One of the nice things about being a farrier is having the freedom to do the job without much interference about how to actually do the work. This freedom leads to many different shoe styles and innovations in tools and techniques.

The Pocket Anvil Shoe Shaper isn’t exactly a new product — it’s been around for more than two decades — but Janet Bernson, who manufactures and markets the device with her partner, Max Middleton, think it is a tool that may become more popular as horseshoers age and look for new ways to save wear and tear on their bodies.

Johm McNerney says when he starts thinking about tools, he always remembers a comment he heard from fellow farrier Jim Quick. "You can’t change a tire with a screw driver.”

Unless you’re into keg shoes and cold shoeing exclusively, you’ll need to replace your forge liner sooner or later. For the inexperienced, the job might seem more challenging than a draft horse with an attitude problem.