Let’s get one thing straight — our job isn’t just to make the hoof look pretty or prevent a horse from limping around like it’s in a bad Spaghetti Western.
So, you want to shoe for a veterinary clinic? There are several things you should know and do to make shoeing for a vet clinic worth your while, but it’s important to understand that you will need to be prepared to work outside your comfort zone.
Working in a clinical veterinary setting is much different than a normal day-to-day shoeing practice, and it poses interesting challenges that aren’t present in your normal life.
Winston Churchill, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, once said, “Sometimes doing your best is not good enough. Sometimes you must do what is required.” This quote is appropriate for the topic and we can break it down into two different parts.
Horses all have unique behaviors and personalities. We deal with these variations on a daily basis as farriers. One day, I had a funny conversation with a vet that I work with. He said something about a horse we were working on and I thought it'd be funny to put names to the different types.
Is there a practical use for thermal imagery within a farrier practice? That point can be debated. However, with access to technology and the increasing affordability of said technology, it certainly is a possibility now on smartphones.
Frequently, I'm asked to work on horses that have been rescued from either an abusive situation or from a clueless horse owner (which can be one and the same).
The May/June 2007 edition of American Farriers Journal had an interesting article by Nicholas Denson. Although it is refreshing to read contributions from someone who is thinking, I would like to make some observations as to the accuracy of some statements.
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.
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.
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.