When American Farriers Journal readers provided data for the 2008 Farrier Business Practices Survey (see Pages 19 to 28), they were asked to estimate the percentage of horses living in their area that get different levels of hoof care. Here’s how the national averages worked out:

Having loyal clients is a key to running any successful footcare business, but sometimes you have to work closely with them, maintains Karen Trebitz. Operating in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, the East Stroudsburg, Pa., farrier says her area of the Poconos has been known over the years for its vacation resorts.

When I was in horseshoeing school, the slipper shoe treatment for navicular disease seemed like just the ticket. The idea was that by beveling the hoof surface of the shoe from the quarters back to the heels, you would force the heels outward and relieve the compression stresses on the internal structures of the hoof.