The fund-raising auction at the American Farrier’s Association Convention is a highly anticipated event. It always has been a source of what is necessary to fund the many activities and functions of the AFA. I’m always amazed at the varied offerings of donated items, including some of the finest examples of forge work I have seen.
This Week: Hoof-care professionals across the country and the ocean are sharing what they know with others in the industry through social media, webinars and videos. Here are a few of our favorites.
Hoof care has undergone a multitude of changes ever since the ancients domesticated the horse and assumed its responsibility. However, the last 40 years are arguably one of the most significant periods in its growth than any other 4-decade span. This time witnessed dramatic changes in how farriers work with one another, and saw unrivaled technological advancements.
In this video, museum director Lee Liles talks about this shoe board made by influential horseshoer, Bill Miller. Begun as a private collection, the National Museum of Horse Shoeing Tools and Hall Of Honor (Sulphur, Okla.) features one-of-a-kind items and memorabilia that has been gathered over many years. Now, in one place is an unprecedented and never-before-seen collection that contains both the conventional and the unusual — the contemporary and the obsolete.
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.
When it comes to discussing change, Bill Miller calls on plenty of experience, having started shoeing as an apprentice in 1947. "In the past 63 years, I've seen many changes in our trade," says the veteran shoer from Rochester, Wash.
When Bill Miller went into business for himself, in the days before custom-built shoeing bodies and specialty rigs, he bought his first truck, a 1950 Studebaker half-ton pickup. The truck served its purpose, he recalls, “but it was hard to maintain the equipment in the back with just a tarp thrown over my tools.”
Not everyone does it, but farriers who know what they’re looking for on the bottom of old shoes can find clues to help keep a horse comfortable and healthy
Be sure to look at the shoes every time you pull them off,” says Blake Brown, a Penryn Calif., farrier who worked at a veterinarian clinic for 20 years.
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.