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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How the Horse Shaped Horseshoes
From transportation to the show ring, the changing role of the horse and industry influenced the production of horseshoes
Pictured Above: In 1835, Henry Burden, a Scottish engineer at the Troy Iron & Nail Factory, patented a machine that he would eventually improve upon in the 1840s and 1850s and would have the capability to make one horseshoe per second. Photo: Farm Collector Magazine, FarmCollector.com
Farrier Takeaways
- Metal shoes have been nailed on to horses’ feet for approximately 2,000 years, but the modern day “ready-made” horseshoe has only been around for less than 1/10 of that time.
- Henry Burden, a Scottish engineer at the Troy Iron & Nail Factory in Troy, N.Y., invented the first machine to mass produce horseshoes in 1835.
- After World War I, cars, trucks and tractors replaced a multitude of horses; but then the “Baby Boom” generation and a prosperous economy created a new, widespread use of horses for recreation.
- By 2000, there were more than 20 times the number of horseshoe, nail, tool, equipment, and supply companies than were present in 1975.
American Farriers Journal has been a valuable tool to farriers for over 4 decades. In each issue of the magazine this year is featured an article looking back at a moment during that time frame. As we reflect on this history, I find myself thinking about the history of another, essential farrier tool: the horseshoe.
Every day, thousands of horseshoes are nailed or glued on to the hooves of horses around the world. Farriers depend on the availability of the many types and sizes of horseshoes in the 21st century. At times…
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American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
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Top Directory Listings
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.
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.