Tim Tritch and Matthew Gillis often found themselves repeating things to different clients about the care of horses.  Gillis came up with an idea to address that problem and Tritch enthusiastically went along.

The two American Farrier’s Association (AFA) Certified Journeyman Farriers, Tritch from Hudson, Ind., and Gillis from nearby Warsaw, teamed up to produce a client newsletter. The newsletter, which has been around since 1998, has been a success.

Education Is Key

The main purpose of the newsletter,  Echoes of the Anvil, is client education, Tritch says.

“You run into so many situations where the client just doesn’t understand,” he says.

Something For Everyone

The newsletter covers topics such as farrier and horse-owner relationships, lost shoes, leather care, hyperthyroidism, white line disease and clips. The newsletter also includes a mixture of general horse health information, shoeing techniques and a calendar of area equine events. 

Articles also cover weather-related topics for horses.  For instance  a column in one issue addressed traction in the winter. “Poor traction and snowballs build- 

ing up in the soles of horses’ feet prevent many people from enjoying their horses in the winter,” the article reads. It suggests putting Vaseline on the soles of barefoot horses to cut down on snowball buildup. Shod horses, it advises, can be fit with anti-snowball pads to reduce or prevent snowball buildup.

COMMUNICATION GOES A LONG WAY. Tim Tritch and Matthew Gillis produce a newsletter to keep their shoeing clients informed. The Indiana farriers have been offering the publication since…