When Bob Smith concluded the International Hoof-Care Summit program in late January, he told attendees that he hoped they had taken full advantage of the more than 10,000 years of trimming and shoeing experience that was represented by the folks attending this event.

Most hoof-care professionals see the need to give back to an industry that has treated them well during their careers. But at the same time, some farriers have shared with us how difficult it can be to pick and choose where they want to volunteer their services.

It was certainly a surprise when we heard the Calgary Stampede was dropping the World Championship Blacksmiths' Competition after 35 years. Not only was this decision a surprise to the farrier community, but it also was also a shock to the blacksmith competition organizers who had not suspected the elimination of this valuable learning experience.

Faced with continually increasing costs from one of the major computer operating system providers, the folks at Ontrack Equine in Lake Elmo, Minn., have decided to pull back on further development and maintenance of its system.

Results from a recent poll conducted by The Horse magazine reveal interesting data regarding horse owners' preferences for winter footcare.

If you're seeing more rescue horse operators asking for sponsorship dollars or free hoof care, you aren't alone. With more folks getting involved in rescuing horses, several farriers have told me that they're getting more requests than ever before.