Some horses have crooked legs. Some of these horses become lame because of the deformatity. Other horses seem to learn how to “get along” with the deviated limb and though it is unsightly, the horse doesn’t seem to be affected. Farriers are often called upon to work on these crooked-legged horses. There are some factors […]
Hock spavin can be a real disappointment in many breeds and types of horses. We have received many donations at our school of horses with careers cut short by this disease. Bone spavin or jack spavin is an arthritis that usually involves deposits of bone growth or an exostosis in the medial bones of the […]
These last few weeks, I have been working in the tractor in the field to make hay. Cutting fields and baling hay can be fun…when everything works properly. However, there is a lot of time devoted to dealing with “breakdowns.” A part on the baler fails, a cutter bar wears out on the swather, a […]
Riding a stumbling or tripping horse can be aggravating and dangerous. Stumbling occurs when the horse’s toes do not entirely clear the ground and the gait is interrupted. All horses will inevitably trip occasionally depending on the ground they cover, but some horses stumble consistently regardless of the terrain. In the case of these “stumblers,” […]
Horses have a unique skeletal structure that is highly developed at birth (compared to other species). A young foal can run with a herd within hours after birth. The skeleton creates the framework for the body to function. Or as my 6 year old daughter explained to me, “Without a skeleton, we’d all just be […]
The navicular bone in the foot of the horse is known more for the problems it can create (i.e. navicular syndrome) rather than for its actual function. Navicular syndrome or navicular disease often results in heel pain due to a problem associated with the navicular region; not just the bone. The condition is usually treated […]
Last week (Can it be Fixed?), we talked about crooked-legged horses that are not lame. Non-lame horses do not need to have their conformation cosmetically “fixed”, but rather should be balanced in the way that makes them the most comfortable. But what about crooked-legged horses that do become lame because of their conformation? What should […]
Sometimes farriers think of themselves as “fixers.” This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As animal welfarists, we want to help horses. If a horse has a foot problem we immediately think about how we can attenuate the horse’s problem. If the horse doesn’t respond to treatment, farriers may feel responsible. To add to this impractical […]
Farriers are presented with different horse feet scenarios. Often these come as a last resort from horse owners. This was a horse that was injured 4 months ago. The owner was not sure how the horse injured himself. There is a bulge at the coronary band and the right front foot is beginning to […]
Butler Professional Horseshoeing School
495 Table Road
Crawford, NE 69339
(800) 728-3826
jacob@dougbutler.com
If you think you want to become a farrier (or know someone who does), this book can help you make that decision. Horse owners will learn the importance of choosing a qualified farrier and how to select the “right” one.
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