Articles by David Hazlett CJF

177-SFL_Blane-Chapman_0619.jpg

A Farrier’s Legacy

Passing on your hoof-care knowledge leaves an indelible mark on the industry

It occurred to me a long time ago that no matter how diligent you are in your work, no matter how much energy you put into improving your skills and enlarging your knowledge of the trade, 6 weeks after you put down the last foot with one of your shoes on it, there will no longer be any physical sign of what you did for a career. 


Read More
propane-forges-improved-efficiency.jpg
The Way It Was

Education and Entertainment When Lighting a Forge

The never-ending push for farriers to improve efficiency in their practice
Sometime in the early ’80s, Scott Simpson was running the farrier education program at Walla Walla Community College. I knew him well from taking an individual studies class during the previous winter. I wanted to improve my forging skills and Scott let me sign up for the class, but, having had 8 years in the field at that time, I worked apart from the regular class at the anvil rather than under horses.
Read More
The Way It Was

The Carrot Trick

A horse learns about its farrier's tricks
There are stories that stick with us from our time working. We don’t even have to experience the tales ourselves, as simply hearing them returns us to the setting of the story.
Read More
Way-It-Was_AFJ_Art.jpg
The Way It Was

First Day of Class

Learning Curve in a Southern Oregon Shoeing School
As I reached out to open the door of the nondescript building, it opened in my face. A man, the spitting image of Hoss Cartwright (think of the TV show Bonanza, for those under 50), down to the 10-gallon hat, fished about a half ounce of chaw from his lower lip, deposited it neatly on the winter-bare ground and said, “Come on in!”
Read More
The Way It Was

Vision Comes Through Experience

Watching a Thoroughbred trot gave a young shoer a lesson about age and wisdom.
In the farrier world, there is an impressive list of legends. But there are the shoers who work quietly for decades, often somewhere in the backcountry — certainly far out of the spotlight. Those farriers still manage to acquire a sterling reputation for their ability to successfully tackle any number of challenges.
Read More

The Test

Decades later, the appreciation of this early shoeing challenge remains with the farrier
Decades later, the appreciation of this early shoeing challenge remains with the farrier.
Read More

Top Articles

Current Issue

View More

Current Issue

View More

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

View More
Top Directory Listings