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Laura Gillespie

Laura Gillespie

Laura Gillespie is an Athens, Ala., farrier who specializes in therapeutic hoof care and shoes English sport horses, as well as reiners and fox hunters.

Articles

ARTICLES

Denoix Suspensory Front.jpg

Options for Supporting an Injured Suspensory Ligament

Knowledge and skill necessary for these therapeutic techniques
By Laura Gillespie and Mike Hayward posted on September 10, 2021 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing

Time after time, equine athletes fill our senses with wonder at their abilities while competing. Their speed and jumping prowess thrill equestrians and fans alike. Yet, like their human counterparts, their bodies can fail. Excessive stress and repetitive strain can result in an injury to the suspensory ligament, superficial flexor tendon, inferior check ligament and sesamoidean ligaments.


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traditional Z-bar shoe on horses foot farriers point of view

How to Float Heels and Heel Quarters

Farriers of all skill levels can achieve the benefits of the Z-bar horseshoe
By Laura Gillespie and Mike Hayward posted on July 3, 2021 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing
The Z-bar is a versatile shoe that can be used when it’s necessary to relieve weight-bearing in the heel quarter or the heel as a result of an injury or insult. It can be used to float sore, sheared and lacerated heels. It can aid the healing of quarter cracks by allowing the hairline to drop. It’s also beneficial for shoeing hoof avulsions; abscesses; corns and infected or fractured bars.
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What are Your Options for Achieving the Benefits of a Sidebone Shoe?

Alternatives are affordable, but forging experience is a must
By Laura Gillespie and Mike Hayward posted on April 6, 2021 | Posted in Therapeutic Shoeing
As the old saying goes, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. When we apply that proverbial saying to farriery, we find that it certainly applies to shoeing horses, as well. When a horse presents with a problem that a farrier must address, each case is an individual journey with multiple paths to a destination.
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Tool Tips: Tuning Your Pritchel to a Punch

Tool Tips: Tuning Your Pritchel to a Punch

Campbell, Texas, farrier and American Farriers Team member Sawyer Spradling demonstrates his approach to tuning a distorted pritchel to a punch, a skill that has served him well when he travels to clinics and competitions.
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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.
Kawell

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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