When it comes to diseases of the horse’s foot, keratoma is not as scary as it sounds. Literally, keratoma means a tumor (-oma) in the hoof wall (keratin). Tumor can sound intimidating, but most of the time these growths are benign and don’t cause pain. In instances where the horse is sound and does not […]
Only about 10% of snakes native to the U. S. are poisonous. Most of these are in the West and South. However, rattlesnakes are found in all the lower 48 states except Maine. Australia has the most poisonous snakes, spiders, scorpions, and jellyfish. Several hundred horses are bitten annually by poisonous snakes in the U. […]
Riding a stumbling or tripping horse can be aggravating and dangerous. Stumbling occurs when the horse’s toes do not entirely clear the ground and the gait is interrupted. All horses will inevitably trip occasionally depending on the ground they cover, but some horses stumble consistently regardless of the terrain. In the case of these “stumblers,” […]
With Spring upon us, remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Use these tips to help minimize the risk of injury or other problems to your horse’s well-being during this new season. Check and repair pasture fences before weather gets nice enough to turn out your horses. Deer, as well as […]
What should horse owners expect from their farrier? You, the horse owner, have a right to expect a well-trained and experienced professional to care for your valuable horse(s).Unfortunately, some farriers short-change their education by not acquiring a firm foundation of basic knowledge about their craft. Even those who make the sacrifice to attend a school […]
By Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF We are often asked, “My daughter wants a horse. “What do I need to know about it?” Life is more enjoyable when we know what we are getting into. What are some of the considerations when buying a horse? Is it expensive? Are they dangerous? Does it build character […]
Ask a dissatisfied horse owner what their biggest frustration is about their farrier and you might get an extensive list. Ask an unhappy farrier what their biggest frustration is about their clients and you might hear an even longer list. Occasionally, farriers and horse owners don’t see eye-to-eye and it can be an aggravating experience […]
This time of year, bugs can be a problem for horses. Especially in areas that have been having a lot of rain. There is more standing water—a breeding ground for many varieties of irritating bugs. Flies, gnats, mosquitoes and culicoides (no-see-ums) are just some of the many different kinds of insects that can have a […]
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 […]
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 […]
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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