News & Notes

Shoeing for Strength & the Importance of Third Phase Intervention

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Three decades at the anvil teach lessons that textbooks simply can't capture. Farriers can unlock proven, field-tested insights from a Hall of Famer to maintain hoof wall integrity and capsular health throughout every shoeing and trimming cycle. Nigel Fennell 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 12, 2026

mkrueger@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This Week's Lineup:

WCB Live Shoeing
Importance of Vet-Farrier Relationships
Treating Osteomyelitis
Rehabbing Navicular
Tooled & Fullered Shoe

Physiological Factors that Influence the Distal Limb

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

How does the hoof capsule absorb impact under massive workloads? Join Stuart Muir to explore locomotion dynamics and learn targeted shoeing strategies that farriers use to control load distribution and restore distal limb function. Stuart Muir will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Strategies for Evaluating Horses to Maximize Hoof Care

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Looking beyond the foot changes everything. Learn how connecting full-body posture and movement to hoof wear empowers farriers to tailor individual shoeing plans that protect soundness and unleash athletic performance. Mike Stine will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

How to be Accurate about the Hoof Balance You Create

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Subjective opinions are no longer enough in modern hoof care. Farriers can discover how to capture objective, quantifiable hoof balance measurements that justify interventions, improve clinical outcomes, and clearly demonstrate progress to clients and veterinarians. Yogi Sharp will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Wyoming Farrier Jack Evers Passes Away

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Laramie, Wyo., farrier Jack Evers passed away Sept. 1, 2026, after a brief illness, according to his family. He was 88.

Hoof Wound Healing: Differences & Similarities with Skin Wounds

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Why do foot wounds present such unique recovery challenges? Join Hall of Fame veterinarian Dr. Maarten Oosterlinck as he bridges general wound healing principles with equine hoof morphology, offering actionable methods to safeguard long-term hoof function. 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 5, 2026

mkrueger@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This Week's Lineup:

Blast from the Past
Treating Abscesses
SGLT2i Inhibitors
Glue-On Methods & Advice
Replacing a Hammer Handle

Nothing Fancy, Just the Basics

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

In a tradefull of evolving modalities, the basics still reign supreme. Join Hall of Fame inductee Blane Chapman as he shares how anchoring your practice in farriery fundamentals leads to more effective, practical solutions for every horse. Blane Chapman will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Nebraska Farrier Michael Hanna Passes Away

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Nebraska farrier Dr. Michael Shane Hanna passed away July 8, 2026. He was 72.

Farrier Injuries: It’s Not a Matter of if, but When

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Every farrier knows the job is risky, but the real injury statistics tell a startling story. Farriers can look behind the numbers of an illuminating industry survey to understand career-threatening hazards and take practical steps to safeguard their health on the job. Mark Aikens will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

New York Farrier Thomas “Tucker” Birdsall Passes Away

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Athol, N.Y., farrier Thomas “Tucker” Birdsall passed away May 27, 2026, from complications of Parkinson’s disease, his family tells American Farriers Journal. He was 78.

Footcare & Farrier Business Insights

Wed, 02 Sep 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.

A New Top Dog: Meet the 2027 Farrier Dog of the Year

ocox@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:00:00 -0400

American Farriers Journal is excited to share the winner of the 2027 Farrier Dog of the Year Contest!

Why Thrush Treatments Fail: The Importance of Reaching the Infection Site

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Few hoof conditions create as much frustration for farriers as chronic thrush. In this article, brought to you by Absorbine, they discuss getting treatment to the infection site and keeping it there long enough to be effective.

No Easy Fuel Choice for Shoeing Rigs

lessitef@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

With the 2026 mid-summer national average price of diesel around $1.50 per gallon higher than gas, here’s a look back to 2008 when American Farriers Journal produced this in-depth comparison of fuel choices for shoeing rigs.

The Gallop: Horses at Speed

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The canter and gallop are similar in that both are asymmetrical and thus can be performed on either a right or left lead. However, the canter is slower and daintier, while the gallop, by contrast, is the gait of the war horse, polo horse, jumper and racehorse.

A Farrier’s Perspective of Equine Conformation

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Every horse is built differently, but every horse deserves optimal support. Farriers can learn to systematically evaluate limb alignment from the group up, identifying key conformational deviations to craft hoof-care solutions that maximize athletic potential. Michael Wildenstein will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Where Equine Veterinary Practices Spend Their Dollars

lessitef@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A recent study of equine veterinarian businesses shows payroll and employee benefits account for than average of 41% of a clinic’s yearly income.

An Investigation of Hoof Mechanism Characteristics Following the Application of Wire Trackers & Various Shoeing Treatments Involving the Shod & Unshod Foot

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Take the guesswork out of back-of-the-foot mechanics. Discover findings from a 90-day Thoroughbred study and controlled load testing to see how moisture, shoe choice, and support materials directly change hoof deformation in daily practice. Nigel Fennell 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: August 29, 2026

mkrueger@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This Week's Lineup:

Symptom vs. Cause
Caulk & Wedge
Desensitization
Rehabbing Laminitis
The Pastern Joint

Red Renchin Innovation Lecture, Presented by American Farriers Journal Why is My Horse Lame?

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:00:00 -0400

As one of the leading reasons owners call for help, lameness demands clear action. Explore how farriers can pair equine anatomy and biomechanics with practical farriery interventions to manage common issues and restore soundness. Steve Kraus will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Vascular Pathways of the Hoof Capsule

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:00:00 -0400

What really happens to blood flow inside the hoof capsule under load? Explore key vascular zones, mechanical perfusion theories, and clinical strategies that farriers use to support tissue growth and guide complex rehabilitation cases. Stuart Muir will be a speaker at the 2027 International Hoof-Care Summit. To learn more and register for the event, visit IHCS2027.com.

Tell 'em You're Off the Clock

lessitef@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

If you are like most farriers after a hard day's work, you might be winding down at a restaurant, a birthday party. your teen-age girls’ softball game or attending a school meeting. And that’s when someone walks up and asks you for free foot-care or veterinary advice.

VIP Hands-On Dissection Wet Lab

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:00:00 -0400

See exactly how external hoof appearance mirrors internal structural health. In this exclusive wet lab, farriers evaluate cadaver limbs before, during, and after dissection to refine their diagnostic eye and deepen anatomical knowledge. Paige Poss 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 Brent Chidsey

Tue, 25 Aug 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 founder of Stonewell Bodies and Bay Horse Innovations Brent Chidsey.

Burney Chapman Memorial Lecture, Presented by Life Data Labs How Our Understanding of Laminitis Has Changed: Nutrition, Care & Mechanics

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Tackling one of equine medicine's more daunting diseases takes a complete strategy. Explore how historical insights and modern, evidence-based practices empower farriers to safeguard horses at risk and support those in active recovery. Shane Westman 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: August 22, 2026

mkrueger@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0400

This Week's Lineup:

Spacial Relationships
Shaping a Shoe
Collateral Ligament Shoe
Shoeing High-Low Feet
Final Approach: Alwyn & Erica McKeown

Wyoming Farrier Bruce Jorgensen Passes Away

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:10:21 -0400

Wyoming farrier Bruce Jorgensen passed away. He was 78.

News & Notes

Shoeing for Strength & the Importance of Third Phase Intervention

Hoof-Care Highlights: September 12, 2026

Physiological Factors that Influence the Distal Limb

Strategies for Evaluating Horses to Maximize Hoof Care

How to be Accurate about the Hoof Balance You Create

Wyoming Farrier Jack Evers Passes Away

Hoof Wound Healing: Differences & Similarities with Skin Wounds

Hoof-Care Highlights: September 5, 2026

Nothing Fancy, Just the Basics

Nebraska Farrier Michael Hanna Passes Away

Farrier Injuries: It’s Not a Matter of if, but When

New York Farrier Thomas “Tucker” Birdsall Passes Away

Footcare & Farrier Business Insights

A New Top Dog: Meet the 2027 Farrier Dog of the Year

Why Thrush Treatments Fail: The Importance of Reaching the Infection Site

Top 10 Hoof-Care Stories in August 2026

No Easy Fuel Choice for Shoeing Rigs

The Gallop: Horses at Speed

A Farrier’s Perspective of Equine Conformation

Where Equine Veterinary Practices Spend Their Dollars

An Investigation of Hoof Mechanism Characteristics Following the Application of Wire Trackers & Various Shoeing Treatments Involving the Shod & Unshod Foot

Hoof-Care Highlights: August 29, 2026

Red Renchin Innovation Lecture, Presented by American Farriers Journal Why is My Horse Lame?

Vascular Pathways of the Hoof Capsule

Tell 'em You're Off the Clock

VIP Hands-On Dissection Wet Lab

[Podcast] A Conversation with Brent Chidsey

Burney Chapman Memorial Lecture, Presented by Life Data Labs How Our Understanding of Laminitis Has Changed: Nutrition, Care & Mechanics

Hoof-Care Highlights: August 22, 2026

Wyoming Farrier Bruce Jorgensen Passes Away