For the farrier industry, the surge in equine activity was a business blessing to come out of COVID. While other business segments were negatively affected, the farrier industry largely has experienced a positive impact.
There have been significant changes to farriery over the past half-century. Advancements in products and technology have improved the farrier’s ability to work with horses and earn greater income. Among these innovations, freely sharing footcare knowledge ranks at the top.
Adam Fahr's article on tuning a punch in the March issue of American Farriers Journal is a reminder of how tough farriers are on their tools, as well as the need for maintaining them. A well-crafted and maintained tool repays your investment many times over.
By the nature of the business, farriery is a dangerous job in which your fate can change without warning. Even the most skillful horseperson is one horse away from loss of career or worse. Beyond the horse, factor in the equipment carried on a shoeing rig and used on a daily basis.
Results from recent surveys of both horse owners and farriers indicate there are more positive signs for growth in the equine industry than we’ve seen in nearly a decade. While we’re not yet ready for a return to the glory times that took place prior to the 2008 recession, there’s data to indicate better times are ahead for farriers, footcare product suppliers, horse owners and trainers alike.
Among social media sites, Facebook far and away is the most popular among farriers. In part, this popularity is based on two benefits of Facebook: promoting businesses on a local level and discussing footcare with peers on an international stage. But there is a responsibility to conduct oneself as a professional on Facebook to protect that business.
At the 2015 International Hoof-Care Summit, Dave Farley delivered the closing remarks, which fired up attendees to return home and work to excel in their footcare practices. The short presentation hit the mark and several attendees say that it was a highlight of their experience. You can hear that speech in its entirety at americanfarriers.com/farleyspeech.
Topics on farrier-veterinarian relationships always are popular discussions and can often stir up a hornet’s nest. When it does, the speaker tends to focus on the differences of responsibilities and how the two professions should interact.
Let's say you have a teenager who has grown up around horses and seems interested in pursuing a career in the equine industry. He or she has watched you succeed as a farrier and also has seen all the good work your family's veterinarian has done to keep horses in good health.
Rich Lomen and Nate Stener need a warm, dry, efficient farrier rig to shoe 550 sport horses in frigid Minnesota. Their solution is a Dodge Ram 2500 ProMaster outfitted by Bay Horse Innovations.
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 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.
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.