Like many farriers, Dave Dawson sometimes finds it’s easier to get along with the horses he trims and shoes than with a few of their owners or trainers.
J.D. Downs shapes a shoe at a ranch along the Colorado Front Range. The farrier from Frederick, Colo., north of Denver, says shoeing in the high, dry climate means dealing with hard, dry feet.
Zach Dicken made the decision 3 years ago to become a part-time horseshoer, and the farrier-fireman combination really works for him. He works a 24-hour shift every third day at the Lubbock Fire Department, which provides a steady paycheck and those elusive benefits that so many farriers struggle to pay for.
Wire likely sliced through the back of the pastern and into the distal cushion, detaching the back portion of the hoof. Long-term injury situations often lead to both an emotional and a financial commitment for the horse owner.
Not visualized in the diagram, but located at the wrist, your median nerve supplies feeling and movement to areas of your hand. Neurosurgeon James Warson, horseman and author of The Rider’s Pain-Free Back, says he’s always mindful of what he refers to as the three basic principles of life.
Knowing the language of business helps you put your hoof-care business on sounder footing and improves communication with clients from a business background.
As we get ready to begin a new calendar year, it's a good time for farriers to review their business practices and how they can improve their business performance.
Steve Foxworth works on about a dozen species of animals at the Denver Zoo in a year's time, including this lesser kudu. He finds it often takes as long as 2 years to get an animal's feet in good shape while adjusting to a new environment.
Navicular disease, navicular syndrome, caudal heel syndrome, palmar foot pain - regardless of the label, you've probably seen the condition. The chronic, shifting front limb lameness that causes the horse to look as though it is tiptoeing over hot coals is common to many breeds and disciplines.
Aluminum horseshoes are not new. They've been around for several decades now and are the shoe of choice at racetracks and for many disciplines. Trainers choose aluminum shoes when they want less weight, more flotation or because they think they absorb shock better than steel.
There is a joke that if you ask a group of 10 farriers about the right way to trim a foot, you'll get 10 different answers. There are dozens of variations to this joke, from the number of farriers, what they can't agree on and how many responses you'll get.
This Pennsylvania corral demonstrates the variety of horses McCandless may see on a day when he's shoeing backyard horses. Like many young farriers, Clint McCandless has a lot of backyard horses on his shoeing book.
Backyard horses are a part of most farrier practices. Sometimes there is a need to part ways with these clients, either through unacceptable conditions or a desire to improve the bottom line. It doesn't matter what level or discipline of horses you work with, sooner or later you are going to part ways with some clients.
Todd Allen believes aggressively addressing the high foot is the key to bringing high-low feet more into alignment. This horse's feet are coming closer to matching following their third shoeing cycle.
While there are a number of causes of lameness. California equine veterinarian Robert Miller maintains more than half of them are preventable. And he believes a major concern is training and working horses when they are too young.
Now into its seventh generation of family ownership, the Mustad group of companies got its start in 1832 in Norway when Hans Skikkelstad started using water power to work with steel imported from Sweden.
AAPF President Jeff Ridley shares his thoughts on support shoes. He says that Z-bar shoes work on dry, solid surfaces and can put pressure on the wrong part of the foot. Ridley prefers heart bars to support the foot and protect problem areas.
An advanced statistical technique was used to establish and validate an objective method of diagnosing laminitis in donkeys using measurements obtained from a lateromedial radiograph of a selected forefoot.
Oleo Acres Farrier and Blacksmith Supply owner Rob Michel walks viewers through the Littleton, Colo., warehouse. Inventory is organized with the customer in mind. If the product is in stock and easy to find, farriers can spend more time under a horse, which Michel says is more money in your pocket.
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.
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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 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.