Home / Publications / American Farriers Journal

American Farriers Journal

January/February 2013 AFJ

View Archived Issues

January/February 2013

Volume: 39
Edition: 1

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

    Briefings

    January 1, 2013 | Posted in Education
    Horses appear able to exert a fine degree of control over the temperature of their feet probably due to some type of central mechanism, says Australian hoof researcher Chris Pollitt.
    Read More

    Farriers' Roundtable

    January 1, 2013 | Posted in Shoeing
    When extending the heels of a shoe beyond the back of the foot, how do you balance the horse’s need for support with concerns about leverage created by the steel hanging out behind the foot?
    Read More
    DonnieKarr_1012_30-large.jpg
    Shoeing for a Living

    Third Career is a Charm

    California farrier Donnie Karr was 34 before he started his shoeing career, but he’s found that the job fits him as well as he fits shoes
    By Pat Tearney posted on January 1, 2013 | Posted in Shoeing
    Loomis, Calif., farrier Donnie Karr shapes a shoe while working at a small ranch in Granite City, Calif. Karr has been shoeing full-time for just over 13 years. This particular ranch is home to a number of cutting horses, as well as other horses used in Western riding disciplines.
    Read More
    Feedlot-10.jpg

    Shoeing Real Cow Horses

    Hoof care at feedlots isn’t glamorous, but it does provide steady work and income if you can deal with less-than-ideal conditions
    By John Bradshaw posted on January 1, 2013 | Posted in Shoeing
    Feedyard pens are typically fairly dry, but heavy rain will make a mess of them. Deep, sloppy cow manure such as this will literally suck shoes right off horses' feet. In the Texas Panhandle, as well as many other areas across the nation's midsection, feedlot cattle outnumber people. Some hold more than 60,000 cattle at the same time.
    Read More
    Horseshoeing Habits and Hardships

    How Your Environment and Equipment Affect Your Health Down the Road

    A long career in farriery means it is never too early to evaluate the tools and environment of your work
    By Lisa Kemp posted on January 1, 2013 | Posted in Business Practices, Equipment
    The conditions you work in can either support you in having a healthy, well-functioning body, or it can exhaust and possibly even harm you. While some aspects of the working environment might be out of your hands, taking thoughtful, respectful action may allow you to influence or even directly control many labor-saving variables.
    Read More

    Branding Your Farrier Practice for Success Down the Road

    Branding may be one of those marketing buzzwords, but applying its basic concepts to a farrier practice can pay off
    By Lisa Kemp posted on January 1, 2013 | Posted in Business Practices
    A livestock brand is a mark unique to the owner, allowing the animal to be instantly recognizable as property. A business brand serves a similar purpose - it lets potential customers quickly assess who and what you're all about and whether your services or products are a good fit for their needs.
    Read More
    DSC_0114.jpg

    Sorting Out Your Welding Choices

    With lots of options, the key is finding the system that best fits the needs of your practice and the limits of your pocketbook
    By Red Renchin posted on January 1, 2013 | Posted in Equipment, Forging
    Welding equipment is almost standard equipment at Standardbred tracks, where track farriers weld Borium to shoes for traction and make other modifications throughout busy days. Here Terry Burger adds Borium to shoes in his shop at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino near Pittsburgh, Pa.
    Read More
    cover

    Texas Farrier's Timesaving Tips

    A few minutes spent organizing and planning your shoeing day will get you home earlier and feeling better
    By Heather Smith Thomas posted on January 1, 2013 | Posted in Business Practices, Shoeing, Trimming
    Tommy Boudreau, a Mineral Springs, Texas, farrier, at work making shoes in his shop so they'll be ready for the next day's shoeing. Whether shoeing one horse or a dozen, improving your efficiency in trimming and shoeing is an important key to success.
    Read More
    cover
    The Backyard Horse

    Information for you to Share with Your Backyard Horse Clients

    In 2013, American Farriers Journal will help you educate your novice clients on the importance of regular hoof care
    By Pat Tearney posted on January 1, 2013 | Posted in Education
    Backyard horses are an important part of a hoof-care business. Particularly with novice horse owners, farriers may need to serve as a hoof-care educator. For years, our readers have been telling us that backyard horses are the backbone of many of their hoof-care practices.
    Read More
    You and Your Horses's Feet

    The Basics of Hoof Care

    What you need to know about keeping your horses feet healthy
    By Heather Smith Thomas posted on January 1, 2013 | Posted in Education, Shoeing
    It’s an old saying, but still true: “No foot, no horse.” As a horse owner, you may get tired of hearing it, but it should serve to remind you that a sound hoof is crucial to the health and function of the horse.
    Read More
    cover

    The Farrier and Radiographs

    X-ray machines are probably never going to become standard equipment on shoeing rigs, but the information gleaned through this technology can help you provide better hoof care and improve your standing in the eyes of your clients
    By Pat Tearney posted on January 1, 2013 | Posted in Education, Therapeutic Shoeing
    Digital radiographs allow "stall-side" imagery that farriers and veterinarians can read within seconds, as farrier/veterinarian Raul Bras of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital did on a Lexington, Ky., Thoroughbred farm in this photo.
    Read More

    Manipulating Foot Function

    While the impact of shoeing on foot function is well documented, the biomechanics aren’t as easily understood
    By Frank Lessiter posted on January 1, 2013 | Posted in Anatomy, Lamenesses
    There’s been plenty of hoof research conducted on foot function over the years. And a general summary of existing research data conducted by Andy Parks indicates nailing on steel shoes limits the expansion of the foot and increases the magnitude and frequency of impact vibrations as the foot hits the ground.
    Read More
    23_Blake-Brown-IHCSPartner_PT_0511.jpg

    50 Best Farrier Takeaways of 2012

    A look back at some of the top tips that hoof-care professionals shared in the pages of AFJ during the past year
    January 1, 2013 | Posted in Education
    Farriers need to market their knowledge of horses and horsemanship. A few years ago, we began adding a boxed list of important points to many of the feature stories that appear in American Farriers Journal.
    Read More

THIS MONTH'S DIGITAL SPONSORS:

Top Articles

Current Issue

View More

Current Issue

View More

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

View More

Videos

View More

Events

More Events
Top Directory Listings

Doc Foal's | The Black Pads

At Doc Foal's, we manufacture The Black Pads and The Black Pads PLUS (featuring embedded magnets and copper). Our hybrid pads work seamlessly with your choice of conventional horseshoe, combining metal for structure with polyurethane for exceptional comfort and shock absorption. Designed as a...
Sunrise-Supply-LLC-Logo-4c.png

Sunrise Farrier Supply

We are here to support you.

We stock a wide range of high-quality products from trusted brands to ensure durability, performance, and reliability in every job you undertake. Our extensive inventory of horseshoe products and farrier tools means you can find everything you need in one place, saving you time and effort. Your satisfaction is our top priority. We are committed to providing excellent customer service, prompt shipping, and hassle-free returns.

Equilox

Equilox International

Equilox International Inc. specializes in equine horse hoof adhesives. Developed in 1988 after many trials and extensive research at leading universities and equine centers throughout the U.S., the Equilox Adhesive Hoof Repair System was originally used to treat competitive horses. Now, Equilox Adhesive is used by farriers, equine centers, and horse owners — as well as various zoo and wildlife centers — throughout the world.
View More