Do farriers use their brains? Some people incorrectly assume that farriers don’t have “book smarts.” There is a common misconception that in order to be a farrier, one must have a “strong back and a weak mind.” This, unfortunately, has been perpetuated by those delicate souls that are afraid of hard work. They have concluded […]
Money is a touchy subject. Most of us want to spend our money wisely. In order to do this, we have to calculate value. When a horse owner has a farrier come to work on his or her horse, price is an important consideration. Price alone should not be the only consideration as to whether […]
How long should it take to trim a horse? How about to shoe a horse? To be a good farrier, do you have to be fast? These questions are frequently asked by those who are just starting out. Aspiring farriers can become discouraged because it seems to take a long time to do a quality […]
In recent years, there have been more and more women entering the farrier profession. There is a misconception that shoeing horses is a “man’s job.” Some may believe this is true because it is a very physically demanding craft. Women shouldn’t be discouraged by this inaccurate assumption. It is very true that being a farrier […]
Right now is a good time to get into the farrier industry. Horse numbers have remained steady in recent years. Even though the horse market has taken a hit, the number of people that are involved in the horse industry is quite high. Horse enthusiasts are still participating in equine events and activities. All of […]
It is very difficult, if not impossible, for farriers to determine their own skill level. Without a standard to measure themselves against with a largely uneducated public measuring their work, it becomes easy for farriers to deceive themselves by pretending and practicing above their actual skill level. Skill can only be properly defined and measured […]
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 […]
This month, the House Judiciary Committee will vote on the 2018 budget, including how funds will be allocated to care for the growing number of wild horses (mustangs) that live on federal lands. There are ardent defenders on both sides of the argument of how the tax-payers money should be spent. No real solution has […]
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 […]
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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