The best way to tell the position of the Distal Phalanx, or P3, is to have a lateral/medial radiograph of the hoof. Usually, the foot will have to be placed on a block to get the x-ray beam parallel to the base of the bone. Without an x-ray, you can look at the slope of […]
Answer: You are not required to read all the pages before you arrive. You’ll find after enrolling and completing the application process that a copy of P3 will be sent to you, and you are at liberty to use your copy to read and study as you wish. There is a homework assignment on five […]
There is a tendency in our modern society to look for short cuts in every aspect of life. We want the cheapest product even if quality must be compromised to get it; we want knowledge and skill without effort; we expect minimum effort to reap maximum reward. We learn the techniques of getting by. Only […]
A young horse does not usually have to be shod unless it’s necessary to maintain the foot in a healthy, balanced state. Soundness is the key. If the wear of the hoof capsule is greater than its growth, it should be shod. The average hoof growth rate is three-eighths of an inch (about one centimeter) […]
Question: My mare is Twelve going on Thirteen. I have had her for two years and have always had problems with holding and trimming her rear feet. In an article I read recently on restraint training it is stated that if a horse is old or has problems with arthritis they should not have their legs […]
There are several ways of providing traction in the winter time. Traditionally horses were shod with sharp shoes. Shoes were calked (toes and heels) and these were sharpened periodically by the blacksmith. This was a difficult job as the shoes had to be removed and it had to be done more often than a normal […]
Horse hooves are 25 to 50 percent water. Water freezes. Frozen hooves may split when nails are driven into them, and pounding upon the feet may be painful. The coriums or sensitive structures under the hoof are often bruised when the horse stands on snow that “balls up” under the hooves. In the spring, the […]
What specific information should a horse owner know and/or record that can help a farrier better care for their horse’s feet? A regularly scheduled visit by the farrier is the most important way to care for a horse’s feet. A current, up-to-date record of ideal trimming or shoeing intervals for each horse, ideal individual hoof […]
What are the main problems horses have with their feet and how do you solve them? The most common problems with horses that are ridden relate to conformation issues that cause a predisposition to lameness. Conformation is highly heritable. Horses with comparatively straight legs, in addition to being rougher to ride, will develop concussion-related conditions […]
What is the most common lameness cause you have seen in horses and how could it have been prevented? Lameness in trail horses is caused by: lack of attention to foot care (neglect) unbalanced and/or too short trimming of the foot shoes poorly applied by inexperienced and untrained farriers or by unknowledgeable horse owners genetically […]
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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