This year marks the 50th anniversary (and 32nd year at Lessiter Media) of American Farriers Journal covering the farrier trade. We’re asking hoof-care professionals for a few words to include in a “From the Audience” section of our coverage – in the December edition.

Brian Hyodo of Toronto, Ontario, shares his thoughts on the hoof-care industry’s milestones as part of AFJ’s 50th anniversary.

American Farriers Journal articles that were defining moments for me in farriery, I choose Dr. Deb Bennett's series of articles on tissues, cells, connecting tendon to bone, etc. It changed my approach to my work in that I understood that whatever I did would trigger activity by the equine's cellular regenerating systems.

Depending upon the demands being placed on the equine subject, I could choose to either optimize conformation or optimize mobility for the existing conformation.

For newer generations, there seems to be a stronger focus on certification and competition as a means of accelerating skill and knowledge. There is also a push on glue-on shoes, which can change our delivery but not the all-important trim. Hopefully, there is a continued reduction in ambiguities and flat-out errors in teachings going forward.

On the last point, being privileged to have AFJ publish an article by me (“Correcting Angular Limb Deformities”) was a personal high point in my career. Although I did not become famous or make a bazillion dollars as a result, it did set me on my way to specializing in the correction of developmental orthopedic disorders — a pursuit that has provided me with more personal happiness than any other work I have performed.