Below are key farrier takeaways from several of the features found in the March 2026 issue of American Farriers Journal.
Practical Solutions for Laminitis & Founder
- The horse’s posture, comfort level and willingness to be handled during laminitis and founder cases help determine what’s realistically possible.
- As pain in the front end begins to resolve, long-standing compensation often shows up in the hind end.
- As inflammation resolves and pain subsides, gradual, controlled movement becomes an essential part of laminitis recovery.
Colorado Farrier Brings a Fresh Perspective to Hoof Care
- Chase Rutledge provides his apprentices with many hands-on learning opportunities to build practical skills, confidence and teach them how failure can be beneficial in the long term.
- Taking bits and pieces from the Equine Lameness Prevention Organization and the American Farrier’s Association has given him the tools to see beyond differences in philosophy to better serve the horse.
- For Rutledge, mentorship goes beyond horseshoeing; it’s about helping young people move through the world with confidence and mental clarity.
Radiographs Lead to a Simplified Reset
- Radiographs reveal a mild but measurable advance of arthritis in the coffin joint and the middle and proximal phalanges.
- The joints’ reduced tolerance for mechanical influence leads to the removal of the use of a pour-in straight bar.
- Jackson’s comfort declined after he was no longer fed HEIRO.
- His comfort level and posture improves in the weeks after the shoeing changes and the return to HEIRO.
The Equine Walk: “Mother of All Gaits”
- The walking gait dwarfs all that can be accomplished at any other gait when a horse is in training.
- The most important factors of the walk are the order of footfalls, the timing of footfalls and the presence or absence of a period of suspension.
- Bending the hind joints and moving the joints elastically flexing with each step are crucial to preserving the horse’s soundness over time.
Preventing & Treating Equine Thrush
- Thrush is an anaerobic bacteria that produces toxins, inflammation and tissue necrosis.
- Unhygienic conditions, poor hoof conformation and inconsistent hoof cleaning promote thrush.
- Diet, exercise, frog interaction and proper trimming help maintain a healthy foot.
- Absorbine Silver Honey Thrush Foam with MicroSilver is a safe and effective treatment.
