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Footcare & Farrier Business Insights

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Each week our editors will bring you data we collected in our American Farriers Journal Business Practices Survey. Check back weekly for our latest update.

Hoof-Care Briefings: May 2026

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this edition:

Arthritis in Horses: Use of Intra-Articular Nanogels
Transient Hindlimb Asymmetry Following Intramuscular Vaccination in Horses
Late-Breaking News & Views
Homeschooled Scholar and Farrier Trainee Originally Turned Down For Pre-Vet Training
How to Treat Puncture Wounds to the Equine Foot

2027 International Hoof-Care Summit Welcomes Equine Care as a Bronze Level Educational Partner

Tue, 12 May 2026 15:15:58 -0400

The International Hoof-Care Summit is proud to announce Equine Care as a Bronze Level Educational Partner for the Jan. 26-29, 2027, event set to take place in Covington, Ky.

Tell Your Farrier or Mentor You Appreciate Them This Farriers Week

Mon, 04 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Honor the farrier who has impacted your life by completing the form by Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Thank you to Vetericyn® for their support of 2026 Farriers Week.

Hoof-Care Briefings: April 2026

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this edition:

Racetrack Surface Testing Makes Strides
Forget Concerns About Hoof Color!
Using Rocker Shoes for Managing Laminitis
Late-Breaking News & Views
Can New Technology Dealing with Hoof Concerns in Cattle Work With Horses?

The Spectrum of Ambling Horse Gaits

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

How farriers & vets identify quality in the four-sounded beat gait

Why the World is So Difficult for Farriers

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0400

One of the most frustrating realities of being a farrier is that we are constantly judged for outcomes we do not fully control. We are working on living biological structures shaped by physics, physiology, posture, environment and management over time. We operate within the constraints of the horse in front of us, and the horse in front of us is a product of far more than just trimming.

Jackson Transitions to Barefoot

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Increased hoof growth leads to late cycle discomfort & a new direction

Should Horses go Barefoot or Shod?

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Hoof care is too important for horse health to apply misinformation

Prepare for the Inevitable Injury

jcota@lesspub.com — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

It’s not a matter of if, but when. Salem, Mo., farrier Parker Van Wyk was working on a bay horse’s right hind foot when it launched him into a cinder block wall. You might have seen the video making the social media rounds. The butcher’s bill included a lacerated liver, a collapsed and torn lung and bruised ribs.

Boehringer Ingelheim Share the Care Award Goes to South Carolina Farrier

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:28:45 -0400

In Fall 2025, Boehringer Ingelheim invited equine enthusiasts to nominate caregivers who go above and beyond in their professional or personal lives to take extraordinary care of horses. Of over 300 nominations, Gaffney, S.C., farrier Andy Painter was selected as one of the 5 Share the Care finalists.

Hoof-Care Briefings: March 2026

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this edition:

Horse Ownership Lifetime Costs Range From $300,000 to $924,000
8 Things I Learned from Burney Chapman
Late-Breaking News & Views
Proper Joint Care Can Do Wonders for Soundness

3 Reasons Why Horses Pseudo-Trot

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Horses that pseudo-trot often have abnormally shaped feet, and as a result, tend to have soundness issues that limit their useful lives and/or competitive careers. They thus typically require more farrier skill than the naturally sound horse.

Injection Improves Jackson’s Heel Pain

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Pharmacology provides relief after mechanical limitations are reached

Florida Couple Create Outlet for Equine Professionals

jcota@lesspub.com — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

It was a different world when Clayton Wilber started his career. Like many who broke into the hoof-care industry before 2000, the Oxford, Fla., farrier struggled to gain a foothold in his chosen trade. Comraderie and communication were foreign.

How Does Your Business Compare? Take the Farrier Business Practices Survey Today

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:43:34 -0500

American Farriers Journal needs your help in assessing the state of the farrier industry. Take the confidential Farrier Business Practices Survey today. Responses close March 15, 2026.

Hoof-Care Briefings: February 2026

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this edition:

What a Pre-Purchase Exam Can Reveal Before Clients Purchase a New Horse
Late-Breaking News & Views
How to Collect Money Clients Owe You

Florida Farrier Service Creates Group Supporting Equine Professionals

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Do you work long hours, mostly independently? Do you carry responsibility for animals and clients every day? Have you ever felt isolated in the hoof-care industry? You’re not alone.

American Horse Council Begins Work on 2028 National Economic Impact Study

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:09:09 -0500

The American Horse Council Foundation announced the launch of its next National Economic Impact Study of the U.S. horse industry, with findings expected to be released in 2028.

Why You Should Never, Ever ‘Bad-Mouth’ Other Farriers (Or Vets)

lessitef@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In the footcare business, a good rule to follow is always avoid being critical of others’ work, even when the trimming, shoeing or veterinary work did not help the horse.

International Hoof-Care Summit Highlights: Feb 3-4

mkrueger@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 23:28:46 -0500

Missing the Summit? Check in here for a recap of the first two days of the 2026 International Hoof-Care Summit.

AFA Announces Hoof-Care Hardship Assistance Program

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In partnership with the American Horse Council and the United Horse Coalition, the American Farrier's Association announced the Farrier Direct Safety Net.

The Equine Walk: “Mother of All Gaits”

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Farriers can extend a horse’s working life by teaching how to bend the hind joints.

Hoof-Care Briefings: January 2026

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this edition:

Genetics May Offer Answers on Whether Horses Need Shoes
The Top 8 Things Keeping Farriers Awake at Night
No Need to Raise Racehorses like “Hothouse Flowers”
Late-Breaking News & Views
Q&A with Harness Racing Farrier Georgia Gaudet

Radiographs Lead to a Simplified Reset

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Jackson’s joints no longer tolerate mechanical influence. Meaningful progress often doesn’t come from doing more, but from understanding when less is enough by respecting physiological limits and responding thoughtfully to feedback.

Pushing Back on Owner Perceptions of Overweight Horses

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Though farriers are largely focused on the hoof, looking out for hoof health can also mean taking a holistic approach and accounting for other factors that influence hoof health, such as weight management. However, some horse owners have skewed perceptions of a healthy body condition score.

The Cat, The Horse & The Merry-Go-Round

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

Horses, being a prey species, are always looking for the bear in the bushes. No matter how domesticated or well trained a horse is, he never forgets that he is on the menu.

Recognizing & Evaluating Equine Pain

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

The recognition and evaluation of pain is essential for the welfare of horses and management of the patient. Although considerable progress has been made in understanding physiology and treatment of pain in animals, the assessment of pain in horses remains difficult and frequently suboptimal.

Hoof-Care Briefings: December 2025

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this edition:

Consider Every Horse You Work With As ‘Claustrophobic
Traveling 10,607 Miles to Shoe in War-Torn Ukraine
Dreaming About the Honor & Nobility of Farrier Work
Late-Breaking News & Views
A ‘Wow’ Factor from the 1^st International Hoof-Care Summit
After 2 Hours, Horses (& Farriers) Lose Their Patience
Looking Back at a ‘Shoeing For Elvis’ Memory

Rebuilding Hoof Stability After Abscess Bout

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Arthritis & heel pain continue to influence Jackson’s movement