News & Notes

Purcell Farrier Supply Earns 2026 Supply Shop of the Year

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:41:27 -0400

Purcell Farrier Supply of Purcell, Okla., is honored as the third annual American Farriers Journal Supply Shop of the Year.

Footcare & Farrier Business Insights

Wed, 07 Oct 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.

Share Your Favorite Equine Movies

lessitef@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

We’re pulling together a list of the best horse movies enjoyed by farriers.

North Carolina Farrier Mitchell Jones Passes Away

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

North Carolina farrier Mitchell Jones passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 1, 2026. He was 69.

Troy Wood Grabs WCB State Fair of Virginia Title

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Troy Wood is on a roll. The Riverside, Wash., farrier has finished in the top spot in eight of the past nine consecutive World Championship Blacksmiths events, including this past weekend at the State Fair of Virginia.

Hoof-Care Highlights: October 3, 2026

mkrueger@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This Week's Lineup:

Dr. Tom Riddle
Miniature Foot Study
Blacksmith World Championship
Unshod Thoroughbred Training
Fusing Hocks

Poll: Who are Your Mentors?

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:11:09 -0400

What's one important thing you learned from your mentors? Let us know in this AFJ poll.

Knowing When & How to Fire Hoof-Care Clients

mkrueger@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:54:05 -0400

Farrier-client relationships are not always perfect. While no one wants to lose business or risk damaging relationships, sometimes the best decision is one to let a client go from your books.

Invest in Yourself While Diminishing Your Tax Burden

jcota@lesspub.com — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As we enter the final quarter of 2026, small businesses are often searching for ways to reduce their tax burden. One way to do so is by investing in yourself.

By How Much Do You Expect to Raise Prices for 2027?

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:12:33 -0400

Find out the results from the 2026 Farrier Business Practices Benchmark Study.

State-of-the-Art Treatment of Keratoma

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Equine keratomas can cause persistent, puzzling lameness by compressing internal foot structures. Farriers and vets can explore how advanced imaging like CT and MRI leads to precise localization, enabling minimally invasive surgical removal and successful post-op recovery. Maarten Oosterlinck will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Hoof-Care Highlights: September 26, 2026

mkrueger@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This Week's Lineup:

Hoof Size vs. Hoof Issues?
Osteoarthritis Relief
Making Farriers’ Lives Easier
Forging Hunter Heels
Horseshoe Globe

Poll: Barn Requirements

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:32:17 -0400

A client is going to build a new 40-stall barn. She asks what you would like for a farrier area and if you have any specific needs. What would you suggest?

Rood & Riddle Co-Founder Tom Riddle Passes Away

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

William Thomas Riddle, DVM, a co-founder of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., passed away Sept. 20, 2026. He was 74.

Do You Need A USDOT Number for Your Farrier Rig?

lessitef@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Even if the federal government doesn’t require a USDOT number, your state might.

Maintaining & Repairing Hand Tools

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Dull or damaged tools drag down your efficiency and drain your wallet. Farriers can learn simple, professional maintenance and repair techniques to keep hand tools performing like new and dramatically extend their working lifespan.Mark Aikens will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Hoof MD Returns to the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit as a Bronze Level Partner

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:00:00 -0400

The International Hoof-Care Summit is proud to welcome Hoof MD back as a Bronze Level Educational Partner for the 2027 event set to take place in Covington, Ky.

Horseshoe Modifications Based on Equine Conformation Evaluation

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Every hammer blow and modification should serve a clear anatomical purpose. Farriers can discover how to apply targeted shoe modifications that address specific conformational deviations, old injuries, and limb pathologies without compromising total-body function. Michael Wildenstein will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Is Hind Hoof Balance Linked to Spinal issues?

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Can hind hoof balance actually trigger back, stifle, and hock pain? Farriers can dive into the research behind negative plantar angles and camped-under posture to understand whole-body pathologies and master evidence-based shoeing protocols.Yogi Sharp will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

[Podcast] A Conversation with Arek Boulding

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the American Farriers Journal Podcast, brought to you by Hoof MD, International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer Tom Curl sits down with Lone Camp, Texas, farrier Arek Boulding.

Learn to Pace Yourself with Farrier Work

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Many farriers — especially the young ones — will push themselves to shoe more horses in a day than what they should. The key is to get to the point where you can shoe fewer horses and charge more money.

It’s a Business!

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Craftsmanship builds your reputation, but smart business operations build your livelihood. Farriers can unlock five decades of hard-won wisdom to master pricing structure, control overhead, and run a highly sustainable practice. Steve Kraus will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Hoof-Care Highlights: September 19, 2026

mkrueger@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This Week's Lineup:

Excess Sole Depth
Final Approach Podcast
Dealing with Conflict
Managing Abscesses
A Farrier Anthem

Vermont Farrier Stephen Hazen Passes Away

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Vermont farrier Stephen Hazen passed away. He was 81.

Tips from the 2020 International Hoof-Care Summit

lessitef@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Our latest set of International Hoof-Care Summit "flashback" tips comes from Doug Anderson and Curtis Burns at the 2020 Summit.

Continuing Education Can Help Reach Your Full Potential

jacob@dougbutler.com — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:41:27 -0400

Commitment, consistency and accountability will help you achieve your goals in improving your skill and knowledge as a farrier.

Special Equine Limb Dissection

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Anatomy isn't just theory—it's the foundation of every trim and shoe placement. Farriers can go beneath the skin in an extended limb dissection to inspect critical internal structures firsthand and deepen their anatomical precision. Mitch Taylor will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Henry Heymering Legacy Lecture, Presented by American Farriers Journal Ground Reaction Force in Application

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

How do shoe placement and web width actually alter ground reaction forces under load? Farriers can explore rare FWCF award-winning research that replaces anecdotal theories with hard biomechanical data across multiple arena surfaces. Cody Gregory will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Poll: Firing Clients

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:55:14 -0400

How do you let difficult hoof-care clients go? Share your method in this American Farriers Journal poll!

News & Notes

Purcell Farrier Supply Earns 2026 Supply Shop of the Year

Footcare & Farrier Business Insights

Share Your Favorite Equine Movies

North Carolina Farrier Mitchell Jones Passes Away

Troy Wood Grabs WCB State Fair of Virginia Title

Hoof-Care Highlights: October 3, 2026

Poll: Who are Your Mentors?

Top 10 Hoof-Care Stories in September 2026

Knowing When & How to Fire Hoof-Care Clients

Invest in Yourself While Diminishing Your Tax Burden

By How Much Do You Expect to Raise Prices for 2027?

State-of-the-Art Treatment of Keratoma

Hoof-Care Highlights: September 26, 2026

Poll: Barn Requirements

Rood & Riddle Co-Founder Tom Riddle Passes Away

Do You Need A USDOT Number for Your Farrier Rig?

Maintaining & Repairing Hand Tools

Hoof MD Returns to the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit as a Bronze Level Partner

Horseshoe Modifications Based on Equine Conformation Evaluation

Is Hind Hoof Balance Linked to Spinal issues?

[Podcast] A Conversation with Arek Boulding

Learn to Pace Yourself with Farrier Work

It’s a Business!

Hoof-Care Highlights: September 19, 2026

Vermont Farrier Stephen Hazen Passes Away

Tips from the 2020 International Hoof-Care Summit

Continuing Education Can Help Reach Your Full Potential

Special Equine Limb Dissection

Henry Heymering Legacy Lecture, Presented by American Farriers Journal Ground Reaction Force in Application

Poll: Firing Clients