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American Farriers Journal

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December 2016

Volume: 42
Edition: 8

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

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    Successful Track Shoeing Requires a Strong Start Out of the Gate

    To take care of the needs of track Thoroughbreds, Kentucky farrier Steve Norman relies on knowledge, skill and a team of horseshoers
    December 5, 2016 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds
    There’s an old saying that time heals all wounds. It is overstated, but it certainly applies to equine athletes. Although not true in every case, many horses recover from a myriad of foot and lower limb problems if given ample time off from training and competition so they can recover. That’s a wonderful thought, but a luxury few track shoers enjoy. Georgetown, Ky., farrier Steve Norman knows that reality all too well. For more than 45 years, he’s handled footcare for Thoroughbreds on the track and at farms. He’s built a practice to where he now primarily works for larger barns and farms.
    Read More
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    Warning Signs Of Shoe Wear

    Paying attention to unusual patterns or changes in this area can help you head off potentially serious soreness issues
    By Pat Tearney posted on December 5, 2016 | Posted in Lamenesses, Shoeing, Trimming
    When experienced farriers check the wear on horseshoes they’ve just removed from a horse, it isn’t just to see whether they can reset them. They’re also looking for valuable information. Four veteran farriers took time to share some of what they’ve gleaned from studying the wear patterns on horseshoes over their careers.
    Read More
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    New Spin On The Steward Clog Keeps Horses Working

    The Klimmick shoe has helped horses with therapeutic needs continue to work in various disciplines
    By Britt Conklin and Micheal L Steward posted on December 5, 2016 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing

    The Steward clog or wooden shoe is well known for its use in laminitis treatment, but it also has proven to be a beneficial system for rehabilitation in a variety of hoof and leg conditions of equids. Farriers must address five entities to alter the 3D planar direction of hoof balance and load (to enhance hoof rehabilitation) —all of which can easily be accomplished using the roller motion Steward clog:


    Read More
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    Farrier Q&A: December 2016

    What’s the best hoof-care tip you received this year?
    December 5, 2016
    A: I had been trimming an off-the-track Thoroughbred with flat feet and progress was slow. His feet wanted to “pancake” and he had thin soles. Once his teeth were floated, his hooves improved dramatically. Now it seems with each trim his feet get more upright and stronger. The mouth is the first step in digestion and helps in nutrient absorption, which invariably benefits the feet.
    Read More
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    Does Grooving Benefit Quarter Cracks?

    Hall Of Fame farrier Bob Pethick challenges its effects on heel displacement
    By Jeff Cota posted on December 5, 2016 | Posted in Anatomy, Education, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming
    Is the practice of grooving beneficial when managing a quarter crack? Conventional wisdom seems to indicate that it does. However, Bed­minster, N.J., farrier Bob Pethick had doubts. So when a client, who happened to be a veterinarian, bought a Quarter Horse with a bleeding quarter crack and a displaced heel quarter on the front foot, the Hall Of Fame farrier was presented with an opportunity to experiment.
    Read More
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    Measurement Of The Hoof-Pastern Axis For Foot Management

    The benefit of this system in the consistency and measurability of the hoof-pastern axis
    By Pete Healey posted on December 5, 2016 | Posted in Anatomy, Shoeing
    As footcare professionals know, the angle formed by the bony column of the phalanges with the hoof wall is referred to as the hoof-pastern axis (HPA), and is considered ideal when the dorsal surface of the hoof is parallel to the alignment of the digital bones (Figure 1).1
    Read More
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    A Prelude To Understanding Duckett’s Dot

    Hall Of Famer Dave Duckett stresses to attendees at the Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners meeting to focus on the science that gives practitioners a common language to work from
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on December 5, 2016 | Posted in Anatomy, Trimming
    There are noteworthy figures in farriery who are closely associated with significant developments. Whether it is a tool, forging technique or creative application, these people left a mark on the industry. But among these, only one name is universally recognized by farriers in association with external reference points of the foot.
    Read More
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    Body Position is Critical to Better Forging

    Consistent stance and arm control will improve your accuracy and efficiency at the anvil
    By Jeff Cota posted on December 5, 2016 | Posted in Education, Equipment, Forging
    Attention is often paid to forging temperatures, hammer blows and anvils, and rightly so. There are other aspects of forging that are equally important, yet don’t get as much consideration. “A lot of people have problems because they’re just all over the place,” Sacramento, Calif., farrier John Williams told attendees at a late summer forging clinic at The Horseshoe Barn. “They’re just spread out all over their anvil. They throw their stock up there, any old place, and then they just take their hammer to the stock.”
    Read More
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    Set the Tone with Clients Before They Join Your Practice

    Hall Of Fame farrier Dave Farley relies on an interview and correspondence to find the right clients for his multi-farrier practice
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on December 5, 2016 | Posted in Business Practices
    When you have a good client, you look forward to getting to that barn. They respect your investment in developing skill and knowledge, appreciate your work with their horses and — although it isn’t about the money — they pay on time, without commentary on the price.
    Read More

    Research Journal: December 2016

    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 December 5, 2016 | Posted in Anatomy, Diseases, Lamenesses
    Researchers studied the specific lamellar pathology associated with laminitis caused by equine Cushing’s disease, also called pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Hooves of 26 horses and ponies were collected following euthanasia or processing for slaughter and divided into those with signs of PPID and laminitis, those with PPID and no clinical signs of laminitis and controls with no clinical signs of PPID or laminitis. Hoof tissues were examined microscopically and circulating insulin, cortisol and glucose were measured.
    Read More
  • Featured Articles

    Featured Articles

    Open_SFL_SNorman_AFJ_1216.jpg

    Successful Track Shoeing Requires a Strong Start Out of the Gate

    To take care of the needs of track Thoroughbreds, Kentucky farrier Steve Norman relies on knowledge, skill and a team of horseshoers
    December 5, 2016 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds
    There’s an old saying that time heals all wounds. It is overstated, but it certainly applies to equine athletes. Although not true in every case, many horses recover from a myriad of foot and lower limb problems if given ample time off from training and competition so they can recover. That’s a wonderful thought, but a luxury few track shoers enjoy. Georgetown, Ky., farrier Steve Norman knows that reality all too well. For more than 45 years, he’s handled footcare for Thoroughbreds on the track and at farms. He’s built a practice to where he now primarily works for larger barns and farms.
    Read More
    OPEN_Fig01a.jpg

    Does Grooving Benefit Quarter Cracks?

    Hall Of Fame farrier Bob Pethick challenges its effects on heel displacement
    By Jeff Cota posted on December 5, 2016 | Posted in Anatomy, Education, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming
    Is the practice of grooving beneficial when managing a quarter crack? Conventional wisdom seems to indicate that it does. However, Bed­minster, N.J., farrier Bob Pethick had doubts. So when a client, who happened to be a veterinarian, bought a Quarter Horse with a bleeding quarter crack and a displaced heel quarter on the front foot, the Hall Of Fame farrier was presented with an opportunity to experiment.
    Read More
    Open_ModM.jpg

    New Spin On The Steward Clog Keeps Horses Working

    The Klimmick shoe has helped horses with therapeutic needs continue to work in various disciplines
    By Britt Conklin and Micheal L Steward posted on December 5, 2016 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing

    The Steward clog or wooden shoe is well known for its use in laminitis treatment, but it also has proven to be a beneficial system for rehabilitation in a variety of hoof and leg conditions of equids. Farriers must address five entities to alter the 3D planar direction of hoof balance and load (to enhance hoof rehabilitation) —all of which can easily be accomplished using the roller motion Steward clog:


    Read More
  • Digital Edition

    Digital Edition

  • Online Extras

    Online Extras

    Online Extras: December 2016 Issue

    December 27, 2016

    Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

    • Videos with Steve Norman discussing Thoroughbred racehorse shoeing
    • Best hoof-care tips of 2016
    • Insight from Dave Duckett
    • Video of forging techniques with John Williams
    • Dave Farley recollects his farriery career

    Read More

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Farrier Education: Heartland Horseshoeing School

Farrier Education: Heartland Horseshoeing School

Farriery requires knowledge and skills to provide proper equine hoof care. In this series, sponsored by VICTORY, American Farriers Journal visits Heartland Horseshoeing School in Lamar, Mo. In this edition, Chris Gregory discussed his journey to becoming an educator, his focus in teaching farrier students and the state of farrier education.

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