontaneous quarter crack is hard to ignore. Although inappropriate farriery may play a role, limb conformation and the landing pattern of the horse appear to be the dominant factors causing this type of hoof capsule deformation.
Before purchasing a horse, it is common for buyers to contact a veterinarian for advice on the animal prior to the sale. Wise buyers also will seek the expertise of a farrier during the evaluation. After all, farriers are the ultimate experts on the hooves and these days it is increasingly important for owners to understand the hoof health in relation to the rest of the horse.
Already experienced in the equine foot-care market, Erin Baayen recently joined the American Farriers Journal and International Hoof-Care Summit advertising and marketing staff. As Senior Account Executive, she will be working closely on marketing issues in print, electronic, trade show and other media with farrier industry suppliers and readers across the country.
An extreme case of scoliosis and other issues provide a reminder to look beyond the feet and that conformation can limit what farriers can do to help a horse
Many times our eyes are drawn to the feet of the horse, since this is our specialty as farriers. As we look at the feet, we might identify various issues that are going on.
If Drummond, Wis., farrier Roy Bloom is at a clinic, it’s a good bet that tools are going to come up. After all, the Hall Of Fame farrier and American Association of Professional Farriers/Canadian Association of Professional Farriers treasurer has built a reputation as a superior toolmaker.
Thinking more broadly about caudal heel pain, rather than focusing solely on the navicular bone, can help the hoof-care team develop an appropriate treatment
When it comes to tackling caudal heel pain and navicular syndrome concerns, both farriers and vets got an in-depth lesson at a recent Iowa State University clinic on what the distinct differences can mean when treating horses with this ailment.
For Cliff Carroll, the complexity of footcare creates such a focus that sometimes the easiest things to prevent go unchecked. The owner of the Larkspur, Colo., supply shop bearing his name says farriers have to constantly think about the trim and the effects of the shoe application so something simple like efficiency with a gas forge is missed.
It’s not the farrier’s job to train the horse, but sometimes it’s necessary, especially when the client is a novice horse owner. Farriers want to work with the horse safely and improve its tolerance of foot handling.
The Midwest Horseshoeing School’s horse owner clinic helped educate horse owners and bridge the gap between farrier knowledge and understanding their clients
People don’t always have access to all of the information, or the information they find isn’t always accurate. With their horse owner clinic, the Midwest Horseshoeing School aimed to create a network between equine practitioners and horse owners to solidify the equine community in the area.
A study with dairy calves was conducted to determine if exercise in a mixed terrain (grass, dirt and rocks) affects development of the digital cushion and pedal bones compared to less exercise in a grassy environment. Two-month-old animals were randomly placed into exercise and control groups. For 4 months, the exercise group was fed and watered at opposite ends of a half-mile long lane. Feeding was twice a day so the animals ran or walked briskly behind a feed truck 1 mile a day and walked leisurely to return to water 1 mile a day. After 4 months, the volume and surface areas of the digital cushion and the volumes of the short pastern and coffin bones were compared using magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography.
Keep it simple. It’s a popular adage, particularly among farriers. Ironically enough, keeping it simple isn’t really simple at all. Simplicity is the result of organization, tough choices and hard work. Yet, once it’s achieved, the rewards are plentiful.
A commonly encountered anomaly when the front feet of the horse are compared is the occurrence of two differently shaped and sized front feet, which can be defined as so-called “uneven” feet. Frequently the smaller hoof will be quite differently shaped from its partner, with more growth height occurring at the heels and converging compression marks occurring midway on the anterior hoof wall.
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Continuing education is crucial to Kyle Crawford’s practice and the Lawson, Mo., farrier tries to attend as many clinics as he can, even those that run counter to traditional thinking.
Asymmetry of the forelimbs of the horse is acknowledged as a common condition, which can result in asymmetric movement, abnormities of gait and even lameness. Limb length disparity (LLD) has been previously classified into two categories: structural and functional.
Jacob Butler discusses the process for preserving equine specimens for long-term study. This web-exclusive feature is a supplement to the article "Where Does The Problem Originate" found in the May/June 2015 issue of American Farriers Journal.
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.
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.
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.
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.