Reflecting on our most engaging content from the past year
To close out 2025, we’re reflecting on a year filled with insight, education, and stories that resonated with farriers across the country. From in-depth print and web articles to podcasts, videos, webinars and social media highlights, our most-read and most-viewed content shows what matters most to the farrier community — from hoof health and best practices to industry news, legal updates and inspiring personal stories.
We’ve gathered our top coverage from the year to share what farriers engaged with most, and we look forward to bringing even more practical, informative and engaging content in 2026. Your feedback and suggestions are always welcome — we’re here to serve you, online and in print. Here’s to another year of healthy hooves, skilled hands and a thriving farrier community!
Most Read Blogs
From federal policy battles to personal stories of loss and perseverance, these blogs captured farriers’ attention in 2025 by tackling the issues shaping the trade.
Ending the Army’s Equid Program is a “Tragedy” By Jeff Cota posted on July 12, 2025 Jeff Cota examined the U.S. Army’s decision to end its Military Working Equid Program, highlighting the loss of historic cavalry traditions, farrier training opportunities and the impact on service members and recruitment.
What if the Farrier Exemption is Abolished? By Jeff Cota posted on October 13, 2025 Jeff Cota explored the AVMA’s updated Model Veterinary Practice Act, explaining why the farrier exemption was preserved, how a small group pushed to remove it and what losing the exemption would have meant for farriers’ independence and daily practice.
USDA Rule Goes Too Far By Jeff Cota posted on March 9, 2025 Jeff Cota denounced soring as an abomination while explaining how the USDA’s expanded Horse Protection Act rule was seen as overreach that punished compliant owners, endangered tens of thousands of equine events and sparked lawsuits and widespread industry backlash.
Keep Your Dream Alive By Jeff Cota posted on April 11, 2025 Jeff Cota recounted the life-long dream of French farrier Lilian Martinez and the tragic accident that ended it, then urged farriers to honor his passion by taking safety precautions to protect themselves while caring for horses.
Most Read Print Articles
Deep-dive clinical features on hoof pathology, trimming standards and long-term case studies made these print articles must-reads for farriers seeking better outcomes.
“Misguided Practices” are Damaging Horses’ Coffin Bones By Randy S Luikart posted on August 19, 2025 Excessively short trimming and shoeing practices were shown to compress and grind horses’ coffin bones, causing soft-tissue damage, bone deformation and chronic pain while exposing cracks in the farrier community’s accepted standards.
Coronitis & Canker: Distinct but Interconnected Equine Hoof Conditions By Esco Buff posted on June 16, 2025 Coronitis, inflammation of the coronary band, can progress to canker — a chronic, proliferative hoof disease — if left untreated, requiring intensive, coordinated care from veterinarians, farriers and owners to manage infection, maintain hygiene and protect the horse from permanent damage and chronic pain.
A Year in the Life of a Horse By Esco Buff posted on August 19, 2025 A Year in the Life of a Horse follows Jackson, a 15-year-old Clydesdale cross gelding, through a full year of hoof care, nutrition, training and veterinary oversight. The series highlights the importance of early detection of subtle hoof changes, collaboration among farriers, veterinarians and owners and the value of meticulous documentation to support long-term soundness, performance and overall equine health.
Shoeing Mismatched Horse Hooves By Stig Haga and Dr. Martin Hjelle on June 16, 2025 Horses with high-low front hooves were found to develop hind-leg and gait imbalances, which improved when targeted trimming and shoeing were applied.
Measuring the Effects of Shoe Placement By Jude Florio posted on October 23, 202 A pilot study tested how shifting horseshoe placement affected breakover. Using motion capture and force plates, researchers found that careful adjustments influenced stance and stride but had minimal impact on overall hoof unrollment, suggesting moderate placement changes optimize performance without extreme interventions.
Most Read Web Articles
Breaking legal rulings, industry polls and practical business topics drove strong traffic to these timely web exclusives.
Court Rules USDA Exceeds its Authority in Horse Protection Act Amendments By Jeff Cota posted on February 3, 2025 A federal judge struck down most of the USDA’s amendments to the Horse Protection Act, ruling that bans on pads, action devices and certain substances went beyond the agency’s authority.
2025 Farriers Week: Farrier Spotlight By American Farriers Journal Staff posted on July 6, 2025 The 13th annual Farriers Week honors farriers worldwide, showcasing tributes that recognize their dedication to quality hoof care and contributions to the equine industry.
Poll: Steel & Aluminum Tariffs By American Farriers Journal Staff posted on February 27, 2025 A monthly AFJ poll asked farriers how the new 25% steel and aluminum tariffs announced in February 2025 might impact their business.
"Trim Only" Charges Outpacing Inflation By Frank Lessiter posted on July 3, 2025 Farriers steadily raised “trim only” prices over the past 30 years, with average fees increasing faster than inflation to cover rising business costs.
What is a Keratoma & How to Identify It By Jenny Hagen posted on February 28, 2025 Keratomas are abnormal keratin masses in the hoof that can cause pressure, distortion or lysis of the coffin bone. They often show as a thickened, semicircular white line and may require imaging like X-rays, CT or MRI for proper diagnosis.
Podcasts in 2025
These top podcasts delivered candid conversations on horse evaluation, stress management and long-term hoof-care case studies.
A Conversation with Mike Stine October 16, 2025 Mike Stine discusses how he evaluates horses, the role riders have in the evaluation, equine movement, continuing education and more.
Stressed Out? Tools to Increase Productivity & Joy September 30, 2025 Dr. Terri Babineau, an associate professor of family medicine at the University of Virginia, discusses how to apply what’s known about the brain to counteract stress in our day-to-day work.
1 Horse, 1 Farrier, 1 Year
September 15, 2025 International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer Esco Buff kicks off a new series, “1 Horse, 1 Farrier, 1 Year,” where we follow a horse and its farrier for one year, chronicling details of its hoof care, veterinary visits, nutrition and more.
Practical how-to videos on certification prep, apprenticeships and shop operations earned the highest view counts of the year.
Managing Your Time During an AFA Certification April 16, 2025 Iowa State farrier Doug Russo explains how to manage your time during the practical portion of an American Farrier's Association (AFA) certification exam. This means knowing how long it takes to shoe your everyday horses and knowing the score sheet going into the exam.
The Value of an Apprenticeship April 11, 2025 Iowa State farrier Doug Russo explains the value of an apprenticeship and how it can set you up for a successful career.
American Farriers Journal Unifies the Industry April 22, 2025 International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer Steve Kraus explains the impact of American Farriers Journal (AFJ) on the trade. AFJ celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025.
Organized & Efficient to Better Serve Farriers w/Oleo Acres: 2025 Supply Shop of the Year November 21, 2025 Oleo Acres Farrier and Blacksmith Supply owner Rob Michel walks viewers through the Littleton, Colo., warehouse. Inventory is organized with the customer in mind. If the product is in stock and easy to find, farriers can spend more time under a horse, which Michel says is more money in your pocket.
1 Horse, 1 Farrier, 1 Year September 15, 2025 International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer Esco Buff kicks off a new series, “1 Horse, 1 Farrier, 1 Year,” where we follow a horse and its farrier for one year, chronicling details of its hoof care, veterinary visits, nutrition and more.
High demand for actionable education drove strong registration for this in-depth webinar on managing thrush in the modern horse
Thrush in the Modern Horse December 3, 2025 David Hallock, the Michigan State University Farrier School lead instructor, discussed thrush in the modern horse. Hallock provides an overview of the condition, the factors contributing to its prevalence and how to implement effective prevention and updated management strategies.
From event coverage to educational highlights, these Facebook posts generated massive reach and engagement across the farrier community.
Most Popular Facebook Reels
Hands-on demonstrations and behind-the-anvil moments helped these Reels rack up tens of thousands of views in 2025.
International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer Roy Bloom demonstrates how he pulls clips.
A recent American Farrier's Association certification, hosted by the Iowa Professional Farriers Association, drew capable, dedicated and hard-working farriers.
At the 2025 International Hoof-Care Summit, Blane Chapman talked about the importance of proper trimming.
Roy Bloom, an International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer, showcases a technique for achieving alternative tap hole placements.
Wisconsin farrier Todd Gillis explains how he saves clients money by using packing foam instead of impression material under pads for additional frog and sole support.
Monica has been working in digital & web production since 2000. She earned certificates in Social Media Marketing and Digital Marketing, as well as a Technical Diploma in Digital Marketing Promotions from Waukesha County Technical College, and began working at Lessiter Media as a Digital Media Intern in the fall of 2024.
Oleo Acres Farrier and Blacksmith Supply owner Rob Michel walks viewers through the Littleton, Colo., warehouse. Inventory is organized with the customer in mind. If the product is in stock and easy to find, farriers can spend more time under a horse, which Michel says is more money in your pocket.
At Doc Foal's, we manufacture The Black Pads and The Black Pads PLUS (featuring embedded magnets and copper). Our hybrid pads work seamlessly with your choice of conventional horseshoe, combining metal for structure with polyurethane for exceptional comfort and shock absorption.
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Equilox International Inc. specializes in equine horse hoof adhesives. Developed in 1988 after many trials and extensive research at leading universities and equine centers throughout the U.S., the Equilox Adhesive Hoof Repair System was originally used to treat competitive horses. Now, Equilox Adhesive is used by farriers, equine centers, and horse owners — as well as various zoo and wildlife centers — throughout the world.
