Jim Hurlburt

Let me introduce you to Jim Hurlburt of Hurlburt’s Farrier Service & JHForge, out of Stowe, Vermont. (In his spare time he designed, developed and now produces a line of high-quality hoof knives.) His son, Justin, a former Marine, has been apprenticing with his Dad for a year now, and is showing real technical promise, and has his father’s quiet, gentle way around horses. They are making a great team.

I first met Jim in April of 2004 at a Gene Ovnicek EDSS/Natural Balance Clinic.  Shadow, my TWH with a long time history of Cushing's/IR, had not been improving from a laminitic bout, even though the acute stage was over, and my Vet, Dr. Randy Frantz of Burlington Equine, felt he would be a good candidate for the Clinic. Jim had been a proponent of the EDSS and Natural Balance for a few years; but, here in upstate New York it was practically unheard of. After Gene and Jim shod him with an EDSS package, he showed an immediate improvement, and I happily went home with a list of instructions for my N.Y. farrier.

Jim continued to help Shadow here and there over the next four years with his especially difficult winter founder bouts. He would always make room in his busy schedule if Shadow needed him.

In the winter of 2008, due to a mistake with a trim, Shadow was in real trouble. I put in a frantic call to Jim....could he come here? Shadow was so bad I couldn’t trailer him – bear in mind, that where Jim lives in Stowe, Vt. is 75 miles and a $50 ferry ride from where I am in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Nevertheless, he dropped everything and was here the next morning. I was in tears – no foot left to put a shoe on. With a big smile he said, “I can fix him.” He literally built him a foot, and with pads, dental impression material, nailed on a pair of EDSS shoes. Shadow breathed a sigh of relief and walked back to his stall! Here was a horse in so much pain he was eating laying down, and there he was walking and looking happy. I couldn’t believe it.

From that day forward Jim has shod Shadow, and he can be a real challenge to keep sound. Jim and Dr. Franz work hand in hand to try and keep the recurring laminitic bouts and subsequent rotation down to a minimum.  Despite my best efforts with drugs, diet, and exercise, Shadow usually has a laminitic episode of varying degrees every winter. We joke that Shadow has had so many x-rays, his feet glow in the dark. Jim is a quick study with a keen engineering mind. He has worked up a pad and shoe package, affectionally called “The Shadow Shoe,” that allows a foundered horse with a minimum of sole depth to walk off sound. Shadow has one centimeter of sole, yet he can walk on No.2 crushed stone without a flinch, and I ride him everywhere.

About three years ago, Jim ended up with a badly herniated disc. I didn’t realize how bad his back was until he hobbled into the barn on crutches! I was aghast that he was even here, much less going to try and shoe Shadow. His apprentice at that time pulled the shoes. Jim got himself over to Shadow, leaned the crutches against Shadow’s side, and with the sweat popping out on his brow, somehow got under Shadow and did his front feet. That is dedication, as he is fond of saying, “It is all about the horse,” and he truly means it.

The farrier has a tough job when it comes to these laminitic/foundered horses. The vet, farrier, and the owner can hopefully get the horse through the acute stage, but after that, everyone looks to the farrier to do his magic on whatever is left of that horse’s feet so that the horse can be comfortable, and hopefully sound. It’s a tall order, one which farriers everywhere strive to fill on a daily basis.

So Jim, for all of the above, for taking my frantic phone calls at all hours and never getting upset, for coming over here on winter roads I wouldn’t have driven on, and for taking the time to figure out how to fix my “old boy,” I am truly appreciative. Shadow and I have been together for 23 years now, and the last five are due to you caring expertise. He is very special to me, and I gratefully thank you.

— Mona Liberty
(Plattsburgh, N.Y.)