The year - like the last several - has screamed by and it is once again time to start thinking about the Calgary Mail-In Shoe Exercise. This year we have a shoe that is close to a repeat of a previous Mail-In, so I decided to make the shoe using a different method.
I’ve been at this a long time (35 years) and have only truly understood the hoof (as all farriers should) in the past few years. At first, it was disturbing to come to the realization that after all those years thinking I knew what I was doing, that I really had no idea at all.
Do veins and arteries repair or regenerate after being damaged? If so, is there anything a farrier can do to encourage that process? Could a farrier harm healthy arteries and veins? If so, how?
—Idaho Farrier
What does it mean to “Balance the Hoof?” Ask a farrier if he balances a hoof and he will say, “Yes.” Ask him to describe how he balances it and he will generally describe very convoluted ways of doing so without having any specific reference points for others to copy.
Olin Balch's long-time interest in the biomechanics of equine locomotion began when, as a student, he worked his way through veterinary school by shoeing horses.
Some Quarter Horse trainers and owners want aluminum shoes with a lot of backup and squared-off toes. But won't this hurt the knees if the toes roll over?
The choice of having horses go barefoot vs. shod was a topic that was discussed in December during the annual meeting of the American Association of Equine Practitioners in San Antonio, Texas. It generated very informative dialog and many important questions.
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.
Centered around Advancing Hoof Health Through Innovation & Expertise, the International Hoof-Care Summit is returning for its 22nd Annual event in Kansas City, Mo., on Jan. 21-24, 2025.
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.