Doug Bradbury of Derbyshire, England (pronounced Darbyshire) recently passed away. I had the privilege of meeting him at the Sunderland Draft Horse Farrier Conference in September 21, 1987. It was at that conference I was introduced to Her Royal Highness Princess Ann. Later I was able to travel to Hereford Technical College, having previously obtained […]
Horseshoeing is a complex, skilled trade that requires precision work. A good farrier will seek to make the horse as comfortable as possible to ensure his/her ability to do the job accurately. When a horse is uncomfortable and shifting around, it is difficult to trim a foot accurately and to apply a horseshoe. Unlike auto […]
When you meet true professional farriers, they do what they do because they like the challenge. They get pleasure from completing a difficult and exacting task. Of course, occasionally there are “bumps” in the road. We all are subject to adversity. When faced with that, it is most helpful to focus on the desired end […]
Reining horses have recently been in the national spotlight due to the documentary competition television show, The Last Cowboy on the Paramount Network. The Last Cowboy boasted over 800,000 viewers in the first few episodes. “The show followed the lives of riders competing in the high-stakes sport of horse reining. The contenders were determined to […]
Each one of us needs to face the fact that we are not going to live forever. We don’t know when our number will be up. Are you prepared for this eventuality? Are you at peace with yourself and your God? Have you conveyed your feelings of affection to those that are close to you? […]
Farriers perform a valuable service for people who care about their horses. It’s important to be trustworthy and do the job correctly. Part of being your own boss means that you must take responsibility to recognize and fix mistakes. No one else will be your overseer. This can be a two-edged sword. Unfortunately, some farriers […]
Competent farriers are sometimes unfairly accused of inflicting pain on horses simply because the nature of their work. Not all farriers are the same. Some may be justly criticized for causing pain. An occasional sadist might pop up and too often we see farriers and trimmers alike harming horses out of ignorance. But these are […]
Professional farriers demonstrate their work is a legitimate business by incorporating and following tax laws. As the business grows, farriers should take time to work on the business and not just in the business. They must protect their hard-earned income. This includes obtaining protective insurance and understanding exactly what is covered. Do you have business […]
Happy New Year! The New Year brings with it a determination to better ourselves through goals and resolutions. Sometimes it is easy to get into a rut or do “just enough to get by.” One of the wonderful parts of this craft is that there is always an opportunity to improve. No matter what skill […]
During the winter months, a lot of horse owners opt to have shoes pulled and let horses go barefoot through the winter. This can be a good idea for many horses because they will not be used as much and shoes have a tendency to make snow build-up or “snowballing” worse in the bottom of […]
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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