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Articles by Frank Lessiter

Farrier Urges American Horse Council To Back Footcare Standards

It would entail development of a program to include education, training and eventual licensing of all farriers
By Frank Lessiter posted on November 30, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Education
For more than 4 decades, Walt Taylor has favored the licensing of farriers. But for years the founder and long-term president of the American Farrier’s Association (AFA) accepted the wishes of the AFA membership to develop an in-house certification program as an alternative to licensing.
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Booknotes: Recollections From 202 Years Of Family Shoeing

Sparks From The Smiddy, The Life Of A World Champion Farrier By David Wilson as told to Andrew Arbuckle
By Frank Lessiter posted on November 30, 2015 | Posted in Education, Forging
More than 25 years ago, during a visit with David Wilson in Scotland, he took me to see the blacksmith shop and attached house that six generations of his family had called home. Located in the sleepy little hamlet of Kilmany, the homestead is just a few kilometers from the world-famous old St. Andrews Links where golf got its start in 1552.
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News & Notes

Licensing Under Fire With Many Trades

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 24, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices
When it comes to licensing concerns on both the state and federal level, it appears that farriers aren’t the only trade where there’s a need for regulations or not. These concerns were spelled out in a recent Wall Street Journal article dealing with trade licensing issues.
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What Would You Charge?

Here’s how 144 hoof-care pros priced the trimming and shoeing for 20 types of horses
By Frank Lessiter posted on October 30, 2015
Ever wonder how you compare price-wise with other farriers when it comes to work that ranges all the way from a simple trim to complicated shoeing jobs?
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Frank Lessiter
Frankly Speaking

A True Gentleman Farrier

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 30, 2015
Six days after we purchased the American Farriers Journal in January of 1992, I showed up at the Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium. Among the first farriers who welcomed us to the industry was Red Renchin.
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News & Notes

Yearlings In Mid-September Keeneland Sale Bring Top Dollar With Special Shoeing

By Frank Lessiter posted on September 18, 2015 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming
With the annual Keeneland yearling sale getting underway in mid-September, it reminded me of the May/June 1998 article we did in American Farriers Journal that detailed how these young horses were trimmed and shod to look their very best at the sale held at the Lexington, Ky., racetrack.
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Celebrating 40 Remarkable Years

Equine footcare has seen many significant changes over the past 4 decades
By Frank Lessiter posted on September 1, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Education
Back in March of 1975, Henry Heymering mailed out the first issue of American Farriers Journal. Both the original 8-page issue (printed in its entirety starting at right) and the farrier industry have come a long way over the past 40 years.
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Frank Lessiter
Frankly Speaking

The U.S. Equine Industry Is Gearing Up For A Comeback

By Frank Lessiter posted on September 1, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices
Results from recent surveys of both horse owners and farriers indicate there are more positive signs for growth in the equine industry than we’ve seen in nearly a decade. While we’re not yet ready for a return to the glory times that took place prior to the 2008 recession, there’s data to indicate better times are ahead for farriers, footcare product suppliers, horse owners and trainers alike.
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Hoof Care on Parade

Hoof Care on Parade

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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Life Data Labs

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.
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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.
Smart Pak

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.
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