The best farriers want to excel in their craft. To do this, they are constantly on the lookout for skills they can improve. It is a lifelong pursuit. These farriers aren’t worried they don’t “know it all” yet. They are comfortable with the idea that they may never know it all. The never-ending learning is […]
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 […]
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 […]
Horses require a great deal of care. Not only should they have their feet looked after by a knowledgeable farrier, but they should have their other health care needs attended to by a competent veterinarian. Some of these other needs include de-worming, vaccinations and regular dental care. Horses should have their teeth examined regularly by […]
This past weekend (9 June 2018), Justify won the Belmont Stakes, making him only the 13th horse in history to become a Triple Crown Winner! This was an impressive feat considering some obstacles Justify had to overcome in order to achieve this great milestone. The Kentucky Derby (the first race of the Triple Crown) was […]
On Saturday (9 June 2018), Justify, trained by Bob Baffert, will be the latest horse to attempt to achieve the Triple Crown. This prestigious honor is only held by 12 horses since 1919. Winning all three races to achieve the Triple Crown has technically been possible since 1875 when the Kentucky Derby was started. American […]
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 […]
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 […]
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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