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American Farriers Journal

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September/October 2017

Volume: 43
Edition: 6

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

  • Table Of Contents

    Table Of Contents

    Frankly Speaking: Still Here To Serve You

    By Jeremy McGovern posted on September 11, 2017 | Posted in Education
    If you are a frequent reader of American Farriers Journal, you’ve noticed the different look with this issue when you took it from the mailbox or picked it up from the supply shop shelf. This issue is the culmination of more than 18 months of work to update American Farriers Journal.
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    Get a Grip

    Take A Journey Back In Time As We Explore A Shoe From The Past
    September 11, 2017 | Posted in Education, Shoeing
    The history of farriery is as rich as it is ancient. It’s believed that migratory Eurasian tribes used horseshoes during the second century before the birth of Christ.
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    Reader Commentary: September/October 2017

    September 11, 2017 | Posted in Clients, Nutrition
    Rebuttal To Horse Owner Column Thank you for running Jessica Linder’s excellent response (“I’m Not A God, I’m Just A Farrier,” americanfarriers.com/blogs) to the Horse Network’s column “Your Farrier Is Not A God.” It was extremely well written, clear and concise.
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    Reinforcing the Basics of Horseshoeing

    In his fifth decade of shoeing, Bob Pethick still holds true to the principles that have helped him manage horses’ feet
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on September 11, 2017
    “It all comes down to the basics.” We’ve all heard that, so much that it seems to be a cliché among some in farriery. But this has never become a passing phrase when it comes from Bob Pethick.
    Read More
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    Migrating Clients Require Farrier Communication And Collaboration

    As seasons change and horses move between locations, farriers in different states must work together to keep horse hooves healthy
    By Sarah Evers Conrad posted on September 11, 2017 | Posted in Clients, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing
    Farriers spend a lot of energy, effort and expertise to keep their charges’ feet in tip-top shape so that their clients can continue year-round. Some farriers have clients who opt to migrate their horses to other locations beyond their “home base” for part of the year, such as those whose clients show during the winter in Florida.
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    “Diplomatic Skills” Needed When Stumbling is Due to Rider Error

    It’s never easy to tell one of your clients to lose 150 pounds, buy a new horse with better conformation or to sign up for riding lessons
    By Frank Lessiter posted on September 11, 2017 | Posted in Clients, Education, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing
    No farrier wants to have a tough client conversation about how rider error may be impacting a horse’s behavior. And when you have to be blunt and explain how rider error rider is the cause, it’s time to bring your “diplomatic skills” into play.
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    From The AFJ Archives: September/October 2017

    March 1978 — “Structure And Function Of The Horse’s Foot”
    By Renate Weller posted on September 11, 2017
    1978 ARTICLE OVERVIEW Through online search engines, farriers today are able to access information on peer-reviewed research papers. While still limited to farriers in the field, the access was even more restrictive in the 1970s.
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    The Cost of Treating Laminitis

    A veterinarian and three farriers discuss the cost of treatment and how it affects their approach to helping the horse
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on September 11, 2017 | Posted in Diseases, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing
    Like any disease, treating laminitis comes at a cost. Usually it is the financial aspects that one — especially the client — considers. Cost for diagnosis and treatment may include radiographs, medicines, and the professional fees of the vet and farrier to name a few.
    Read More
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    Remembering Bob Peacock

    Friends and admirers recall what the Hall Of Fame farrier meant to the industry and their lives
    September 11, 2017
    On July 12, 2017, Bob Peacock, a major figure in the hoof-care community and founder of the wide-web aluminum shoe, passed away at the age of 78.
    Read More
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    Old Horses, New Problems

    Aging horses become more susceptible to arthritis, laminitis and other issues that present hoof-care challenges
    By Pat Tearney posted on September 11, 2017 | Posted in Clients, Diseases, Lamenesses, Nutrition
    As horses age, they present new challenges to horse owners, as well as to farriers. Because farriers are usually the equine professionals who see horses and owners most regularly, they are frequently the first person a horse owner goes to for advice when senior horses begin to have new issues.
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    Don’t Stop Developing Your Skill Set

    Reaching your goals for improvement requires commitment to practice and recognizing where your greatest needs rest
    By Jacob Butler CJF, AWCF posted on September 11, 2017 | Posted in Education
    In the previous article in this series, I referred to the science of studying anatomy. In this article, I focus on the practical side of improving one’s skill level. Horsemanship, trimming, shoeing and forging are all practical skills of shoeing horses.
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    Straight Bar Shoe Delivers New Challenge

    For this year’s Summit Mail-In Exercise, the goal is to test your skills with a practical shoe with applications for any footcare practice
    By Craig Trnka posted on September 11, 2017 | Posted in Forging, Shoeing
    Sponsored by VICTORY A perception among some people about competition shoes is that there seldom is a practical use for certain shoes on this list. Take a roadster hind for example.
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    How Uneven Feet Affect Locomotion

    Understanding the relationship between movement and injury is key
    By Katie Navarra posted on September 11, 2017 | Posted in Education, Diseases, Lamenesses, Trimming
    In human locomotion, a lot is known about the pattern of central pressure on the foot as a step is taken. Typically, a normal pattern is defined as landing slightly laterally in a supinated position and then rolling toward the medial side of the foot into pronation.
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    Managing Conformational Faults: A Farrier’s Approach

    Understanding deviations and their role in load distribution are critical
    By Jeff Cota posted on September 11, 2017
    A horse’s conformation exerts a tremendous amount of influence on the hoof capsule, and in turn how a farrier trims and shoes the foot. Ideally, one should be able to drop a plumb line from the shoulder to the ground that bisects a distal limb that features a carpus and hoof that point forward.
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    Shop Talk: September/October 2017

    September 11, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Forging
    AAPF/IAPF Announces Frank Gravlee Scholarship The American and International Associations of Professional Farriers (AAPF/IAPF) announced a scholarship for two veterinary students or recent graduates to attend the 2018 International Hoof-Care Summit.
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    Research Journal: September/October 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 September 11, 2017
    Hoof Lameness Treatment Methods of temporarily causing a lameness in a controlled manner can be useful when conducting research on pain relieving medications. However, most commonly used models are either very short lived and only produce a momentary lameness in response to a brief painful stimulus or are not reversible.
    Read More
  • Featured Articles

    Featured Articles

    OPEN_Bob_Pethick.jpg

    Reinforcing the Basics of Horseshoeing

    In his fifth decade of shoeing, Bob Pethick still holds true to the principles that have helped him manage horses’ feet
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on September 11, 2017
    “It all comes down to the basics.” We’ve all heard that, so much that it seems to be a cliché among some in farriery. But this has never become a passing phrase when it comes from Bob Pethick.
    Read More
    Open_Laminitis.jpg

    The Cost of Treating Laminitis

    A veterinarian and three farriers discuss the cost of treatment and how it affects their approach to helping the horse
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on September 11, 2017 | Posted in Diseases, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing
    Like any disease, treating laminitis comes at a cost. Usually it is the financial aspects that one — especially the client — considers. Cost for diagnosis and treatment may include radiographs, medicines, and the professional fees of the vet and farrier to name a few.
    Read More
  • Digital Edition

    Digital Edition

  • Online Extras

    Online Extras

    Online Extras: September/October 2017 Issue

    September 12, 2017

    Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

    • Readers share their tips on how they ensure proper shoe fit.
    • Read a 2013 AFJ article “12 Reasons Why Stumbling May Not Be A Horseshoeing Problem,” as well as farriers’ advice on managing it from a recent survey.
    • Remembering Bob Peacock Read AFJ articles by and about this Hall Of Fame Farrier.
    • Nutrition And Hoof Health Dr. Richard Godbee discusses how nutrition affects hoof health.

    Read More

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Celebrating the 50th Anniversary

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.

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Life Data Labs

Life Data Labs Inc

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.
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Kawell USA

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.
Smart Pak

SmartPak

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.
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