Several major changes have taken place in recent weeks among suppliers to the hoof-care industry.

• In late October, Simonds International announced its intention to sell its rasp line to Mustad. The transaction is part of an ongoing restructuring by the company to divest its non-core metal cutting and file businesses.

Simonds officials indicated that rasp production would cease at its Newcomestown, Ohio, facility in December 2006, with rasp production being moved to a Mustad operation in Bogota, Columbia. The Ohio rasp production facility employed 39 workers.

• A new player in the horseshoe nail business is Vector Horse Shoe Nails. Available in 5 race, 5 slim and 5 city styles, the competitively priced, rolled process nails are available from Farrier Product Distribution dealers.
• Victory Racing Plate Co. has purchased the Thera-Flex pad line from Tracy & Co. of Lawrenceburg, Ky. Production and distribution has been transferred to the company’s facility in Baltimore, Md., and the Thera-Flex name will remain on all the existing pad products, says Victory’s Dave Erb.
• Mark Clay has renamed his company Mississippi Ag & Farrier Supply and has moved the operation to Flora, Miss. It was formerly called Scott M. Colson’s Shop and was located in nearby Clinton, Miss.

OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS...

• At the age of 14, Cody Gregory recently passed the American Farrier’s Association certified farrier exam. The son of Kelly and Chris Gregory, owners of the Heartland Horseshoeing School at Lamar, Mo., he is probably the youngest person in history to pass the AFA exam.
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