The quest to define the ideal foot and ideal balance has been the Holy Grail of horseshoeing since the late 1800s when William Russell first coined the term “balance” in the context of footcare. The dilemma facing all books on the horse’s foot has been the concept of what is a “normal” foot.
More than 90% of American Farriers Journal readers report that they have backyard accounts. While performance horses draw much attention, the backyard horse is the backbone of the industry. We assembled a panel of farriers whose books contain a significant percentage of backyard horses. Mark Aikens of Norwich, England; Pete Healey of San Los Obispo, Calif.; and Dean Moshier of Delaware, Ohio, present their ideas covering the footcare and business of backyard horses. This fast-paced session allows each presenter 1 minute for each idea, so the presenters can cover as many ideas as possible in the time allowed.
Backyard horses are a staple of the farrier industry.
In fact, according to the latest American Farriers Journal Business Practices Survey, 92% of U.S. farriers work with backyard horses.
There are safety factors all around us — ladders, bridges, elevators and a host of others. Safety factors tell us how much more load can put on a structure before it fails.
Proper management includes critical measurements that allow a farrier to position the breakover point to meet the functional needs of the horse throughout the shoeing cycle
After 20 years of horseshoeing, I believe farriers and horses would benefit if more emphasis was placed on the biomechanics of the hoof. That’s why, after consulting with other farriers and closely scrutinizing the horses I’ve worked on, I’ve come to define balance as the relationship of the hoof capsule to the coffin bone.
This exclusive series of American Farriers Journal reviews will help you select the latest videos and DVDs on shoeing techniques, hoof-care ideas and new products.
Breakover is a function of the equine foot. A chronic problem that we see in the clinic where I work is that the breakover of the hoof capsule is out of balance with the coffin bone at a given point in the shoeing cycle.
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.