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American Farriers Journal

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December 2012

Volume: 38

Edition: 8

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

Managing 162 Clients is Certainly No Easy Task

By Frank Lessiter posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Clients

Like many farriers, Dave Dawson sometimes finds it’s easier to get along with the horses he trims and shoes than with a few of their owners or trainers.
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Briefings

December 1, 2012 | Posted in Education

Tracy Turner says you need a properly trimmed and balanced hoof capsule before you ever think about what shoe to use.
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Shoeing for a Living

Shoeing Along the Colorado Front Range

Farrier J.D. Downs is becoming known for his work with reining horses, in part because he never hesitates to seek advice from his mentors

By Pat Tearney posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Shoeing

J.D. Downs shapes a shoe at a ranch along the Colorado Front Range. The farrier from Frederick, Colo., north of Denver, says shoeing in the high, dry climate means dealing with hard, dry feet.
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Farrier and Firefighter

Texas shoer’s dual career has its benefits — literally

By John Bradshaw posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Business Practices

Zach Dicken made the decision 3 years ago to become a part-time horseshoer, and the farrier-fireman combination really works for him. He works a 24-hour shift every third day at the Lubbock Fire Department, which provides a steady paycheck and those elusive benefits that so many farriers struggle to pay for.
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Wire Cut, Infection Takes 7 Years of Treatment

A serious pastern injury and later infection to the sensitive lamina almost cost a Quarter Horse its life

By Dorothy Stephenson posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

Wire likely sliced through the back of the pastern and into the distal cushion, detaching the back portion of the hoof. Long-term injury situations often lead to both an emotional and a financial commitment for the horse owner.
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Farriers' Roundtables

What is the best way to trim and shoe a horse with contracted heels? It seems like I often see contracted heels along with a long-toe problem.

December 1, 2012 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing

What is the best way to trim and shoe a horse with contracted heels? It seems like I often see contracted heels along with a long-toe problem.
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Horseshoeing Habits and Hardships

What You're Doing Today Affects Your Health Down the Road

Repetitive stresses, poor work habits and small injuries build up over time, creating damage you’re not aware of until it’s too late

By Lisa Kemp posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Safety & Healthcare

Not visualized in the diagram, but located at the wrist, your median nerve supplies feeling and movement to areas of your hand. Neurosurgeon James Warson, horseman and author of The Rider’s Pain-Free Back, says he’s always mindful of what he refers to as the three basic principles of life.
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The Hoof-Care Bottom Line

40 Business Terms Farriers Need to Understand

Knowing the language of business helps you put your hoof-care business on sounder footing and improves communication with clients from a business background.

By Esco Buff posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Business Practices

As we get ready to begin a new calendar year, it's a good time for farriers to review their business practices and how they can improve their business performance.
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Nothing Normal About Zoo Work

Working on the feet of wild animals is not only gratifying, but also very challenging and educational

By Frank Lessiter posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Trimming

Steve Foxworth works on about a dozen species of animals at the Denver Zoo in a year's time, including this lesser kudu. He finds it often takes as long as 2 years to get an animal's feet in good shape while adjusting to a new environment.
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There's More Than One Kind of Heel Pain

Farriers face heel problems almost daily, but it’s important to understand that there are different causes, requiring different approaches

By Christy Corp-Minamiji DMV posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Diseases, Lamenesses

Navicular disease, navicular syndrome, caudal heel syndrome, palmar foot pain - regardless of the label, you've probably seen the condition. The chronic, shifting front limb lameness that causes the horse to look as though it is tiptoeing over hot coals is common to many breeds and disciplines.
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How to Use a Wedge Test as Part of a Lameness Exam

By Red Renchin posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Lamenesses

Diagnosing lameness in horses is as much an art as a science. There is no substitute for the well-trained, experienced and perceptive eye.
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Getting the Right Fit With Aluminum

Solid tips from people who have learned their way around working with these important shoes

By Pat Tearney posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Shoeing

Aluminum horseshoes are not new. They've been around for several decades now and are the shoe of choice at racetracks and for many disciplines. Trainers choose aluminum shoes when they want less weight, more flotation or because they think they absorb shock better than steel.
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Understanding What You See Before, During and After

You can’t deliver hoof care without building a thorough and consistent system of evaluating horses’ feet

By Jeremy McGovern posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Education

There is a joke that if you ask a group of 10 farriers about the right way to trim a foot, you'll get 10 different answers. There are dozens of variations to this joke, from the number of farriers, what they can't agree on and how many responses you'll get.
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A Day of Shoeing Backyard Horses Includes the Good and the Bad -- But Mostly Good

Pennsylvania farrier sees variety — in horses, barns as well as clients

By Pat Tearney posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Business Practices, Shoeing

This Pennsylvania corral demonstrates the variety of horses McCandless may see on a day when he's shoeing backyard horses. Like many young farriers, Clint McCandless has a lot of backyard horses on his shoeing book.
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The Backyard Horse

When it’s Time to End a Business Relationship with Backyard Clients

The reasons may differ, but to have a long, prosperous career with backyard clients, it means you likely will have to fire some of them

By Jeremy McGovern posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

Backyard horses are a part of most farrier practices. Sometimes there is a need to part ways with these clients, either through unacceptable conditions or a desire to improve the bottom line. It doesn't matter what level or discipline of horses you work with, sooner or later you are going to part ways with some clients.
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Tackling High-Low Syndrome From The High Side

Pennsylvania farrier finds focusing on getting upright hoof under control first helps bring the feet into closer symmetry

By Todd G Allen posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Diseases

Todd Allen believes aggressively addressing the high foot is the key to bringing high-low feet more into alignment. This horse's feet are coming closer to matching following their third shoeing cycle.
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DVD Notes

Too Much Work at Too Young of an Age is Major Lameness Issue

By Dr. Robert M Miller and Bryce Kawasaki posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Lamenesses

While there are a number of causes of lameness. California equine veterinarian Robert Miller maintains more than half of them are preventable. And he believes a major concern is training and working horses when they are too young.
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Shop Talk

Mustad Celebrates 180 Years in Business

December 1, 2012 | Posted in Business Practices

Now into its seventh generation of family ownership, the Mustad group of companies got its start in 1832 in Norway when Hans Skikkelstad started using water power to work with steel imported from Sweden.
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Spotlight on Hoof Care

Lots of Great Learning at Oklahoma "Hoofcare Essentials Clinic" Sponsored by American Association of Professional Farriers

December 1, 2012 | Posted in Education

AAPF President Jeff Ridley shares his thoughts on support shoes. He says that Z-bar shoes work on dry, solid surfaces and can put pressure on the wrong part of the foot. Ridley prefers heart bars to support the foot and protect problem areas.
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Research Journal: December 2012

By Albert Kane posted on December 1, 2012 | Posted in Diseases

An advanced statistical technique was used to establish and validate an objective method of diagnosing laminitis in donkeys using measurements obtained from a lateromedial radiograph of a selected forefoot.
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American Farriers Journal

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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

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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

The Shoein' Shop 25th Annual Open House & Clinic

Date: 01/11/25

Location: Yucaipa, CA

The Shoein' Shop in Yucaipa, Calif., will host its 25th annual open house and clinic on Jan. 11, 2025.

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American Farriers Journal

December 2012

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