Canadian farrier Andrew DeVisser (right) works side-by-side with English farrier Jordi Crusellas Dot (left) while taking part in the American Farrier’s Association Cultural Exchange program.

AFA Cultural Exchange Gives Ontario Farrier Insight On Modern Materials

An impression by farriers elsewhere of their United Kingdom counterparts usually gravitates toward the tradition of farriery. While on the American Farrier’s Association Cultural Exchange, Ontario shoer Andrew DeVisser found that modern materials are an important part of many practices, which gave him a better understanding about using glue. He pointed to his experiences working with Huw Dyer and Martin Elliot as helping improve his work with glues.

“I was able to solve a lot of the problems I was having working with acrylics and rebuilding feet,” he says. “Being in a wet climate, they have to be able to help get poor quality feet back. Primarily, I learned that foot preparation is essential — the foot has to be completely cleaned, so any dust or debris should be removed. It is important to understand that different glues you use may have different optimum temperatures for setting up.”

He learned that picking up on seemingly minor points like ration of fiberglass strands or time mixing in relation to temperature have significant impacts.

“It might not make or break it, but will definitely improve the strength and quality of the rebuild you are trying to do,” he says.

You can listen to more on DeVisser’s experiences and other aspects of the Cultural Exchange on the AFJ…