Every 2 years, we conduct the exclusive American Farriers Journal Farrier Business Practices Survey, which reveals the latest trends and statistics on how hoof-care professionals operate their businesses. In the latest survey published a year ago, part-time farriers represented 26% of the farriers that took the time to answer our 4-page, 70-question survey.

As has been the case for a number of years, there's still considerable interest and controversy among farriers when it comes to the theories behind Duckett's Dot. But there's no doubt the concept has played a key role in the evaluation of the horse's hoof.

Members of the United Kingdom's Farriers Registration Council (FRC) in late June pointed farrier training in an entirely new direction. That's when FRC members voted to disband the National Farrier Training Agency (NFTA) and hand the country's required farrier training over to three colleges that are already training farriers.

Some farriers are finding the 3-day ban on the use of drugs and medications is becoming a more serious issue when working with high-level horses. This is particularly true of those that that need immediate hoof repairs to keep competing. And a big question is whether we'll see a trickle-down effect at more shows that will impact shoers.