July/August 2019

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: Experience Tempers Confidence

By Jeremy McGovern posted on June 29, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices

Have you ever met a farrier with fewer than 5 years of experience who seems to have more certainty than those with significantly more years in the trade? Their confidence on farriery doesn’t correlate to what their actual knowledge and ability indicate. Turns out there is something to this.
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Farrier Industry Businesses Share Their Stories with American Farriers Journal

People, products, company history are focus of ‘Profile’ issue

By Kristen Kubisiak posted on June 29, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Education, Equipment, Safety & Healthcare, Products

The July/August American Farriers Journal is our annual Farrier Industry Profile issue. The purpose of this special issue is to offer readers an opportunity to get to know the people and stories behind the companies they depend on, as well as the products that could enhance their businesses.
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Briefings July/August 2019

June 29, 2019 | Posted in Education, Diseases, Safety & Healthcare

As seasons change and weather fluctuates, climates can experience high volumes of precipitation. Without proper drainage, land and pathways can become muddy and waterlogged. One way to avoid loss of hoof traction and accumulation of mud is to create a high-traffic pad, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.
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What's This? One Hot Commodity

June 30, 2019 | Posted in Education, Forging, Lamenesses

The forged firing iron was used by veterinarians for the treatment of various types of lameness in horses in the late 19th century.
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Your Number 1 Job: Balance the Horse

Forget the bells and whistles and concentrate on trimming the foot appropriately

By Jeff Cota posted on June 30, 2019 | Posted in Shoeing, Trimming

When scrolling through his social media timeline, Jim Quick can’t help but notice the increasing reliance on gadgets and gimmicks in hoof care. The result is farriers are unnecessarily complicating horseshoeing and straying from their most important job — balancing the horse.
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Shoeing For A Living

Shoeing Show Jumpers in Wellington

John Favicchia shares keys for success when shoeing show jumpers during the Winter Equestrian Festival.

By Jeremy McGovern posted on June 30, 2019 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds

John Favicchia inherited a love of horses from his father, also named John. So passionate about horses, the elder Favicchia moved out of the city and bought a rundown farm in North Salem, N.Y., refurbishing it over several years.
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Artificial Intelligence is Learning How to Better Measure Hooves

Computer system using photos and radiographs seen as a precision tool in the making

By Ron Perszewski posted on July 1, 2019 | Posted in Education, Shoeing, Trimming

John Craig believes an artificial intelligence (AI) computer system that incorporates and “learns” from tens of thousands of hoof photos and radiographs will improve future hoof care.
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Trimming and Shoeing Strategies for High-Low Feet

Hall of Fame farrier details how he improves performance in horses with mismatched feet

By Jeff Cota posted on July 1, 2019 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing

The prevalence of asymmetrical, mismatched or high-low feet has changed dramatically over the past half-century. What once was rare is now an almost daily occurrence that farriers must maintain to keep horses performing as well as possible.
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Farrier Q&A

What horses do you typically provide hoof-care for and what percentage has high-low hooves? How do you manage high-low on these horses?

By Kristen Kubisiak posted on July 1, 2019 | Posted in Anatomy, Disciplines & Breeds, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

I provide hoof care to Thoroughbreds, hacks, show jumper, dressage and 3-day eventer horses. About 12% had high-low hooves — here in Australia we call it “grass hoof.” It’s caused by the horse continually only putting one foot forward to feed.
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Idea for Offering A Haul-in Service

New Mexico farrier Brad Dirickson is changing how he approaches the business of farriery to extend his career

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 2, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices

The most important tool for farriers is their body. Yet, over the span of a career, the body breaks down due to cumulative destruction generated by the day-to-day work. No farrier has ever beat Father Time.
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Understanding and Demystifying Evidence-Based Farriery

Furthering footcare research relies on encouraging and utilizing farriers in projects

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 2, 2019 | Posted in Education

When he qualified as a farrier in the United Kingdom in 1983, Haydn Price says he had “soul searching questions.” He began searching for answers and started accumulating case studies and research on his own work.
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12 Ways for Farriers and Veterinarians to Improve Working Together

Farrier Shane Westman pulls from his experiences as a farrier at a veterinary teaching hospital to improve veterinarian-farrier relationships

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 2, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices

Last year, Shane Westman wrote a reflective paper on a personal experience of professional communication breakdown. For this paper, he selected a case from his private farrier practice in Washington in which conflict placed the client between him and the veterinarian.
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Tips for Working with Draft Horses

Be mindful of their environment and consider the necessary traction to improve footcare with draft horses

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 3, 2019 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Forging

Woodstock, Ill., farrier Joel Nielsen understands when he hears other farriers say they don’t want to work with draft horses.
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Use Caution When Working on Sedated Horses

Chemical restraints help relax horses and dull pain, but can pose a significant risk for farriers

By Katie Navarra posted on July 3, 2019 | Posted in Lamenesses, Safety & Healthcare

Horses that are nervous, lame or irritable aren’t the most pleasant to trim or shoe — and they can be downright dangerous. Sedation is commonly used in these types of horses so that a farrier and equine veterinarian can work safely. In fact, 90% of farriers say they shoe sedated horses, according to a recent American Farriers Journal poll.
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Equine Body Work Benefits Hooves

Making uncomfortable horses comfortable makes farriers’ jobs easier and improves feet

By Heather Smith Thomas posted on July 3, 2019 | Posted in Education, Lamenesses

Each horse is born with its own conformation, but many factors affect skeletal structure and posture as the foal grows up. Often by the time a farrier is working on that horse’s feet, there are issues that put stress on various parts.
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Honor Horseshoers During 21st Annual Farriers Week, July 7-13

Celebrate the contributions farriers make to the equine industry in Spotlight Farriers

By Kristen Kubisiak posted on July 4, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Shoeing

American Farriers Journal would like to thank the many farriers who dedicate their time, effort and skill to the equine industry. This year marks the 21st annual Farriers Week, a time American Farriers Journal sets aside to celebrate your professional contributions — and invite others to do the same.

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Misconceptions Abound with Model Veterinary Practice Act

Legal definitions shed light on diagnosing, scope of practice in farriery

By Esco Buff posted on July 4, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices

As the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) House of Delegates prepares to consider the proposed Model Veterinary Practice Act (MVPA) in August, the process has illuminated several hot-button topics that are in need of clarity.
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2020 IHCS Mail-In Forging Exercise: Sidebone Shoe

For the 2020 International Hoof-Care Summit, VICTORY is sponsoring another Summit Mail-In Forging Exercise

By Craig Trnka posted on July 4, 2019 | Posted in Forging

For the 2020 Summit Mail-In Forging Exercise, I’ve selected a sidebone shoe. In the years that I’ve made the shoes for this contest, I’ve had two goals.
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Shoeing Horses in Middle East Presents New Challenges

Farrier educator Mitch Taylor spent 18 months in Qatar helping to improve footcare while furthering his knowledge and ability

By Mitch Taylor posted on May 25, 2019 | Posted in Anatomy, Education, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing

I believe that everything happens as part of a grand plan and as fate would have it, I accepted a job as the head of podiatry within the newly opened Equine Veterinary Medical Center in Doha, Qatar.
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Shop Talk July/August 2019

July 5, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

Mission Farrier School to Open an Oklahoma Branch After educating farriers for nearly a quarter of a century in the Pacific Northwest, Mission Farrier School (MFS) is expanding to Oklahoma.
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Research Journal: July/August 2019

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 5, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Equipment, Diseases, Lamenesses

Final Say

Observation is a Building Block of Problem Solving

By Doyle Blagg posted on July 5, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices

How I grew up made me a horseman. I was fortunate having my father Bill to follow as a farrier. My grandfather and father lived so far out in the country, that in order to keep shoes on those horses, they had to learn how to do it themselves.
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Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Your Number 1 Job: Balance the Horse

Forget the bells and whistles and concentrate on trimming the foot appropriately

By Jeff Cota posted on June 30, 2019 | Posted in Shoeing, Trimming

When scrolling through his social media timeline, Jim Quick can’t help but notice the increasing reliance on gadgets and gimmicks in hoof care. The result is farriers are unnecessarily complicating horseshoeing and straying from their most important job — balancing the horse.
Read More

Shoeing For A Living

Shoeing Show Jumpers in Wellington

John Favicchia shares keys for success when shoeing show jumpers during the Winter Equestrian Festival.

By Jeremy McGovern posted on June 30, 2019 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds

John Favicchia inherited a love of horses from his father, also named John. So passionate about horses, the elder Favicchia moved out of the city and bought a rundown farm in North Salem, N.Y., refurbishing it over several years.
Read More

Idea for Offering A Haul-in Service

New Mexico farrier Brad Dirickson is changing how he approaches the business of farriery to extend his career

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 2, 2019 | Posted in Business Practices

The most important tool for farriers is their body. Yet, over the span of a career, the body breaks down due to cumulative destruction generated by the day-to-day work. No farrier has ever beat Father Time.
Read More
Digital Edition

Digital Edition

For Digital Subscribers: Login To Your Digital Flipbook Of The July/August 2019

July 1, 2019

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
Online Extras: July/August 2019

July 1, 2019

Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

Brushing Up on Your Skills: Jim Quick offers his insight on the benefits of practice, the value of metallurgy knowledge, and how to make a heart-bar shoe.

Celebrating Farriers: See all of the farrier tributes that have been submitted in anticipation of the 21st annual Farriers Week, which is July 7-13.

Shoeing For a Living: See a few of the tips offered by farrier John Favicchia from the day we spent with him in Florida.

Creating a Sidebone Shoe: Watch Craig Trnka make the Summit Mail-In Challenge specimen shoe one step at a time – then try to do it yourself.

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