Articles by Nicholas B Denson

Foot Notes

Tradition Vs. Traditionalism

By Nicholas B Denson posted on December 12, 2025 | Posted in Education

Tradition vs. traditionalism in farriery is one of those arguments that feels like a Sunday sermon wrapped neatly in barbed wire: everyone’s got an opinion, most of them loud, and half the congregation is convinced the other half is going to ruin horses, the industry, and probably Western civilization in the process.

Farrier Tip

Every Horse Has Different Needs — So Switch It Up

By Nicholas B Denson posted on September 5, 2025 | Posted in Education, Shoeing

Technology is great. It’s a tool, not a crutch. There’s a reason I love diagnostics, but I don’t treat them as the unquestionable truth. Use these tools to guide your thinking, but never let them think for you.

Farrier Tip

Question Everything, Especially When You Think You’ve Found a Solution

By Nicholas B Denson posted on February 21, 2025 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing

How many times have you been sure of a vet’s diagnosis — or of your gut feeling, only to be proven wrong later? Yeah, me too. It’s humbling, and it just plain sucks. The problem isn’t the mistake; it’s the certainty that got you there.

Thinking Outside the Box in Farriery

One professional’s approach for finding solutions to hoof-care problems

By Nicholas B Denson posted on December 18, 2024 | Posted in Diseases, Lamenesses, Nutrition, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Let’s get one thing straight — our job isn’t just to make the hoof look pretty or prevent a horse from limping around like it’s in a bad Spaghetti Western.

Farrier Tip

Prepare to Work Outside Your Comfort Zone at a Vet Clinic

By Nicholas B Denson posted on November 20, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Diseases, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

So, you want to shoe for a veterinary clinic? There are several things you should know and do to make shoeing for a vet clinic worth your while, but it’s important to understand that you will need to be prepared to work outside your comfort zone.

Make Shoeing for a Vet Clinic Worth Your While

Prepare for the ups and downs to make your venture successful

By Nicholas B Denson posted on November 11, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices

Working in a clinical veterinary setting is much different than a normal day-to-day shoeing practice, and it poses interesting challenges that aren’t present in your normal life. Winston Churchill, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, once said, “Sometimes doing your best is not good enough. Sometimes you must do what is required.” This quote is appropriate for the topic and we can break it down into two different parts.

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Types Of Horses

By Nicholas B Denson posted on September 11, 2015 | Posted in Clients, Safety & Healthcare

Horses all have unique behaviors and personalities. We deal with these variations on a daily basis as farriers. One day, I had a funny conversation with a vet that I work with. He said something about a horse we were working on and I thought it'd be funny to put names to the different types.

Infrared Thermography: Fun Toy or Practical Tool?

Two case studies show how smartphone infrared cameras could be used by farriers

By Nicholas B Denson posted on July 3, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Equipment, Therapeutic Shoeing

Is there a practical use for thermal imagery within a farrier practice? That point can be debated. However, with access to technology and the increasing affordability of said technology, it certainly is a possibility now on smartphones.

Navicular or Not?

Farrier argues that many “navicular” lameness are actually caused by something else — that requires a different trimming and shoeing approach

By Nicholas B Denson posted on December 1, 2008 | Posted in Diseases

Navicular disease is a term that all farriers are familiar with. But what is it? I’d argue that it is better defined as a syndrome than a disease.

Neglect and Hoof-Capsule Distortion

Proper trimming and shoeing provide quick results in this case study

By Nicholas B Denson posted on July 1, 2007 | Posted in Lamenesses, Shoeing, Trimming

Frequently, I'm asked to work on horses that have been rescued from either an abusive situation or from a clueless horse owner (which can be one and the same).

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Using Radiographs to Evaluate Horse Hoof Conformation

Should Horses go Barefoot or Shod?

Prepare for the Inevitable Injury

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Organized & Efficient to Better Serve Farriers w/Oleo Acres: 2025 Supply Shop of the Year

Oleo Acres Farrier and Blacksmith Supply owner Rob Michel walks viewers through the Littleton, Colo., warehouse. Inventory is organized with the customer in mind. If the product is in stock and easy to find, farriers can spend more time under a horse, which Michel says is more money in your pocket.

Events

Sheehan Equine Farrier Clinic

Date: 06/06/26

Location: Laurel, MT

Sheehan Equine is hosting a farrier clinic June 6-7, 2026, in Laurel, Mont. The clinician is Blane Chapman.

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Sunrise Farrier Supply

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Equilox International

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Articles by Nicholas B Denson

Tradition Vs. Traditionalism

Every Horse Has Different Needs — So Switch It Up

Question Everything, Especially When You Think You’ve Found a Solution

Thinking Outside the Box in Farriery

Prepare to Work Outside Your Comfort Zone at a Vet Clinic

Make Shoeing for a Vet Clinic Worth Your While

Types Of Horses

Infrared Thermography: Fun Toy or Practical Tool?

Navicular or Not?

Neglect and Hoof-Capsule Distortion

Top Articles

Current Issue

American Farriers Journal

Using Radiographs to Evaluate Horse Hoof Conformation

Should Horses go Barefoot or Shod?

Prepare for the Inevitable Injury

Current Issue

Special Report For Equine Veterinarians

Must Read Free Eguides

Videos

Organized & Efficient to Better Serve Farriers w/Oleo Acres: 2025 Supply Shop of the Year

Events

Sheehan Equine Farrier Clinic

Doc Foal's | The Black Pads

Sunrise Farrier Supply

Equilox International