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 […]
Osteomyelitis is distinguished from pedal osteitis in that the former implies infection of bone; the later implies inflammation due to bruising of the coffin bone. Bone pain is some of the most severe hurt an animal can experience. Osteomyelitis can be a sequela (following the original disease) to severe founder that results in sole perforation […]
Many problems with horses are caused by horse-loving people. Perhaps the most disturbing is the harmful, yet common notion, that “food is love.” There are far too many cases of young horses crippled with developmental orthopedic disease resulting in club foot, epiphysitis and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Many older horses are afflicted with low ringbone, navicular disease […]
Competent farriers are sometimes unfairly accused of inflicting pain on horses simply because the nature of their work. Not all farriers are the same. Some may be justly criticized for causing pain. An occasional sadist might pop up and too often we see farriers and trimmers alike harming horses out of ignorance. But these are […]
The horse’s foot is a bio-mechanical marvel with many parts. Each part has a function. One of the most interesting parts is the frog. The frog is an insensitive, wedge shaped cushion or pad that helps the horse with shock absorption, traction and circulation. It is also a scent gland. The exact etymology of how […]
When a horse requires protection from excessive foot abrasion, a simple horseshoe can do the trick. However, sometimes, a regular horseshoe is not enough to treat specific foot ailments. The “heart bar shoe” or “frog support shoe” is a versatile therapeutic application that offers relief to afflicted horses from a variety of conditions. Heart bar […]
When inspecting a horse’s feet, it can be alarming to see red marks on the outer hoof wall and on the sole. Some owners and beginning farriers might even mistake these red spots for fresh blood! However, most of these spots are remnants of past injuries known as bruises. They are simply evidence of an […]
Happy New Year! The New Year brings with it a determination to better ourselves through goals and resolutions. Sometimes it is easy to get into a rut or do “just enough to get by.” One of the wonderful parts of this craft is that there is always an opportunity to improve. No matter what skill […]
National Day of the Horse is observed every year on December 13. On November 18, 2004, United States Senate Resolution 452 recognized December 13 as the National Day of the Horse. The purpose of the day is to “encourage people of the United States to be mindful of the contribution of horses to the economy, history […]
As the winter months set in, many horse owners have the question: is my horse warm enough? Do I need to blanket my horse? Understanding anatomy and physiology can help horse owners understand when a horse may or may not need a blanket. Some horse owners unwisely use the rule that when they feel cold, […]
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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