Articles by Jeff Cota

Bringing the Hoof to Scientific Research

AFA Research Committee offers tips to make literature easier to understand

By Jeff Cota posted on December 4, 2017 | Posted in Education

When paging through farriery texts that are more than a century old, readers will note that much of the knowledge that’s contained within is not so different than what is taught today.

Frankly Speaking: How Regulation May Arrive

By Jeff Cota posted on December 4, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

When discussing licensing and regulation of an industry in the United States, farriers often think of direct oversight — a government-approved agency to pass rules specific for the trade. This is a reality affecting a minority of farriers, such as certain states requiring track shoers to carry a license.

From The Desk Of AFJ

How Farrier Regulation Might Arrive

By Jeff Cota posted on November 24, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices

Heed the Warning Signs for Stress

Long-time shoer turned counselor offers coping strategies to avoid burnout, which can prematurely end a farrier career

By Jeff Cota posted on November 6, 2017 | Posted in Safety & Healthcare

Harry Trosin loved his job. The Oklahoma shoer simply couldn’t wait to get to work each morning for more than 30 years. Then it all changed.

Putting a Number on Ideal Hoof Wall Length

Proper measurements with a toe rule can point farriers in the right direction

By Jeff Cota posted on November 6, 2017 | Posted in Trimming

What is the ideal length that hoof wall should be trimmed to?” Gerard Laverty’s question was met with a pregnant pause before the attendees at the Oregon Farriers Association mid-September clinic chuckled all at once.

Forging a Heart Bar has Never Been Easier

Hall Of Fame farrier Myron McLane shows how to apply a frog plate to a keg shoe

By Jeff Cota posted on November 6, 2017 | Posted in Forging, Therapeutic Shoeing

You need a heart-bar shoe, but you don’t have time to forge one. No problem, says International Horseshoeing Hall Of Famer Myron McLane. A heart bar doesn’t need to be hand forged to be effective. All you need is a keg shoe, a short piece of bar stock and a little elbow grease.

Farrier Tips

A Practical Approach to Hot Fitting

By Jeff Cota posted on November 2, 2017 | Posted in Education, Shoeing

When hot fitting a shoe, most farriers use a set of tongs or Vise Grips. Hall Of Fame farrier Myron McLane takes a different approach.

From The Desk Of AFJ

California Farrier School Aims To Remove “Biggest Obstacle” To Students’ Success

By Jeff Cota posted on October 27, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

Esteban Narez works hard to provide for his family, but he wants to do more to give them a better life.

News & Notes

Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School Sues California

State law violates First Amendment right, federal lawsuit states

By Jeff Cota posted on October 24, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

A farrier school has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of California for allegedly violating its constitutional right to teach horseshoeing to anyone who wants to learn.

Managing Conformational Faults: A Farrier’s Approach

Understanding deviations and their role in load distribution are critical

By Jeff Cota posted on September 11, 2017

A horse’s conformation exerts a tremendous amount of influence on the hoof capsule, and in turn how a farrier trims and shoes the foot. Ideally, one should be able to drop a plumb line from the shoulder to the ground that bisects a distal limb that features a carpus and hoof that point forward.

Videos

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.

Events

The Shoein' Shop 25th Annual Open House & Clinic

Date: 01/11/25

Location: Yucaipa, CA

The Shoein' Shop in Yucaipa, Calif., will host its 25th annual open house and clinic on Jan. 11, 2025.

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