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Articles by Jeff Cota

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Don’t Let The Hinds Become An Afterthought

English farrier explains how he assesses a horse behind for conformation and balance
By Jeff Cota posted on January 6, 2018 | Posted in Education, Lamenesses
Assessing a horse’s conformation is a staple for farriers, and for good reason. Certain conformations offer an understanding of movement, wear and potential lamenesses. “We’re all familiar with different types of conformation in the front limbs,” English farrier Sam Head told attendees at the mid-November Thoro’Bred Extravanza in Anaheim, Calif. “But how many of us truly consider the same in the horse’s hind?”
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SHOEING FOR A LIVING

Freedom Is The Nature Of His Business

Oregon farrier molds his practice to provide quality hoof-care, while enjoying the High Desert of the Pacific Northwest
By Jeff Cota posted on January 6, 2018 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing
“I own my business — it doesn’t own me.” Kurt Fisk lives by this max­im. The Bend, Ore., farrier has found that he’s much happier and successful in his hoof-care practice as a result.
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Learn How to Forge a “Hall of Fame” Heel

California farrier John Williams offers tips and insights for creating the clean and versatile Bob Marshall-style heel check
By Jeff Cota posted on December 4, 2017 | Posted in Forging
Forging a heel check for many farriers is old hat. It’s such a part of the routine that sometimes not a lot of thought is invested into it. There’s another style of heel check, though, that Sacramento, Calif., farrier John Williams prefers when forging horseshoes.
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Bringing the Hoof to Scientific Research

AFA Research Committee offers tips to make literature easier to understand
By Jeff Cota posted on December 4, 2017 | Posted in Education
When paging through farriery texts that are more than a century old, readers will note that much of the knowledge that’s contained within is not so different than what is taught today.
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Frankly Speaking: How Regulation May Arrive

By Jeff Cota posted on December 4, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices, Education
When discussing licensing and regulation of an industry in the United States, farriers often think of direct oversight — a government-approved agency to pass rules specific for the trade. This is a reality affecting a minority of farriers, such as certain states requiring track shoers to carry a license.
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From The Desk Of AFJ

How Farrier Regulation Might Arrive

By Jeff Cota posted on November 24, 2017 | Posted in Business Practices
When discussing licensing and regulation of an industry in the United States, farriers often think of direct oversight — a government-approved agency to pass rules specific for the trade. This is a reality affecting a minority of farriers, such as certain states requiring track shoers to carry a license. However, for the majority of the industry, government regulation of the trade still doesn’t exist.
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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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Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
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Kawell USA

Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.
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From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.
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