I nailed on my first set of horseshoes 60 years ago when I was 15 in 1964. It was on a kind gelding named Maverick at the summer horse camp that I attended.
International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer Steve Kraus, CJF, head of farrier services and senior lecturer at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine shares his thoughts on the milestones of farriery over the past half-century as American Farriers Journal celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Horseshoe production has developed to a high level of quality and variety that’s unparalleled since the 1900s. The many companies that have emerged in the last 35 years, as well as the ease of manufacturing and importing shoes from all over the world, have enabled farriers to have unprecedented choices in our modern age.
American Farriers Journal has been a valuable tool to farriers for over 4 decades. In each issue of the magazine this year is featured an article looking back at a moment during that time frame. As we reflect on this history, I find myself thinking about the history of another, essential farrier tool: the horseshoe.
If you want to start a heated discussion amongst a group of farriers, just ask, “Do you charge different prices for new shoes vs. resetting shoes?”
It is a simple question, but there will be some strong opinions.
How do you assess the horse before you trim it? How are you evaluating your work while with the horse? Are you spending time with each horse to do this? There are many different ways to assess the horse and check our work with it. The key is to dedicate the time to do this and to have a standard.
1983 ARTICLE OVERVIEW
Steve Kraus, head of Farrier Services and senior lecturer at Cornell University, originally wrote this article for the 1983 July/August issue of American Farriers Journal. As a private practice farrier in Trumansburg, N.Y., Kraus originally approached this subject with the intent to clarify the purpose of Scotch bottom shoes and share his method of creating this complicated type of shoe.
The sport of polo wasn’t always a sport. The oldest game using a ball and some sort of stick on a horse, is thought to have originated thousands of years ago in ancient Persia or China.
As farriers, we are aware that poor fitting horseshoes can cause discomfort and lameness in horses. Unfortunately, many farriers do not realize that poor fitting saddles can cause lameness, gait faults, shoeing problems and even personality problems.
Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) to heal infected wounds has been used for centuries with humans. In the 1920s, Johns Hopkins University became the first place documented in the United States to use maggot therapy in a clinical situation.
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.