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American Farriers Journal

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December 2022

Volume: 48
Edition: 8

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: Invest in Your Professional Development

    By Jeremy McGovern posted on December 2, 2022 | Posted in Business Practices

    With winter almost here, I think about how blessed I’ve been to attend outstanding national events led by industry associations. In late September, I headed to New York for the Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners’ Saratoga Vet & Farrier Conference. This annual event features insightful lectures and wet labs. The following month, Yoder Blacksmith Supplies hosted the International Association of Professional Farrier’s Hoofcare Essentials gathering in Fredericksburg, Ohio. 


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    Shoeing for a Living

    Arabian Show Horse Farrier Plays the Angles

    Oregon farrier Zach Morris keeps mounts sound through challenges of shoeing rules and conformational faults
    By Jeff Cota posted on December 3, 2022 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Forging, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

    These are busy days for Zach Morris.
    The Lyons, Ore., farrier is logging significant miles — both on the road and in the air — as several of his clients will be making the trek to Tulsa, Okla., for the United States National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show. With a little more than 2 weeks before the show, Morris has his work cut out for him.


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    2023 Mail-In Deadline Coming Up

    The 2023 Summit Mail-In Forging Exercise will earn a winner a buckle and all participants a T-shirt for making this horseshoe
    By Craig Trnka posted on December 4, 2022 | Posted in Forging, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing

    The 2023 International Hoof-Care Summit celebrates its 20th anniversary at this January’s event. This is also the ninth Summit Mail-In Forging Exercise, so I wanted to create a good challenge of solid forging elements for you. But as much as I want to push you out of your comfort zone with this exercise, I also want to create a practical shoe that you might find useful under the right circumstances. This is the perfect marriage: challenging your skill set and a finished product that can help a horse with a specific problem. Of course, we never want to apply a shoe that isn’t suitable for the horse or its needs.



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    How Floatation Helped Two Horses

    Two cases featuring a Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred show examples of how floating the heels can help a horse
    By Todd G Allen posted on December 4, 2022 | Posted in Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing

    I’ve worked on many horses throughout my career that I just couldn’t seem to get to grow any heel on their low-heeled foot. If they did, they would crush it, or the base of the foot would be pushed forward.
    Using methods that are already widely accepted throughout the industry, I will offer a unique approach that could help improve these types of feet. 


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    Horse Foot Balance is Verified

    Scientific research easily defines and proves hoof balance is understood
    By Doug Butler posted on December 4, 2022 | Posted in Anatomy, Education, Trimming

    Recently it has become popular for some farrier and veterinary clinicians to speak of horse foot balance as “not easily definable,” “not well understood,” and even “controversial.” They apparently are unaware of the vast body of published empirical evidence and scientific research verifying the principles of balance. Or, they have chosen to ignore such and have a favorite shoe or technique they desire to sell that is based upon an unsubstantiated idea.


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    Giving New Life to an Old Truck

    Missouri farrier Ed Reardon finds a late-career project with a retired 1947 produce truck
    By Jeremy McGovern posted on December 5, 2022 | Posted in Equipment

    About 15 years ago, Ed Reardon bought a retired  ton pick-up truck to add as a shoeing rig to his farrier practice. The idea for the truck goes back much earlier, though. Well-established as a farrier at the time, Reardon wanted to find and restore a 1947 truck — the same year he was born.  


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    Are Equine Hoof Wear and Teeth Linked?

    Opinions vary about whether a correlation exists between dentistry and hoof balance
    By Katie Navarra posted on December 5, 2022 | Posted in Trimming

    Is there a connection between equine tooth alignment and hoof balance? Less than 2 decades ago, discussions surrounding the possibility emerged. Opinions on the topic are mixed. 


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  • Featured Articles

    Featured Articles

    Open_SFL-Morris.jpg
    Shoeing for a Living

    Arabian Show Horse Farrier Plays the Angles

    Oregon farrier Zach Morris keeps mounts sound through challenges of shoeing rules and conformational faults
    By Jeff Cota posted on December 3, 2022 | Posted in Disciplines & Breeds, Forging, Diseases, Lamenesses, Shoeing, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

    These are busy days for Zach Morris.
    The Lyons, Ore., farrier is logging significant miles — both on the road and in the air — as several of his clients will be making the trek to Tulsa, Okla., for the United States National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show. With a little more than 2 weeks before the show, Morris has his work cut out for him.


    Read More
    G1_Tooth+Hoof.jpg

    Are Equine Hoof Wear and Teeth Linked?

    Opinions vary about whether a correlation exists between dentistry and hoof balance
    By Katie Navarra posted on December 5, 2022 | Posted in Trimming

    Is there a connection between equine tooth alignment and hoof balance? Less than 2 decades ago, discussions surrounding the possibility emerged. Opinions on the topic are mixed. 


    Read More
  • Digital Edition

    Digital Edition

  • Online Extras

    Online Extras

    Online Extras: December 2022

    December 6, 2022

    Get More Online

    • High-Low Hoof Care
    • More Than Feet
    • Hoof-Care Events
    • Floating Heels and Quarters
    • Shoeing Arabians and high-low horses 
    • More insight on equine teeth 



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