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 […]
There are few things that can compare to the soul refreshment that can be felt when riding a good horse in natural surroundings. Yet a lame horse can cast a dark cloud over what should be a rewarding experience. Farrier work is hard and exacting work. Those who enter the craft with less than a […]
As an American farrier that has shod horses from coast to coast and border to border for over five decades, I am amazed at the many different ways people care for their horses. What is considered neglect in some areas, in another is considered responsible care. There is variance in area and in breeds, […]
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 […]
In the fall, as the temperatures drop, horses will get some relief as external parasites like flies, mosquitoes and ticks begin to die off. We tend to think of parasite control as something we do in the spring because as the temperature rises, we see and hear the flies and mosquitoes. But fall is also […]
The average life expectancy of a horse is around twenty-five or thirty years of age. One year of horse age is comparable to 3 years of human age. In other words a 25 year old horse would be comparable to a 75 year old human and a 30 year old horse would be comparable to a 90 year old human.
Foaling season is just around the corner. A question often asked by horse owners and farriers relates to the hoof care of mares about to foal or those that have foaled. When and how should they be trimmed?
Since horses can make a difference in our lives, and even change us, it is worth considering the real value of horses. Some are valued at thousands of dollars – some are not. While most highly trained and well bred horses are sold by private treaty or at special production sales, a large number are still sold at auction barns.
Foal limb soundness begins before a foal is born. It involves considerations of nature (genetic) and nurture (environment). Genetic factors include inherited conformation and behavioral traits from the stallion and mare. Environmental factors include physical space in the mare’s uterus, nutrition, training and disease prevention. Choosing a mating that has a good chance of producing […]
The future will bring the foot care industry a combination of good news and bad news. The good news is that farrier communication will be better and easier. Publications, the internet, conventions, summits, sponsored clinics and general sharing of knowledge make learning faster and easier. The bad news is that unsound ideas will be spread […]
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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