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American Farriers Journal

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April 2021

Volume: 47
Edition: 3

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

  • Table Of Contents

    Table Of Contents

    Frankly Speaking: Ride for Your Brand

    By Jeremy McGovern posted on April 5, 2021

    For the farrier industry, poor communication with clients remains a top issue that may significantly damage a practice. It can lead to the loss of business that’s severe enough to cripple one’s livelihood. Clients and prospects often cite “not returning a phone call” as their main gripe with farriers. Many of those offended fail to realize that the inactivity is intentional.


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    Briefings: April 2021

    April 5, 2021

    It might be hard to believe now, but there was a time when Virginia farrier Mike Miller was too intimidated to compete in shoe-making contests. Miller, who was awarded the American Farriers Journal “Most Improved Award” at the conclusion of the World Championship Blacksmiths (WCB) 14th season in December, always admired the skills of the competitors around him, but for many years believed such a high level of skill was out of reach for him.


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    Improve Your Forge Work with the 4 Stages of Learning

    Understanding the “Conscious Competence Ladder’ can help you navigate the highs and lows of learning a skill
    By Tiffany Gardner CJF, APF-I posted on April 6, 2021 | Posted in Forging

    Every person who calls themselves a farrier has been a student of hoof care at some point in their life. There are many who still consider themselves a student, even though they have been an established farrier for many decades.


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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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    How to be Successful When Using Hoof Boots

    Knowledge of alternative footgear options will expand a hoof-care professional’s toolbox
    By Kristen Kubisiak posted on April 7, 2021 | Posted in Equipment

    Farriers and veterinarians agree that one of the most common mistakes that is made when purchasing hoof boots is sizing.

    Hoof boot manufacturers like Texas-based Soft-Ride, offer tools and advice to help take the guesswork out of choosing the correct size for hoof care applications.


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    Hoof Boots Prove Another Option to Help the Horse

    By Albert Villasevil posted on April 7, 2021 | Posted in Education, Equipment

    Hoof boots are one of many useful tools available to hoof-care practitioners. But like most tools, they must be used properly and for the correct job to provide a positive outcome. I work mainly in Spain and find the most common mistakes are made by owners who are not used to hoof boots. Those can easily be avoided by working with a professional hoof-care provider, boot fitter, or experienced farrier who can serve as a guide and teacher.


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    South African Farrier Sees Great Potential in 3D Printing

    Improving technology leads to better quality materials and faster production
    By Jeff Cota posted on April 7, 2021 | Posted in Equipment

    American inventor Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” It’s a sentiment that Derek Poupard can no doubt relate. After all, while he might not approach the more than 1,000 patents that are credited to Edison, the South African farrier has several creations under his belt.


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    How to Make a “Farley” Hospital Plate

    This nine-step instructional will help farriers fabricate a “Farley plate” to help horses in various therapeutic needs.
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on April 8, 2021
    Hospital plates long have been an option for farriers to address issues including puncture wounds, abscesses and keratoma removals, among others. The concept of protection is straightforward, but design and application are only limited by a farrier’s creativity. They can be made using various materials to attach to numerous shoe types.
    Read More

    Tips for Drilling and Tapping Horseshoes

    Save time and money by employing better practices in a deceptively difficult approach
    By Ryen Carlson posted on April 8, 2021 | Posted in Equipment
    Drilling and tapping are skills that are often taken for granted by farriers. It seems so simple that most farriers don’t think much about it at all.
    Read More

    Shop Talk: April 2021

    April 8, 2021

    Industry News

    • In mid-March, organizers of the World Horseshoeing Classic announced that after a 10-year run they are ending the international competition. The contest was coordinated by the Kentucky Horseshoeing School and World Championship Blacksmiths not only drew more than a dozen teams of the best farriers from around the world, its judges were consistently among the most respected. Team Revolution won the competition in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold around the world. The 2021 event, however, was not to be. Like many events before it, the World Horseshoeing Classic was canceled.
    • The Victory Racing Plate Co. announced that Mark Hickcox, CF, of Naples, Fla. has been hired as sales manager. Hickcox has a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University and more than 20 years of sales experience. He is a Heartland Horseshoeing School alumnus and a former full-time farrier in Red Lodge, Mont.

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    Steps to Make a High Scoring Square Toe Horseshoe

    Master shoe modifications before taking the certified farrier exam
    By Justin Frank posted on April 9, 2021 | Posted in Equipment, Forging
    One option for horseshoers who want to advance their education and become better at their craft is to take the American Farrier’s Association Certified Farrier examination. The Certified Farrier exams, which constitute the first level of AFA Certification, are open to farriers who have at least a year of horseshoeing experience and have demonstrated knowledge and skill to perform hoof care on a professional basis.
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    Badass Rigs & Trailers

    Small Trailer Adds to Career Longevity

    Using smaller trailers has saved wear and tear to lengthen Indiana farrier’s shoeing career
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on April 9, 2021 | Posted in Equipment
    Several years ago, Danvers Child didn’t want a new rig. His reasons were justified. A new body or trailer never made the buyer a better farrier after driving it from the manufacturer’s shop. Shoeing since 1972, Child felt with the years remaining in his career, he wouldn’t earn a return on the investment into such an expensive purchase.
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    Research Journal: April 2021

    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 April 10, 2021
    Although not a new disease, coronary band dystrophy (CBD) as described by Dr. Steve O’Grady at the annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners is a relatively unheard of condition. This case series presented the clinical findings and treatment of 18 warmblood or warmblood cross cases of CBD characterized by severe hyperkeratosis of the coronary bands on all four feet.
    Read More
  • Featured Articles

    Featured Articles

    Improve Your Forge Work with the 4 Stages of Learning

    Understanding the “Conscious Competence Ladder’ can help you navigate the highs and lows of learning a skill
    By Tiffany Gardner CJF, APF-I posted on April 6, 2021 | Posted in Forging

    Every person who calls themselves a farrier has been a student of hoof care at some point in their life. There are many who still consider themselves a student, even though they have been an established farrier for many decades.


    Read More
    3D-Printing.jpg

    South African Farrier Sees Great Potential in 3D Printing

    Improving technology leads to better quality materials and faster production
    By Jeff Cota posted on April 7, 2021 | Posted in Equipment

    American inventor Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” It’s a sentiment that Derek Poupard can no doubt relate. After all, while he might not approach the more than 1,000 patents that are credited to Edison, the South African farrier has several creations under his belt.


    Read More
    Open_Hosp.jpg

    How to Make a “Farley” Hospital Plate

    This nine-step instructional will help farriers fabricate a “Farley plate” to help horses in various therapeutic needs.
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on April 8, 2021
    Hospital plates long have been an option for farriers to address issues including puncture wounds, abscesses and keratoma removals, among others. The concept of protection is straightforward, but design and application are only limited by a farrier’s creativity. They can be made using various materials to attach to numerous shoe types.
    Read More
  • Digital Edition

    Digital Edition

  • Online Extras

    Online Extras

    Online Extras: April 2021

    April 12, 2021
    • Other Hospital Plate Ideas See other applications of hospital plates that could prove beneficial in certain therapeutic cases.
    • Incorporating Hoof Boots When clients ask whether hoof boots might be a solution for their horses, what factors should you consider?
    • Applying 3D Printing to Hoof Care Gain more insight on how 3D printing could be applied to hoof care and how farriers might be able to access it.
    • More Forging Insight Watch a video to gain more forging insight from Colorado farrier Justin Frank.

    Read More

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