A recent Gallop poll reported by CNN and USA Today revealed that 61% of currently employed Americans, if given the choice, would rather own their own business, rather than work for someone else. Only 38% said they would rather work for someone else. Yet, at the moment, only 10% of adults are self-employed. Why? Unfortunately, […]
January brings a renewed hope for personal and family progress in the new year. Starting with New Year’s resolutions, this is the time of year when people tend to set goals and make commitments. Using this traditional time of the year to evaluate the past and plan for the future are worthwhile, healthy pursuits. However, […]
I’m often asked how I would define farrier competency. “What should a competent farrier look like?” “How will I know one when I see one?” In the British Isles, they would call such a person “a qualified farrier.” The way a person starts out is generally the way he or she ends up. Attitude is […]
Farrier work is a craft skill. It takes many years to master any craft. Farrier school is only the beginning. You must study and practice to become competent. You must train your eyes, your brain, and your motor nerves and muscles to do this precision work. You must obtain the knowledge and develop the skills […]
More than one hundred years ago farriers were confronted with the same problems as farriers are facing today. The “shoeless experiment” was then proposed as a one size fits all solution by “the barefoot people.” (See page 2 of William Hunting’s, The Art of Horseshoeing, published by W. R. Jenkins in New York, in 1898). […]
Hoof wall thicknesses vary. There is a very small margin for error. The farrier must pay close attention to selecting and driving each nail. Not all nails are manufactured perfectly, and misshapen nails might not drive straight. However, nail quicking isn’t the only kind of quicking that can affect a horse – he can also […]
Farriers perform a valuable service for people who care about their horses. It’s important to be trustworthy and do the job right. Let me share a true story. A stone mason was laying very large stones for the walls of a large church building. One of the stones had a crack on the very inside […]
Here are seven guidelines and important questions to consider in establishing and maintaining good farrier-client relationships. 1. Be on time for your shoeing appointments. It is easier to build a good long-term relationship when the first impression is favorable. If you wish to be successful, you must advertise success. Are you making a good impression? […]
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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