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 […]
Tendon injuries can be devasting and career-ending for horses, depending on the severity of the damage and the availability of a knowledgeable veterinarian/farrier team. Horses have four major tendons in their lower legs. There are two extensor tendons in the front (common extensor and lateral extensor) and two flexor tendons in the back (superficial digital […]
Fall is upon us and temperatures are beginning to drop. This brings with it the risk of laminitis and founder for horse owners. Laminitis can be devastating for horses and donkeys alike as it means a deterioration of the sensitive laminae that bond the bone to the hoof. Hooves are designed to bear the weight […]
This week (22 Jul 2018), a mule named Wallace the Great made headlines by being the first mule to win a British Dressage competition. Earlier this month, the British Dressage Board revised the rule book to allow mules to compete in British Dressage. Mules have been allowed to compete in dressage in the United States […]
Hospital treatment plates are used when the bottom of the foot must be protected from bacterial infection, but also accessible in order to clean the bottom of the foot on a regular basis. Treatment plates are useful for situations like: exposed abscesses, canker, thrush or sole perforation caused by founder. Unlike pads that are […]
A serious affliction of horses today is laminitis and founder. When a horse has laminitis, the toe or front half of the foot is in pain because the laminae that adheres the hoof wall to the bone has become inflamed. This is a problem because the hoof wall supports the weight of the animal. The […]
There are few things that can compare to the soul refreshment that can be felt when riding a good horse in natural surroundings. Yet a lame horse can cast a dark cloud over what should be a rewarding experience. Farrier work is hard and exacting work. Those who enter the craft with less than a […]
Often farriers are asked about the rings on the horse’s foot. They have the potential of giving us twelve months of information about a horse’s health. Visible rings indicate there has been some disturbance in the metabolism of the horse affecting the keratinization of the hoof. The indentation or ring is formed sometime before it […]
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 […]
Horses have a thick skin insulated by fat and thick winter hair. The horse’s integument (its hooves and skin) has an underlying dermis that contains AVAs (arterio-venous anastomoses). These vascular systems allow the body to shunt or divert blood away from its surface area periodically to keep the animal’s central core warm
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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