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American Farriers Journal

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July/August 2017

Volume: 43

Edition: 5

American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.

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Table Of Contents

Table Of Contents

Frankly Speaking: The Complexity Of Paying Your Farrier Help

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Safety & Healthcare

In late May, the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate passed a $15 minimum wage bill. Currently, Illinois’ minimum wage is $8.25. Should this plan pass the governor’s desk, the full $15 rate would be reached in 2022 for those age 18 and older. At the time of press, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner had yet to sign this bill, and isn’t expected to do so.
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Briefings: July/August 2017

July 3, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Equipment, Diseases, Lamenesses

Weighing The Difference Between Innovation And Fad What’s the difference between a product that is innovative and one that’s merely a fad? It’s a question that farriers wrestle with regularly, says Steve Kraus, head farrier at Cornell University.
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Letters: July/August 2017

July 3, 2017 | Posted in Lamenesses, Safety & Healthcare

Count Your Blessings After reading the May/June 2017 “Frankly Speaking” column (“Rather Than Just Talking About It …”) and the article “Treatment for Dealing with Penetrating Injuries,” I suggest that having full-time farriers at seven veterinarian schools is better than none.
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Trimming Significantly Changes Hoof Morphology

Study concludes the mustang roll trim is detrimental to the equine foot

By Jeff Cota posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Anatomy, Education, Lamenesses, Trimming

Although farriers have been tending to horses’ hooves for thousands of years, there is no universal acceptance for the way they are trimmed. In some circles, the conversation can be rather acrimonious.
Read More

Putting Service in Customer Service

East Texas farrier thrives by embracing marketing and good business practices

By Jeff Cota posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Diseases, Lamenesses

At his core, Ralph Hampton is a farrier. Not like Jack is in construction or Jill is an administrator. The Rosevine, Texas, shoer is a throwback to the days when a farrier fulfilled an important role in a small rural town. “This is not something you do for a living,” he says. “This is something you do for life.”
Read More

A World Cup Education

Jason Critton’s farrier team embraces the chance to learn from some of the best at the FEI jumping and dressage finals

By Jeff Cota posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing

It would be easy to sit around as a horse show farrier and collect a paycheck while waiting for something to happen. After all, there’s a fair amount of down time, and it would be a nice break after shoeing scores of horses the previous week.
Read More

Getting Reiners Through a Critical Year

Texas shoer suggests slider modifications to keep equine athletes going

By Jeff Cota posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing

Genetics aren’t kind to cow horses and reiners. They have the heart and drive, but conformational issues and the rigors of the discipline don’t result in long careers.
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Contracted Heels Usually Mask Underlying Problems

Understanding the cause can lead to solutions for the horse

By Ron Perszewski posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Anatomy, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

To truly help a horse with contracted heels, a farrier must understand that such heels are most often a symptom of an underlying problem, and correcting the heels does not necessarily lead to a sounder horse.
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Give Your Hammer A Face-Lift

If your rounding hammer has lost its crown, refinishing it will improve your forging work

By Mikel Dawson posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Equipment

When maintaining tools, we immediately think of pritchels, forepunches and such. How many of us, though, stop and think about repairing the face of our hammers?
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Q&A: July/August 2017

What are your best tips for repairing or maintaining your farrier tools?

July 3, 2017 | Posted in Equipment

A: I use a Dremel tool with a cut off blade to knurl the head of my driving hammer. This helps prevent me from bending nails. I only have one good eye and without the knurled head, I’ll bend too many nails.
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Moving Beyond the Pain and Swelling of Equine Inflammation

Deeper knowledge of the concept can improve outcomes for horses

By Tom Schell posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Anatomy, Clients, Diseases, Lamenesses, Nutrition

Is there more to heat, pain and lameness than meets the eye? Is there a reason why a horse is not responding to therapies? Potentially, yes. A farrier often is the first line of defense in identifying inflammation of the distal limb, and understanding its influence is critical for proper management.
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Metallurgy: How Much Do You Need to Know?

While not necessary to shoe horses, a working knowledge of how steel is made and reacts to heat and pressure can make a good career great

By Pat Tearney posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Equipment, Forging, Safety & Healthcare, Therapeutic Shoeing

If you’re a horseshoer, you work with metal every day. But how much do you have to really know about metallurgy — the science underlying the working of metal — to be successful? That might depend on how you define success and what kind of farrier you want to be.
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A Study System To Learn Equine Anatomy

Whether you need a deeper understanding or refresher of equine anatomy, these tips will help you retain this information critical to your work

By Jacob Butler CJF, AWCF posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Education

In the first article of this series, I presented some simple strategies that are motivated by our desire to excel. As we learn new skills, we need to apply and implement them into our lives and businesses so that these become part of our everyday work.
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Shop Talk: A Rare Feat For English Farrier

July 3, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Therapeutic Shoeing

Charlie Sands has accomplished what’s believed to be a first — winning best shod honors at the Random Health Grand National and Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials within a 12-month period, according to Horse & Hound.
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Thank You, Farriers

Farriers Spotlight features industry tributes for National Farriers Week

By Michelle Drewek posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Education

For the past few months, we have been asking the equine community worldwide to share their stories, pictures and videos with us for the 19th Annual National Farriers Week celebration this year from July 9 to 15. We received many submissions over the past several months, and here are a handful of the farrier tributes sent to us during that time.
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Recipe for Success as a Therapeutic Farrier

Arizona farrier John Samsill explains how being effective in therapeutic shoeing relies on much more than skills and knowledge.

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 3, 2017

Every facet of being a farrier requires teamwork. Whether you are working with a single client with a backyard horse or the trainer, owner, groom and others with a high-level performance horse, to effectively do your work means there is a team dynamic.
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Ideas for Improving the Perceived Value of Your Farrier Practice

Yes, you need to keep horses sound, but how your clients perceive you may have more to do with other factors

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

Teaching someone how to nail on a keg shoe, according to Bob Smith of Plymouth, Calif., isn’t the most difficult lesson. Of course, that doesn’t account for selecting the correct shoe, shaping it properly to the trim and other aspects of doing that job well. But to successfully run a farrier business takes investment — you need to know more than just how to shoe a horse.
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Research Journal: July/August 2017

The information, ideas and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the United States Department of Agriculture.

By Albert Kane posted on July 3, 2017

Risks For Grass Founder Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College conducted a prospective cohort study of risk factors for the development of pasture associated laminitis (PAL, also called grass founder) among ponies with no previous history of laminitis.
Read More
Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Trimming Significantly Changes Hoof Morphology

Study concludes the mustang roll trim is detrimental to the equine foot

By Jeff Cota posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Anatomy, Education, Lamenesses, Trimming

Although farriers have been tending to horses’ hooves for thousands of years, there is no universal acceptance for the way they are trimmed. In some circles, the conversation can be rather acrimonious.
Read More

Putting Service in Customer Service

East Texas farrier thrives by embracing marketing and good business practices

By Jeff Cota posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Diseases, Lamenesses

At his core, Ralph Hampton is a farrier. Not like Jack is in construction or Jill is an administrator. The Rosevine, Texas, shoer is a throwback to the days when a farrier fulfilled an important role in a small rural town. “This is not something you do for a living,” he says. “This is something you do for life.”
Read More

A World Cup Education

Jason Critton’s farrier team embraces the chance to learn from some of the best at the FEI jumping and dressage finals

By Jeff Cota posted on July 3, 2017 | Posted in Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing

It would be easy to sit around as a horse show farrier and collect a paycheck while waiting for something to happen. After all, there’s a fair amount of down time, and it would be a nice break after shoeing scores of horses the previous week.
Read More
Digital Edition

Digital Edition

For Digital Subscribers: Login To Your Digital Flipbook Of The July/August 2017 Issue

July 3, 2017

Now view magazine-like digital flipbooks on your desktop and tablet. Starting in 2015 issues, included for FREE with your Digital or Premium subscription, view the magazine on your laptop, tablet, and mobile device. You need to be logged in to view.
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Online Extras

Online Extras

Shoeing For A Living (Jake Whitman): Integrating Apprentices Into Your Hoof-Care Practice

May 17, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Education, Safety & Healthcare

Weatherford, Texas, farrier Jake Whitman discusses how apprentices progress in his footcare practice.
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Shoeing For A Living (Jake Whitman): Setting Up Cutting Horses

May 17, 2017 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Shoeing, Trimming

Weatherford, Texas, farrier Jake Whitman discusses how he sets up cutting horses in his hoof-care practice.
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The Hoof-Care Bottom Line

Of Externs, Interns, Apprentices and Independent Contractors

If you have someone helping you in your farrier business, it’s important to know whether or not they’re also your employee

By Esco Buff posted on April 1, 2013 | Posted in Business Practices

Many farrier business owners utilize novice farriers, apprentices and other interested individuals to help with day-to-day tasks such as loading and unloading tools, clean-up and finishing feet. But you need to be aware that a person being utilized in this manner may very well be an employee, entitled to employee benefits.
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American Farriers Journal

American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.

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Plenty of Hoof-Care Growth in 50 Years

Celebrating 2 Decades of Extraordinary Hoof-Care Learning

Butler’s Insights Hold Strong

Current Issue

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Special Report For Equine Veterinarians

American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.

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Celebrating the 50th Anniversary

American Farriers Journal is excited and honored to celebrate its 50th anniversary of publishing the hands-on magazine for hoof-care professionals. Learn more about our special edition, which comes out in December 2024.

Events

Michigan Horseshoers Association 55th Annual Clinic

Date: 01/02/25

Location: Lansing, MI

The Michigan Horseshoers Association will host its 55th annual clinic Jan. 2-4, 2025 in East Lansing, Mich.

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American Farriers Journal

July/August 2017

Table Of Contents

Featured Articles

Digital Edition

Online Extras

THIS MONTH'S DIGITAL SPONSORS:

Top Articles

Current Issue

Current Issue

Must Read Free Eguides

Videos

Events