When building a house, a solid foundation first must be established to ensure that the structure remains sound for continued long-term use. The same is true for farriery.
Yet, humans are in a hurry. We often want to run before learning to walk. In farrier terms, some want to forge a three-quarter fullered shoe before learning to bend a toe. After shoeing for nearly 40 years, Hank Chisholm of Lucedale, Miss., emphasizes the importance of establishing a solid foundation in the basics of farriery and then relying on it for the rest of your career.

Not only a veterinarian, John Tegzes holds a Master’s degree in psychology. This education and training gives him a vantage point for applying lessons regarding human interaction to his role in the veterinary industry. This unique perspective also provides him with insight into building that crucial team that keeps the horse central. He’s borrowed from the fields of human healthcare and psychology to learn how veterinarians and farriers can best work together.

• Oregon Farrier Joins University of Illinois
• Save Edge to Cease Operations
• American Farrier’s Association Announces Officers and Awards at Convention
• In Memorium

Dave Farley, a farrier based in Wellington, Fla., started a practice decades ago to improve farrier-client communication and understanding. In the 1980s, he began sending his clients a yearly newsletter in early January. The contents of this newsletter could include product usage changes, tips for properly cleaning hoofs or life/business updates, but uniquely, the newsletter also included the price changes Farley was going to enact for the coming year for his services.