Most people have experienced sore, aching feet at one point or another in their lives. After all, a 200-pound person exerts approximately 20 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure on the ground.
One of the consequences of domestic life for horses is hoof disease. Diet and heredity, along with confinement, contribute to certain serious conditions of the hoof.
It's not surprising that the 2015 International Hoof-Care Summit (IHCS) continued to set record numbers in attendance. It offers the most diverse lectures about farriery, plus the largest trade show in the world. The IHCS is the only place where the farrier industry can get the whole package in one place.
Hoof cracks can occur anywhere on the hoof wall and are caused by improper mechanics, environmental extremes or pathology concerns that lead to hoof deformities that result in failure. Named for where they appear on the hoof wall, they include quarter cracks, heel cracks, bar cracks and toe cracks.
Even before his election, Mayor Bill de Blasio declared removing carriage horses from NYC a top priority. Chief among the reasons is that he's declared the practice as cruel and the living conditions as inhumane.
Don’t take our word for it — you’ll see members of the farrier community share why they come back to the IHCS year after year. Last year’s Summit drew attendees from 44 states and 17 countries who wanted to learn the latest techniques for effective footcare.
While working on this 35th Anniversary issue of American Farriers Journal, I've been paging through back issues. At times I can almost feel the heat of the forges and hear the distant echo of hammer ringing on steel.
Have you ever picking up a plate at an upscale dinner buffet and perused the offerings when you are very hungry? Your first impulse is to try to devour everything before you because it all looks so good. After you realize that is impossible, you have to make some difficult decisions on what to load on your plate.
When a new hoof-care tool comes out, do you solely rely on the manufacturers' input? When it is time for a new truck or trailer, so you only talk to the dealer?
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.