July/August 2020

American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.

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Table Of Contents

Table Of Contents

Frankly Speaking: Planning for the Unexpected

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 1, 2020

If a horse injured you tomorrow and you were no longer able to work as a farrier, what is Plan B? Maybe that injury is so severe that you not only can’t work as a farrier, but you are also physically unable to work in another occupation. What would the day after tomorrow look like?
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Briefings: July/August 2020

July 1, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

A number of farrier industry companies have been trying to limit the financial reach of 2 years’ worth of escalating costs that have come in the wake of tariffs and quotas imposed on steel and aluminum imports into the United States.
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Biosecurity Protocols Limit Disruptions for Indiana Farrier During COVID-19 Pandemic

Effective client communication keeps Cody Bogard’s focus on providing solid hoof care

By Cody Bogard posted on July 1, 2020

Providing hoof care during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in central Indiana was minimally disruptive to my business — partly because downtime was limited, but also because my practice already had biosecurity measures in place.
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Strategies for Troubleshooting Soft Tissue Injuries in the Western Performance Horse

Thorough lameness evaluations and thoughtful shoeing prescriptions play a key role in helping horses recover from soft tissue injuries

By Allison Armstrong Rehnborg posted on July 2, 2020 | Posted in Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

From platelet-rich plasma to tendon splitting and beyond, there is a plethora of effective therapies available for veterinarians to treat soft tissue injuries in horses. These therapies work to speed healing in the soft tissues by addressing inflammation, increasing blood flow and more — but there is another aspect of care that assists with healing.
Read More

Observations

Think Again Before Trimming a Negative Palmar Angle Foot

Has the reliance on radiographs removed common sense before we pick up a foot?

By Randy S Luikart posted on July 2, 2020 | Posted in Trimming

This year marks my 55th year of shoeing horses. Techniques have changed several times throughout that career based on subjective evaluation and misleading science. We now live in the age of information (and misinformation), and those who force their opinions on our farriery practices are expanding. Throw in a measure of “how-to” by owners and veterinarians who don’t shoe horses for a living, yet feel the need to tell us how to do it anyway. Fortunately, knowledge will help weed out the stupid stuff.
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What Influences a Farrier’s Shoe Choice?

Farrier Wayne Preece discusses shoe types and criteria for choosing the right application.

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 2, 2020

British farrier Wayne Preece has worked as the resident farrier at a veterinary hospital, taught those aspiring to become farriers and conducted research to benefit our understanding of footcare. Reflecting on his 35 years in the trade, he simplifies his resume.
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Farrier-Client Partnership Brings Horse Back to Soundness

Infection, dead coffin bone and contralateral limb rotation test Florida farrier’s skills and client’s follow-through

By Clayton Wilber posted on July 3, 2020

This case involves my client Heidi Thompson’s 18-month-old filly, Maybeline. On June 9, 2017, she was turned out after it had been raining. She was out in the arena because it offered the driest surface at that time. Maybeline managed to find a puddle and slip. Her foot went under a wire fence, which lacerated the medial side of her hoof.
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Pressure Plate Analysis Measures Dynamic Weight Distribution

Ghent University researcher’s findings can influence trimming and shoeing for individual hoof-care cases

By Katie Navarra posted on July 3, 2020 | Posted in Education, Equipment, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Human medicine and athletic stores rely on visual maps to recommend orthotics or sneaker styles based on a person’s gait. Pressure plates measure how an individual distributes their weight as they walk or run and converts that data into a graphic interpretation. That information is used to pair the right support or shoe style for specific gait pattern or abnormality to reduce the risk for injury.
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Simple but Effective Ways to Shear Bar Stock

Bruce Daniels’ techniques continue to hold up more than 40 years later

By Jeff Cota posted on July 3, 2020 | Posted in Equipment, Forging

Communication between farriers was few and far between when Henry Heymering published the first issue of American Farriers Journal in 1975. Many shoers of that era recall counterparts packing up their tools when they arrived at a barn out of fear that their techniques might close the expertise gap. As a result, experience and ingenuity were largely relied upon to improve everyday work and efficiency.
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Effects of Trimming on Shape and Dimensions of the Hoof Capsule as Well as on the Phalangeal Alignment

Focus should be on biomechanics, the horse and its environment

By Jenny Hagen posted on July 4, 2020

No other routine procedure carried out on horses has more impact on soundness and performance than hoof trimming and shoeing. The main goals of hoof trimming are to promote the soundness of the hooves and the limbs, to support the biomechanical efficiency, and maintain functionality of the equine foot.
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Equine Reciprocating Systems: Do You Know the Nuts and Bolts of the “Orthopedic Trim?”

Farriers test their knowledge about how the forelimb functions

By Deb Bennett posted on July 4, 2020

Over much of the past year, through this series I have presented the building blocks of information needed to understand the structure of the forelimb reciprocating apparatus in horses. Starting from collagen and elastin at the molecular level and working through all the various connective tissues structured by those two molecules, you have had the opportunity to learn equine anatomy and terminology as enrolled university zoology, pre-medicine or pre-veterinary majors would.
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Spring 2020 Data Shows Farriers Largely Unaffected by COVID-19

Farriers report that COVID-19 has resulted in the same number or more clients seeking service

By Jeremy McGovern posted on July 4, 2020

Most of the United States began their late spring figuring out how to return to some normalcy from the measures taken to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19. While businesses in some states were reopening under guidelines on providing an environment that would limit the spread of the virus, others were less certain.
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Shop Talk: July/August 2020

July 5, 2020 | Posted in Anatomy, Business Practices, Education, Shoeing

Two farriers, Lee Collins and Peter Day, recently co-authored a paper that was published in The Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. The paper, which is titled “The Effect on Tungsten Road Nails on Locomotor Biomechanics in Horses Moving on Tarmac Surface,” examines how road nails impact the horse’s movement symmetry.
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Research Journal: July/August 2020

The information, ideas and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the United States Department of Agriculture.

By Albert Kane posted on July 5, 2020 | Posted in Anatomy, Disciplines & Breeds, Education, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Trimming

Swiss researchers surveyed 133 Icelandic competition horses at four international horse shows to assess the relationships between hoof size, shape and balance, and the occurrence of hoof pathology and athletic performance. Measurements and radiographs of the left front and hind hooves were taken at the competitions with additional measurements made from the radiographs at a later date.
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Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Biosecurity Protocols Limit Disruptions for Indiana Farrier During COVID-19 Pandemic

Effective client communication keeps Cody Bogard’s focus on providing solid hoof care

By Cody Bogard posted on July 1, 2020

Providing hoof care during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in central Indiana was minimally disruptive to my business — partly because downtime was limited, but also because my practice already had biosecurity measures in place.
Read More

Observations

Think Again Before Trimming a Negative Palmar Angle Foot

Has the reliance on radiographs removed common sense before we pick up a foot?

By Randy S Luikart posted on July 2, 2020 | Posted in Trimming

This year marks my 55th year of shoeing horses. Techniques have changed several times throughout that career based on subjective evaluation and misleading science. We now live in the age of information (and misinformation), and those who force their opinions on our farriery practices are expanding. Throw in a measure of “how-to” by owners and veterinarians who don’t shoe horses for a living, yet feel the need to tell us how to do it anyway. Fortunately, knowledge will help weed out the stupid stuff.
Read More

Strategies for Troubleshooting Soft Tissue Injuries in the Western Performance Horse

Thorough lameness evaluations and thoughtful shoeing prescriptions play a key role in helping horses recover from soft tissue injuries

By Allison Armstrong Rehnborg posted on July 2, 2020 | Posted in Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing

From platelet-rich plasma to tendon splitting and beyond, there is a plethora of effective therapies available for veterinarians to treat soft tissue injuries in horses. These therapies work to speed healing in the soft tissues by addressing inflammation, increasing blood flow and more — but there is another aspect of care that assists with healing.
Read More
Digital Edition

Digital Edition

For Digital Subscribers: Login To Your Digital Flipbook Of The July/August 2020 Issue

July 1, 2020

Now view magazine-like digital flipbooks on your desktop and tablet. Starting in 2015 issues, included for FREE with your Digital or Premium subscription, view the magazine on your laptop, tablet, and mobile device. You need to be logged in to view.
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Online Extras
Online Extras
Online Extras: July/August 2020

July 12, 2020

Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

Improve Biomechanical Function – British farrier Wayne Preece discusses techniques to help horses compensate for conformational issues.

Forging Tips from Bob Marshall – Gain more insight on forging mechanics from International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame farrier Bob Marshall who emphasizes hoof-care fundamentals.

The Limb-Length Link – A study aims to determine whether there is a link between limb length disparity and asymmetrical feet.

When to Increase Your Rates – California farriers Shane Westman and Alex Garcia share their business insights in an AFJ webinar and podcast.

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