December 2022

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: Invest in Your Professional Development

By Jeremy McGovern posted on December 2, 2022 | Posted in Business Practices

With winter almost here, I think about how blessed I’ve been to attend outstanding national events led by industry associations. In late September, I headed to New York for the Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners’ Saratoga Vet & Farrier Conference. This annual event features insightful lectures and wet labs. The following month, Yoder Blacksmith Supplies hosted the International Association of Professional Farrier’s Hoofcare Essentials gathering in Fredericksburg, Ohio.

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Briefings: December 2022

December 2, 2022 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Diseases, Lamenesses, Trimming

Hot Rasp an Old Horseshoe to Improve Your Non-Dominant Hand
Honey is an Effective and Affordable Solution for Wound Care
Radiographs Reveal Few Laminitis Cases Among Sable Island Horses

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What's This? Ancient 4-Wheel Drive

By Simon Curtis posted on December 2, 2022 | Posted in Education

Found near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, this horseshoe now resides in the West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, an archaeological site and open-air museum less than 2 miles from where I live.

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Shoeing for a Living

Arabian Show Horse Farrier Plays the Angles

Oregon farrier Zach Morris keeps mounts sound through challenges of shoeing rules and conformational faults

By Jeff Cota posted on December 3, 2022 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Forging, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

These are busy days for Zach Morris.
The Lyons, Ore., farrier is logging significant miles — both on the road and in the air — as several of his clients will be making the trek to Tulsa, Okla., for the United States National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show. With a little more than 2 weeks before the show, Morris has his work cut out for him.

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Farrier Research

Recognizing the Correlation Between Stride Disparities and Hoof Angle Asymmetry

By Steve McConnell posted on December 3, 2022

Effective Hoof-Care Begins with Evaluation

Developing a routine to improve dynamic and static assessment will pinpoint existing or potential problems

By Elise Umstead posted on December 3, 2022 | Posted in Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

Developing a routine to improve dynamic and static assessment will pinpoint existing or potential problems

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2023 Mail-In Deadline Coming Up

The 2023 Summit Mail-In Forging Exercise will earn a winner a buckle and all participants a T-shirt for making this horseshoe

By Craig Trnka posted on December 4, 2022 | Posted in Forging, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing

The 2023 International Hoof-Care Summit celebrates its 20th anniversary at this January’s event. This is also the ninth Summit Mail-In Forging Exercise, so I wanted to create a good challenge of solid forging elements for you. But as much as I want to push you out of your comfort zone with this exercise, I also want to create a practical shoe that you might find useful under the right circumstances. This is the perfect marriage: challenging your skill set and a finished product that can help a horse with a specific problem. Of course, we never want to apply a shoe that isn’t suitable for the horse or its needs.

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How Floatation Helped Two Horses

Two cases featuring a Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred show examples of how floating the heels can help a horse

By Todd G Allen posted on December 4, 2022 | Posted in Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing

I’ve worked on many horses throughout my career that I just couldn’t seem to get to grow any heel on their low-heeled foot. If they did, they would crush it, or the base of the foot would be pushed forward.
Using methods that are already widely accepted throughout the industry, I will offer a unique approach that could help improve these types of feet.

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Horse Foot Balance is Verified

Scientific research easily defines and proves hoof balance is understood

By Doug Butler posted on December 4, 2022 | Posted in Anatomy, Education, Trimming

Recently it has become popular for some farrier and veterinary clinicians to speak of horse foot balance as “not easily definable,” “not well understood,” and even “controversial.” They apparently are unaware of the vast body of published empirical evidence and scientific research verifying the principles of balance. Or, they have chosen to ignore such and have a favorite shoe or technique they desire to sell that is based upon an unsubstantiated idea.

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Giving New Life to an Old Truck

Missouri farrier Ed Reardon finds a late-career project with a retired 1947 produce truck

By Jeremy McGovern posted on December 5, 2022 | Posted in Equipment

About 15 years ago, Ed Reardon bought a retired ton pick-up truck to add as a shoeing rig to his farrier practice. The idea for the truck goes back much earlier, though. Well-established as a farrier at the time, Reardon wanted to find and restore a 1947 truck — the same year he was born.

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Are Equine Hoof Wear and Teeth Linked?

Opinions vary about whether a correlation exists between dentistry and hoof balance

By Katie Navarra posted on December 5, 2022 | Posted in Trimming

Is there a connection between equine tooth alignment and hoof balance? Less than 2 decades ago, discussions surrounding the possibility emerged. Opinions on the topic are mixed.

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Shop Talk: December 2022

December 5, 2022 | Posted in Business Practices, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Equipment

Oregon Farrier Joins University of Illinois
Save Edge to Cease Operations
American Farrier’s Association Announces Officers and Awards at Convention
In Memorium

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Research Journal: December 2022

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

December 6, 2022 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Lamenesses, Nutrition

Heel Bulb Laceration Recovery
Managing Pony Grazing
Hair Analysis is Not Reliable for Mineral Intake
Supplement Increases Hoof Growth, a Little

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Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Shoeing for a Living

Arabian Show Horse Farrier Plays the Angles

Oregon farrier Zach Morris keeps mounts sound through challenges of shoeing rules and conformational faults

By Jeff Cota posted on December 3, 2022 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Forging, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

These are busy days for Zach Morris.
The Lyons, Ore., farrier is logging significant miles — both on the road and in the air — as several of his clients will be making the trek to Tulsa, Okla., for the United States National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show. With a little more than 2 weeks before the show, Morris has his work cut out for him.

Read More

Effective Hoof-Care Begins with Evaluation

Developing a routine to improve dynamic and static assessment will pinpoint existing or potential problems

By Elise Umstead posted on December 3, 2022 | Posted in Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

Developing a routine to improve dynamic and static assessment will pinpoint existing or potential problems

Read More

Are Equine Hoof Wear and Teeth Linked?

Opinions vary about whether a correlation exists between dentistry and hoof balance

By Katie Navarra posted on December 5, 2022 | Posted in Trimming

Is there a connection between equine tooth alignment and hoof balance? Less than 2 decades ago, discussions surrounding the possibility emerged. Opinions on the topic are mixed.

Read More
Digital Edition

Digital Edition

For Digital Subscribers: Login To Your Digital Flipbook Of The December 2022 Issue

December 1, 2022

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: December 2022

December 6, 2022

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High-Low Hoof Care

More Than Feet

Hoof-Care Events

Floating Heels and Quarters
Shoeing Arabians and high-low horses
More insight on equine teeth

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