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Articles by Frank Lessiter

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Soring

Time To Eliminate Soring

The use of new technology is going to make it easier to detect soring and pressure shoeing violations during show inspections
By Frank Lessiter posted on December 1, 2008 | Posted in Education
Whether soring is less of a concern than it used to be pretty much depends on whom you are talking with. But many of the folks who maintain that soring and pressure shoeing are still major concerns in the Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH) industry and with several other breeds, readily admit that the practice has gotten much more sophisticated and tougher for inspectors to identify.
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Farrier Finances

Farrier Finances Toeing the Line

Data from last summer’s American Farriers Journal survey indicates the shoeing business is reflecting the country’s economic problems
By Frank Lessiter posted on November 1, 2008 | Posted in Business Practices
Reflecting the overall economy of the United States, the average American farrier has struggled to gain financial ground over the past 2 years.
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Get Paid for Driving

An e-mail survey of American Farriers Journal readers indicates that many respondents are adding trip fees, fuel charges or mileage fees to footcare invoices
By Frank Lessiter posted on November 1, 2008 | Posted in Business Practices
Call it a trip fee, barn call, flat mileage charge, fuel surcharge or whatever. Regardless of how you define it, more farriers than ever before are looking at charging the fee as a means to keep fuel and other costs in line.
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Soring

Serious Challenges To Ending Soring

It will take a large amount of additional dollars and more industry and government intervention to solve today’s pressure shoeing and soring concerns
By Frank Lessiter posted on November 1, 2008 | Posted in Education

While soring has been banned for 38 years under the government’s Horse Protection Act (HPA), Donna Benefield maintains there’s been a lack of desire to bring about needed change.


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Tom Trosin

Avoid These Costly Errors!

Paying attention to these guidelines will help you avoid costly mistakes in your footcare operation
By Frank Lessiter posted on November 1, 2008 | Posted in Business Practices
After 22 years of shoeing, Tom Trosin maintains he’s made almost all of the mistakes a farrier could possibly make in running a business.
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Soring

Pressure Mounts To End Soring

Some members of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry maintain only a few bad apples are involved, but for others, soring is still a major concern
By Frank Lessiter posted on September 1, 2008 | Posted in Education
Many in the Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH) industry maintain less soring and pressure shoeing is taking place than in the past. Others aren’t so sure, citing evidence that indicates that the banned practices are still all too common among high-level horses.
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Calgary

Brazilian Captures Mail-In Forging Exercise Honors

This unique forging exercise helps shoers improve their forging skills and leads to higher quality day-to-day hoof-care work
By Frank Lessiter posted on September 1, 2008 | Posted in Forging
After participating in the Calgary mail-in forging exercise for 6 years, Flavio Souza captured top honors this year. The Brazilian farrier from Serra Negra, San Paulo, says earning this honor is one of the highlights of his shoeing career.
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Truck

No Easy Fuel Choice for Shoeing Rigs

Whether it’s diesel, gas, propane or waste vegetable oil, there’s no consensus among horseshoers as to the best fuel for their trucks
By Frank Lessiter posted on September 1, 2008 | Posted in Equipment
With diesel now costing more than gas, many farriers are convinced that a gas-powered rig is the best way to go. Yet there are still some distinct advantages for driving a diesel-powered truck.
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Quarantined

Epidemic Hit Shoers' Pocketbooks Hard

Australian farriers lost an average of 76 days work during a 7-month long equine-influenza quarantine
By Frank Lessiter posted on July 1, 2008 | Posted in Diseases
If a serious equine disease outbreak were to limit your travel and work, let’s hope you don’t find yourself in the same situation as Bryn Jones. After an equine influenza (EI) outbreak hit Australia last August, the “down-under” farrier lost 130 days of work over the next 7 months.
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Farrier Education: Heartland Horseshoeing School

Farrier Education: Heartland Horseshoeing School

Farriery requires knowledge and skills to provide proper equine hoof care. In this series, sponsored by VICTORY, American Farriers Journal visits Heartland Horseshoeing School in Lamar, Mo. In this edition, Chris Gregory discussed his journey to becoming an educator, his focus in teaching farrier students and the state of farrier education.

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