November 2015

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

A True Gentleman Farrier

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 30, 2015

Six days after we purchased the American Farriers Journal in January of 1992, I showed up at the Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium. Among the first farriers who welcomed us to the industry was Red Renchin.
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Briefings

October 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Trimming

As a knifesmith, Matt Mauer receives many questions about hoof knives. The one he receives the most regarding upkeep is, “What angle should I sharpen my knife?” Mauer, a farrier based in Argyle, Wis., says that is a hard question to answer because the angle of the tool is individual among users.
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What Would You Charge?

Here’s how 144 hoof-care pros priced the trimming and shoeing for 20 types of horses

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 30, 2015

Ever wonder how you compare price-wise with other farriers when it comes to work that ranges all the way from a simple trim to complicated shoeing jobs?
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Remembering Red Renchin

Friends and colleagues celebrate the Hall Of Fame farrier’s life and his generosity to the industry

October 30, 2015

The farrier industry lost a mentor and true gentleman when Red Renchin unexpectedly passed away on Aug. 29, 2015. The International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame farrier and technical editor of American Farriers Journal was 70 years old.
Read More

Farrier Licensing, Still Divisive As Ever

Exclusive American Farriers Journal survey reveals mandate for quality and control standards

By Jeff Cota posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

Licensing has a long and divisive history within the farrier trade.
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Before The Big Race, It’s Business As Usual

Building a plan and adjusting as needed has led to success on the harness track for farrier-trainer team

By Jeremy McGovern posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Disciplines & Breeds, Trimming

One client. How many full-time farrier practices are sustained by working for a single client? Very few are, and not very many would want this arrangement. Instead, most practices are financially protected by working for dozens of clients. If one client leaves, there are others still on the book that will provide income.
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Considerations for Launching a Multi-Farrier Practice

Veteran Florida farrier James Gilchrist provides lessons he learned from building a multi-farrier practice

By Jeremy McGovern posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Education

The way James Gilchrist views it, we’re members of various teams throughout our lives. Your family is a team. If you worship as a member of a church, the congregation is another team. Because of this viewpoint, it is no surprise that the veteran shoer from Wellington, Fla., says the team is the basis of success within a multi-farrier practice.
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Log Your Way to Greater Savings

While you may already deduct your vehicle expenses and mileage, are you doing so correctly?

By Drew Morales posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices

Owning your business has a lot of benefits. Along with these benefits come several costs incurred as a part of daily operations. One of the largest and most necessary is the daily upkeep and maintenance of our vehicle. Fortunately, we can offset these costs by deducting daily driving and fuel costs from our taxes.
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Use This Checklist for Screening Potential Clients

This guideline provides new client questions to ask over the phone so you can save time and possible difficulty

By Jaime Elftman posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

“Hi, you’re a farrier, right? Can you come out here and shoe my horses?”
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Better Strategies For Managing Your Inventory

Farriers offer their insights on prioritizing and buying supplies

October 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Equipment

Do you manage your inventory, or does it manage you?
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Is The Saddle The Problem?

Understanding general principles can help farriers confirm or eliminate causes of lameness

By Steve Kraus posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Clients, Education, Lamenesses

As farriers, we are aware that poor fitting horseshoes can cause discomfort and lameness in horses. Unfortunately, many farriers do not realize that poor fitting saddles can cause lameness, gait faults, shoeing problems and even personality problems.
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Keeping Beamer Comfortable

Wisconsin farrier helps horse with an extra hoof wall stave off laminitis

By Jeff Cota posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Diseases, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

Beamer’s bald face pokes out from his stall door at Norberg Farm in Menomonee Falls, Wis., and watches as Todd Gillis approaches. The 19-year-old Bay looks like any other well-behaved Quarter Horse. His ears are forward, he’s curious and sociable.
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Protect Your Practice from Crisis and Debt

Properly managing your money will help ensure a successful footcare practice

By Jeff Cota posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices

As much as farriery is art and science, it’s also a business. No matter where you are in your career, you need a plan.
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Creating an Ideal Work Space

Farriers offer tips for encouraging novice owners to provide a safe, comfortable and efficient shoeing area

By Heather Smith Thomas posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Clients, Safety & Healthcare

When taking on a new client, particularly one who is a novice, the farrier often becomes a teacher. Among the educational moments that you will face is your work area.
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Moving Your Farrier Practice

Months-long planning increases likelihood of success and lowers stress when you need to move your farrier practice

By Drew Morales posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

Unlike many other jobs, moving a farrier practice to a new area is not a cut-and-dry process. In the corporate white-collar world, moving to a new location may not be an easy choice, but the process is easily coordinated. Whether these workers take a new job or are transferred, many companies will cover moving expenses. Perhaps more importantly, the new job and its salary are awaiting the worker in the new town.
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Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Considerations for Launching a Multi-Farrier Practice

Veteran Florida farrier James Gilchrist provides lessons he learned from building a multi-farrier practice

By Jeremy McGovern posted on October 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Education

The way James Gilchrist views it, we’re members of various teams throughout our lives. Your family is a team. If you worship as a member of a church, the congregation is another team. Because of this viewpoint, it is no surprise that the veteran shoer from Wellington, Fla., says the team is the basis of success within a multi-farrier practice.
Read More

Remembering Red Renchin

Friends and colleagues celebrate the Hall Of Fame farrier’s life and his generosity to the industry

October 30, 2015

The farrier industry lost a mentor and true gentleman when Red Renchin unexpectedly passed away on Aug. 29, 2015. The International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame farrier and technical editor of American Farriers Journal was 70 years old.
Read More

Frankly Speaking

A True Gentleman Farrier

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 30, 2015

Six days after we purchased the American Farriers Journal in January of 1992, I showed up at the Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium. Among the first farriers who welcomed us to the industry was Red Renchin.
Read More
Digital Edition

Digital Edition

For Digital Subscribers: Login To Your Digital Flipbook Of The November 2015 Issue

October 30, 2015

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: November 2015 Issue

November 2, 2015

Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

A collection of memories about the late Red Renchin.

Farrier concerns about the development of the Veterinary Equine Podiatry Group.

Conny Svensson provides insight on some different shoeing ideas he brought from Scandinavian style for how he shoes harness horses in the U.S.

Video with James Gilchrist describing his multi-farrier practice

Video of farrier Todd Gillis trimming and shoeing Beamer, a Quarter Horse with a swollen leg and two hoof walls.

Resources to help you properly manage your money and protect your business financially.

Tips for novice horse owners on providing the ideal work space.

Read More
Web-Exclusive Feature

Remembering Red Renchin

Friends and colleagues celebrate the Hall of Fame farrier’s life and his generosity to the industry

November 2, 2015

Friends and colleagues celebrate the Hall of Fame farrier’s life and his generosity to the industry.
Read More

Web-Exclusive Feature

Most Farriers Skeptical Of VEPG

By Jeff Cota posted on November 2, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices

Although there’s no one reason the question of standards and regulation within the United States farrier trade has been raised, the development of the Veterinary Equine Podiatry Group has no doubt played a role.
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Web-Exclusive Article

Standardbred Footcare From Scandinavia

New Jersey farrier Conny Svensson talks about the influence of his Scandanavian roots in shoeing Standardbreds

By Jeremy McGovern posted on April 8, 2016 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Shoeing

New Jersey farrier Conny Svensson talks about the influence of his Scandanavian roots in shoeing Standardbreds.
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Farrier Quick Takes

[Video] Making His Way Through The Farrier Business Ranks

September 3, 2014 | Posted in Business Practices

Wellington, Fla., farrier James Gilchrist details how he made his way through the ranks of the farrier business.
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Farrier Quick Takes

[Video] Introducing Multi-Farrier Practice Teamwork To New Clients

September 3, 2014 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

Wellington, Fla., farrier James Gilchrist talks about how he introduces the team dynamic of a multi-farrier practice to new clients.
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Farrier Quick Takes

[Video] Mutual Confidence In The Vet-Farrier Relationship

September 3, 2014 | Posted in Business Practices

Wellington, Fla., farrier James Gilchrist discusses the need for mutual confidence in the relationship between a veterinarian and a farrier.
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Farrier Quick Takes

[Video] Establishing Protocol to Manage Variables in Farriery

September 3, 2014 | Posted in Business Practices, Shoeing

Wellington, Fla., farrier James Gilchrist discusses why establishing a protocol is important when trying to manage the many variables that arise in farriery.
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Farrier Quick Takes

[Video] Dealing With a Second Hoof Wall

November 30, 2015 | Posted in Diseases, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Richfield, Wis., farrier Todd Gillis explains how he manages Beamer, a Quarter Horse that grew a second hoof wall on his left front leg after a battle with purpura hemmorhogica.
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Web-Exclusive Feature

Farriers Share Their Criteria for a Safe and Suitable Work Area

By Heather Smith Thomas posted on November 2, 2015 | Posted in Clients, Safety & Healthcare

Before beginning a new business arrangement with a novice horse owner, it’s important to communicate with them your criteria for a safe and suitable working environment.
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