Dave Farley finds there's always much more to learn about how to trim a foot and nail on a shoe. The Coschocton, Ohio, and Wellington, Fla., farrier says it took him 20 years to fully learn and understand foot balance.
Blake Brown, a retired farrier from Loomis, Calif., hasn't been away from day-to-day shoeing all that long - 9 years - but in his hoof-care consulting work, he's already seen some big changes. And put that emphasis on big.
The decision to pack a foot begins with a reason - the farrier has a goal in mind. Application needs range from protection to addressing moisture to therapeutic to support.
To decide and define what type of shoes to use with horses, farriers must consider several factors. What about the horse's conformation? What's required of the horse? What's its health? What is the rider's ability? And so on.
Ever since the farrier trade evolved from largely a stationary profession to a mobile one, the shoeing rig has become a necessity for most practices. The farrier rig must be equipped with necessary tools and adequate supplies to handle the horses and their needs forecast for that day.
Construction-grade (DAP) silicone has been used in farrier practices for over 30 years as a filler under pads with good success. At first, the set-up time could take as long as 24 hours and required some type of damming system like tape or putty to keep the silicone from leaking out the back side of the hoof and leaving a sticky mess. Now, with the new silicone materials, set-up time is 4 to 10 minutes and the development of putty-type materials allows a faster, much cleaner and more precise job.
It seems that every few months a new pad is introduced to the equine market. For inexperienced farriers, the overwhelming options can create confusion, which discourages pad usage in a practice. Understanding what's available in pads and how they are used will help determine the appropriate pad for the intended use.
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.
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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.