When presenting at the American Farrier’s Association Convention in March 2018, Pat Broadus joked that it isn’t the typical venue for a plater. But even if attendees don’t shoe racehorses, there is a strong probability that they are providing footcare for off-the-track Thoroughbreds
In the sport horse world, certainly at higher levels, problems with the suspensory apparatus have grown. Through his conversations with equine veterinarians, farrier Dave Farley says that they estimate about 80% of the sport horse lameness issues they encounter are somehow related to the suspensory.
When looking at the general horse population, Grant Moon views what he calls the “big middle.” Many of the horses in this populace have been assigned jobs that they just aren’t suitable for to achieve at high levels. But in reality, when the farrier arrives to shoe that horse, his or her opinion on the suitability of the horse to its newly assigned job is irrelevant.
Looking back, Mike Chance believes he didn’t have the typical make-up to be a successful farrier. And maybe he wouldn’t have become a horseshoer had he acknowledged that.
“It never occurred to me that I couldn’t be successful in this trade,” he says. “Maybe I was lacking in some areas, but I was determined to be a farrier.”
The practice of farriery is one firmly based in tradition, yet modern solutions have provided farriers with more options for helping horses. Nailing on a steel shoe made from bar stock remains a helpful option for many hoof-care needs, but so do adhesives, urethane shoes and other contemporary tools.
Before he passed away in 2009, he had built a career as a successful racetrack farrier, but also a reputation a shoer ready to help others. He freely shared his information with many of his farrier and veterinary colleagues.
Texas farrier Adam Matthews pulls a Sundowner trailer for his shoeing. He has used this trailer since 2009, after helping the company design it specifically for farrier needs.
For the fourth year, VICTORY sponsored the Summit Mail-In Forging Exercise. This challenge was free to enter and participants each received a T-shirt for their efforts. The overall winner earned a belt buckle and free registration to the 2019 International Hoof-Care Summit (IHCS).
In a series of changes in leadership and membership of the British farrier teams, Harriet Young became the first female member of the British Apprentice Farrier Team.
I'm writing this from Reno, Nev., as the American Farrier's Association wraps up another educational convention. While visiting with the farriers here, I polled a few dozen of them about how concerned they are about the proposed Model Veterinary Practice Act changes by the American Veterinary Medical Association — primarily the removal of the farrier exemption.
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.