Over the past 28 years of my shoeing career, clients, veterinarians and other farriers have asked three common questions about hoof angle.
What is the ideal hoof angle?
What angle do you like the front hooves?
What angle do you try to achieve for hind hooves, etc.?
It’s been a somber time for Kraig Milam.
You see, the New Albany, Ind., farrier recently lost John Mills, a dear friend and fellow farrier after a lengthy illness, and Milam wanted to honor him.
Since its inception, the American Association of Professional Farriers (AAPF) Board of Directors identified the need for a program that recognizes the knowledge, education and skills of its members. Four years later, that need was met with the launch of its farrier credential program.
The farrier industry received a harsh reminder of this axiom while wading through the substantial changes that were recently proposed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as a means to end soring.
Building relationships with clients and knowing when to let them go may sound as easy as saying hello and goodbye, but there are a few things farriers should keep in mind when developing and ending client relationships that can make everything go a little more smoothly.
There are endless ways to improve your practice. An idea of improved efficiency can save you time and health. A business tip may help you keep more of your hard-earned money. Often, great ideas in these areas come from other farriers who’ve picked them up along the way. Mike DeLeonardo of Salinas, Calif.; Steve Prescott of Hardeeville, S.C.; and Bob Smith of the Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School in Plymouth, Calif.; will present their ideas for you to implement into your practice as soon as you get home. This fast-paced session allows each presenter 1 minute for each idea, so the presenters can cover as many ideas as possible in the time allowed.
Tim Shannon has some succinct advice for farriers who deal with quarter cracks. “I’d suggest whoever wants to get into it to find somebody who knows a lot about [handling quarter cracks] to walk you through it,” advises the San Moreno, Calif., farrier. “There is a lot to crack repair.”
Across the pond, the queen’s farrier is in something of a royal mess. Stuart Craig is accused of using some rather salty language while putting Joseph Hopkins, then 17, through his paces as a farrier’s apprentice.
A record number of footcare professionals invaded Cincinnati, Ohio, for the 13th annual International Hoof-Care Summit for the sole purpose of “Working Together For Healthy Hooves.”
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.