By Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF Farriery or horseshoeing is an ancient art. Sound principles of practice have changed little over the centuries. Its object is to keep horses sound and useful to mankind. It is a service occupation that allows recreation and work horses provide a more enjoyable experience for their owners. Fads have […]
By Doug Butler PhD, CJF, FWCF Lee Liles passed away May 12, 2018 at home in Sulphur, Oklahoma. He was one of the great farriers, blacksmiths and horsemen of our time. Lee was extremely knowledgeable on many subjects and possessed the finest library on farrier science of well over 1000 volumes. Lee started shoeing in […]
Last Saturday (5 May 2018) Justify, trained by Bob Baffert, won the 144th Kentucky Derby. He is the first three-year-old (not having been raced as a two-year-old) to win the Kentucky Derby since Apollo in 1882. Most horses that run in the Derby are two-year-olds. Justify ran the 1 ¼ mile race in 2 minutes […]
This article appeared in The Horseshoer’s Journal 39(12):578. It is by E. G. Myers and was published in Dec 1919. It has taken a man of iron to prove who is the richest individual and the particular person who rose to the question so often asked is a Nebraska blacksmith named E. G. Myers, whose […]
Whose responsibility is it to clean up after the farrier? Farriers inevitably make a mess each time they do their job. Manure, hoof trimmings and bent horseshoe nails litter the ground after each trimming or shoeing. Some farriers have the idea that the job is their responsibility and nothing more. They feel to let the […]
Last week, we talked about getting horses to stand still. We mentioned some different tactics that can help horses to stand relatively still for the farrier while he or she is working. We had several great responses. Some of these responses included advice about working with older horses and remembering to be patient with horses […]
Horses are living animals so they will inevitably move around while the farrier is working. This can be very frustrating to farriers who do precision work. A lot of movement makes a difficult job even more difficult. Ideally, horses should stand relatively still for the farrier as they work. Some horses do a better job […]
Equine Cushing’s disease has become more of a concern to horse owners in recent years as the condition has become more prevalent. Equine Cushing’s disease is not a new problem. It has been around for a long time but it is receiving more attention because people seem to be keeping horses longer. Equine Cushing’s disease […]
By Doug Butler PhD, CJF, FWCF Danny ward passed away a few days ago (22 Mar 2018) leaving a great legacy as a teacher and friend to the farrier industry. Danny was known as a friend to many. I particularly appreciated his patient accepting attitude. In 1979 I was asked to judge the Florida warm […]
One of the biggest dangers confronting farriers is complacency. A farrier reaches a certain point, and thinks, “I am working at a satisfactory level. This is good enough. I don’t need to push myself anymore.” For some farriers that point is when they have accomplished certification. For others it may be when they get out […]
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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