Articles Tagged with ''Rocker Toe''

Shoeing for a Living

Horseshoeing’s Engineering Puzzle Charms Finger Lakes Farrier

Kirk Smith enjoys the challenge of balancing the horse’s system of levers and pulleys

By Jeff Cota posted on March 7, 2016 | Posted in Anatomy, Business Practices, Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Equipment, Forging, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Horses have been a staple in Kirk Smith’s life long before he started shoeing horses in Freeville, N.Y.

He always had horses while growing up in the small farming town of Clark in northeastern South Dakota. He cut his teeth working cattle part-time as a high school student and later during his summer breaks while attending Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Along the way, he broke and trained horses.

Options Aplenty to Give Working Horses a Little Extra Help

Whether it’s simply the trim or the need for protection or support, farriers have plenty of tools to solve hoof pain

By Red Renchin posted on December 1, 2014 | Posted in Lamenesses

It is a rare horse that does not have some kind of lameness issue sometime during its working life.

Farrier Tips

Understand Why Horses Stumble

By Bob Smith posted on August 22, 2013 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing

Farriers often hear an owner say, “My horse stumbled, so my trainer said to tell you to rocker the toes.” Many trainers and owners believe that a rolled or rocker toe is all that is needed to “correct” stumbling.

The Shoe On The Other Foot

When a horse suffers critical lameness in a single limb, it is often important to give as much attention to its opposite foot

By John Scruggs posted on March 1, 2013 | Posted in Lamenesses

In February 2011, an 8-year-old Quarter Horse named Andy was trailered from upstate New York to his new home in Georgia

Q&A: Directing Breakover Vs. Easing Breakover

February 20, 2012 | Posted in Education

How does breakover affect the motion of a horse's limbs?

Hoof Care As Preventative Maintenance

Grant Moon urges farriers to head off problems in advance during final Wagon Mound Ranch Supply shoeing clinic

By John Bradshaw posted on December 1, 2010 | Posted in Shoeing

Grant Moon sees horseshoeing, in part, as a program of preventative maintenance. He told about 75 horseshoers at a clinic at Wagon Mound Ranch Supply in Solano, N.M., that a big part of their job is preventing injuries while maximizing performance.

Dealing with Club Feet from Foals to Adults

Farrier-veterinarian Hans Castelijns shares some of the methods he’s used to correct and manage mismatched feet

By Pat Tearney posted on December 1, 2009 | Posted in Diseases

Club and mismatched feet are among the problems farriers face almost daily, so it’s not surprising that one of the most popular educational presenters at the 2009 International Hoof-Care Summit got rave reviews from attendees for sharing how he deals with this problem.

Farrier Innovations

Look, Ma! No Hammer!

Shoe-bending machines, careful record keeping and keen observation result in a system that’s a big time and energy saver

By Red Renchin posted on April 1, 2008 | Posted in Equipment

Just in case you haven’t noticed, shoeing horses is a lot of hard work. If you let it, the job will break you down and wear you out. Being a practical person, I have — from the beginning of my career — sought ways to preserve my body by making the job as easy as possible.

Online with the Farriers' Forum

Treating an Old Founder Case

May 1, 2007 | Posted in Diseases, Therapeutic Shoeing

I was recently introduced to an old Mustang that had foundered in both front feet about 2 years ago. From what I gather, the horse was never shod, just put in a stall on sand.

Product Focus

Studs: Placement Is The Key

They’ll add traction and improve performance — so long as you know where to put them

By Nicholas B Denson posted on April 1, 2007 | Posted in Shoeing

Most farriers have had experience using studs at some point in their career; be it for winter traction, or for a performance aspect.

Videos

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.

Events

Michigan Horseshoers Association 55th Annual Clinic

Date: 01/02/25

Location: Lansing, MI

The Michigan Horseshoers Association will host its 55th annual clinic Jan. 2-4, 2025 in East Lansing, Mich.

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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.