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Jeff Cota

Jeff Cota

Jeff Cota has been a writer, photographer and editor with newspapers and magazines for 30 years. A native of Maine, he is the editor of American Farriers Journal.
Articles

ARTICLES

Farrier Licensing: Just The Facts

What does registration, certification and licensing mean for the horseshoeing industry?
By Jeff Cota posted on April 4, 2016 | Posted in Business Practices

When the subject of licensing comes up, there are a multitude of opinions about what it is, what it means and how it should be handled. Sometimes those ideas are rooted in flawed information.


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Keep Your Rasps Sharp And Save

Pennsylvania farrier suggests two techniques to give your tool longer life
By Jeff Cota posted on April 4, 2016 | Posted in Equipment
Steve Teichman and his Chester County Farrier Associates crew get under about 15 horses a day. While that’s great for business, it also means tools and other resources wear out quicker — especially rasps.
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From the Desk of AFJ

Three Steps for Molding Better Clients

By Jeff Cota posted on March 10, 2016 | Posted in Business Practices
Every farrier has at least one client who square dances on your last nerve while wearing 4-inch spike heels. Although it’s tempting to fire an emotional or difficult client, improving your communication skills can go a long way toward improving your practice and keeping an otherwise good paying account.
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Improve Your Tool Efficiency

Proper care and use will make your job easier and boost your bottom line
By Jeff Cota posted on March 7, 2016 | Posted in Equipment, Forging
The earliest evidence of human cultural behavior is the manufacture of tools. Early man was developing tools to make tasks easier for at least 2.6 million years. Oldowan tools — the oldest-known stone tool industry — have been unearthed throughout Africa with the oldest found in Gona, Ethiopia.


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Shoeing for a Living

Horseshoeing’s Engineering Puzzle Charms Finger Lakes Farrier

Kirk Smith enjoys the challenge of balancing the horse’s system of levers and pulleys
By Jeff Cota posted on March 7, 2016 | Posted in Anatomy, Business Practices, Clients, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Equipment, Forging, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Horses have been a staple in Kirk Smith’s life long before he started shoeing horses in Freeville, N.Y.

He always had horses while growing up in the small farming town of Clark in northeastern South Dakota. He cut his teeth working cattle part-time as a high school student and later during his summer breaks while attending Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Along the way, he broke and trained horses.


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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

Life Data Labs Inc

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.
Smart Pak

SmartPak

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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