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Laura Gillespie

Laura Gillespie

Laura Gillespie is an Athens, Ala., farrier who specializes in therapeutic hoof care and shoes English sport horses, as well as reiners and fox hunters.

Articles

ARTICLES

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Benefits of the Omni-Directional Horseshoe

Extensive experience and knowledge are required before application
By Laura Gillespie and Mike Hayward posted on June 16, 2022 | Posted in Clients, Equipment, Forging, Diseases, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing
Achieving the benefits of the therapeutic applications that have been covered over the past eight installments generally can be replicated by most any skill level and budget. The same is not true for the ninth and final subject — the light rail or omni-directional shoe.
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Therapeutic Shoeing

How to Achieve the Benefits of the Bank Robber Horseshoe

Options for enhancing breakover while limiting heels from sinking
By Laura Gillespie and Mike Hayward posted on May 1, 2022 | Posted in Clients, Equipment, Forging, Diseases, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing
It’s been said that some bank robbers in the old American West nailed horseshoes on backward in hopes of deceiving the law during their getaway. It’s unclear whether the strategy worked, but the bank robber shoe can provide a benefit to the horse in some therapeutic situations.
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Therapeutic Shoeing

How to Achieve Benefits of the Onion Horseshoe

Farriers will need time, education and money when making and applying this device
By Laura Gillespie and Mike Hayward posted on April 5, 2022 | Posted in Business Practices, Forging, Diseases, Lamenesses, Safety & Healthcare, Therapeutic Shoeing
Developed in France during the 17th century, the shoe was forged to protect the heel from corns or bruising. However, the French didn’t call them corns. Rather, they were called onions — hence the name of the shoe.
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Steel Hospital Plate

Hospital Plate Options Provide Horse Hoof Wound Protection

Intermediate and skilled farriers have traditional and creative applications to consider
By Laura Gillespie and Mike Hayward posted on November 29, 2021 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing

A hospital plate shoe treatment is a versatile and effective application for managing and treating a variety of hoof maladies.
It’s a varied combination of a horseshoe and removable plate that protects the solar area of the foot while allowing the horse to walk during healing from bouts of laminitis and post-deep penetrating wounds. The plate can act as a tourniquet when the foot is packed with sterile packing material and the plate is tightened against the shoe.




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Options for Supporting an Injured Suspensory Ligament

Knowledge and skill necessary for these therapeutic techniques
By Laura Gillespie and Mike Hayward posted on September 10, 2021 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing
Time after time, equine athletes fill our senses with wonder at their abilities while competing. Their speed and jumping prowess thrill equestrians and fans alike. Yet, like their human counterparts, their bodies can fail. Excessive stress and repetitive strain can result in an injury to the suspensory ligament, superficial flexor tendon and sesamoidean ligaments.
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Z-bar Styles Show Variety in Farrier Skill Sets

Flotation option can be altered and applied in a variety of scenarios
By Laura Gillespie and Mike Hayward posted on September 2, 2021 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing
The Z-bar is a versatile shoe that can be used when it’s necessary to relieve weight-bearing in the heel quarter or the heel as a result of an injury or insult. It can be used to float sore, sheared and lacerated heels. It can aid the healing of quarter cracks by allowing the hairline to drop. It’s also beneficial for shoeing hoof avulsions; abscesses; corns and infected or fractured bars.
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How to Float Heels and Heel Quarters

Farriers of all skill levels can achieve the benefits of the Z-bar horseshoe
By Laura Gillespie and Mike Hayward posted on July 3, 2021 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing
The Z-bar is a versatile shoe that can be used when it’s necessary to relieve weight-bearing in the heel quarter or the heel as a result of an injury or insult. It can be used to float sore, sheared and lacerated heels. It can aid the healing of quarter cracks by allowing the hairline to drop. It’s also beneficial for shoeing hoof avulsions; abscesses; corns and infected or fractured bars.
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Hoof Care on Parade

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.

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Life Data Labs

Life Data Labs Inc

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.
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Kawell USA

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.
Smart Pak

SmartPak

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.
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