In this episode of the American Farriers Journal podcast, brought to you by SmartPak, Editor Jeremy McGovern spoke with Wellington, Fla., farrier Curtis Burns, who shares details of his rollercoaster of a career path.

"They get new shoes every six to eight weeks if they're used for riding a fair bit. The shoes are for traction, support and protection," said Cresco farrier Jarred Lund, speaking to visitors at Historic Forestville's new "New Shoes for Horses" interpretive program last Saturday as he inspected, filed and shod a horse as part of a demonstration meant to illustrate what is necessary to fit horseshoes to horses, animals which were the main source of transportation in 1899.

Trainer Todd Pletcher appears to have a formidable hand going into this year's Kentucky Derby. Or should we say foot?? If Pletcher wins his second Derby in four years, the man who takes care of his horse's feet will be one of the first people he thanks. Like everyone has said for years, no hoof, no horse, or no foot, no horse. That's really true at the end of the day, said Pletcher. I don't think you can even calculate how important having a good blacksmith is. By all accounts, Pletcher's blacksmith, Ray Amato Sr., is one of the best in the business. And you'd be hard-pressed to find a backstretch worker who relishes going to work more than Amato, even though he's been doing the same thing for 65 years.

Wisconsin farrier Robert "Red" Renchin, APF CF, of Mequon, Wisconsin, received special recognition recently when he was named as an honorary member of the American Association of Professional Farriers (AAPF).

If a trainer wants you to shoe a certain way that you don't agree with because you feel it may hurt the horse in the long run, how do you handle this?