American Farriers Journal
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
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Wet Climate Fails To Dampen The Joy Of Farriery
Soggy conditions present plenty of hoof-care challenges for Virginia farrier
Pictured Above:Darren Owen of Suffolk, Va., has been shoeing horses for 18 years. He special-izes in therapeutic work and is a big believer in the use of hoof supplements to promote healthy hooves.
The skies have opened and a steady rain falls on a September morning in the southeastern Virginia countryside.
Folks in the Tidewater region are no strangers to a wet day. They get more than 46 1/2 inches of rain a year, which is almost 8 inches more than what falls on Seattle annually.
While it’s by no means a frog-strangling gully-washer, the rain is steady enough to add more than 1 1/2 inches when the day is done. And, as it is in most corners of the world, a significant rain such as this is the main topic of conversation at Thunderhorse Farm in Zuni, Va.
Farrier Takeaways
- Leaving a proper amount of heel is critical in a wet climate since the horn has a tendency to fold under.
- Pushing in the toe quarter with a rasp helps keep the foot from dragging out and provides the horse with a purchase point.
- An antifungal and antibacterial hoof dressing not only helps keep hooves healthy in a wet environment, it also provides the shine that clients come to expect.
“We’ve had our fair share of rain lately,” says Darren Owen, owner of Indian Fields Farrier Service in Suffolk, Va. “It rained so much one day last week that some downtown Norfolk streets were shut down because they…
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Top Directory Listings
Life Data Labs Inc
Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
Kawell USA
Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.
SmartPak
From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.