The urge to tinker with something seems as much a part of being a farrier as is the smell of hoof smoke.

We thought this issue devoted to products for horseshoers was an appropriate place to say a few words about safety.

THE TRADE SHOWS of 2004 allowed farriers to “hold and feel” several of the newer improvements unveiled by manufacturers.

CHRONIC LAMINITIS challenges veterinarians and farriers to improve function in a foot with substantial, possibly permanent structural changes. Chief among these is displacement of the third phalanx (P3), which is responsible for the hallmarks of chronic laminitis: chronic lameness, recurrent foot abscesses and abnormal hoof wall growth.

FARRIERS CAN DO the vast majority of their work without consulting a veterinarian. Conversely, equine vets can do a lot of their work without getting together with a horseshoer.

Racing from barn to barn, working on horses well after dark and spending numerous hours doing the bookwork for your business doesn’t leave you a lot of time to get the recognition you so rightly deserve. Knowing the humble mindset of horseshoers – you’d probably like to keep it that way.